MARCH 13, 2015, SUMMIT, NJ – Elliot Rosenstein, M.D., Director of The Institute for Rheumatic and Autoimmune Diseases at Overlook Medical Center, will discuss new recommendations for patients with rheumatoid arthritis and periodontal disease during a symposium at the International Association for Dental Research General Session in Boston on March 13.
Based on conclusions published in the online version of the Current Oral Health Report, Dr. Rosenstein will focus on a long-term hypothesis between periodontal disease and rheumatoid arthritis, and discuss practical recommendations – such as fatty acid supplementation, smoking cessation, weight loss and proper dental care – doctors can implement to help patients with rheumatoid arthritis achieve better health outcomes and respond to medical therapy.
“The connection between rheumatoid arthritis and teeth has been discussed for decades,” said Dr. Rosenstein. “Our hypothesis shows that properly treating periodontal disease will have a favorable impact on rheumatoid arthritis, diminishing the intensity of joint inflammation and making patients more responsive to the therapies they use.”
This hypothesis follows research presented in 2004 that proposed a mechanism that has since been well substantiated and is now considered a critical pathway in the development of rheumatoid arthritis.
Dr. Rosenstein leads The Institute for Rheumatic and Autoimmune Diseases at Overlook Medical Center, where a team of highly trained, board-certified rheumatologists diagnose, treat and manage rheumatic and autoimmune diseases. Rheumatic diseases consist of more than 100 disorders that cause arthritis and other painful conditions of the muscles, bones and other tissues. While more than half of all people aged 65 and older have some form of arthritis, these conditions can affect young and old alike.
Dr. Rosenstein is a member of the Atlantic Medical Group, which is comprised of more than 600 community-based health care specialists, including primary care physicians and specialists ranging from gynecology to rheumatology to sports medicine. Physicians in Atlantic Medical Group are affiliated with Atlantic Health System’s nationally and regionally ranked hospitals – Morristown Medical Center, Overlook Medical Center, Newton Medical Center and Chilton Medical Center, as well as Goryeb Children’s Hospital.
About Overlook Medical Center
As the premier center for neuroscience and brain care in New Jersey, Overlook Medical Center has amassed the largest team of neurologists, neurosurgeons, and neuroscience specialists in the state. Overlook Medical Center is certified by The Joint Commission and the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association as a Comprehensive Stroke Center and designated by the National Association of Epilepsy Centers as a Level IV Epilepsy Center with the only magnetoencephalography (MEG) technology in New Jersey installed for brain mapping and clinical evaluation. The Brain Tumor Center of New Jersey conducts vaccine trials, awake brain surgery, and stereotactic radiosurgery with the CyberKnife®, in addition to many other highly technical and advanced services. Concussion care and rehabilitation, pain management, spine and neck care, as well as dedicated research and care for memory disorders, dementia and movement disorders, are comprehensive services available at Overlook Medical Center.
U.S. News & World Report recognizes Overlook Medical Center among the best hospitals in central New Jersey and as a “Best Regional Hospital” for Neurology and Neurosurgery, as reported in the publication’s annual Best Hospitals list for 2014-15. The magazine also ranked Overlook Medical Center as a “High Performing” hospital for Gastroenterology & GI surgery, geriatrics and urology.
About Atlantic Health System
Atlantic Health System, headquartered in Morristown, NJ, is one of the largest non-profit health care systems in New Jersey. It includes Morristown Medical Center in Morristown, NJ; Overlook Medical Center in Summit, NJ; Newton Medical Center in Newton, NJ; Chilton Medical Center in Pompton Plains, NJ; and Goryeb Children’s Hospital in Morristown, NJ, as well as Atlantic Rehabilitation, and Atlantic Home Care and Hospice. It also includes its subsidiary, Atlantic Ambulance Corporation. Atlantic Health System comprises 1,599 licensed beds, nearly 13,400 employees and more than 3,700 physicians. Atlantic Health System is a clinical and academic affiliate of The Mount Sinai Hospital and the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai; a Major Clinical Affiliate of Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey; part of Atlantic Accountable Care Organization, one of the largest ACOs in the nation, and is a member of AllSpire Health Partners.