Perio Protect

New Tray Therapy Makes Gum Disease Treatment Easy- “Perio Protect”

If you have been reading my articles for long, you know how serious I consider gum disease. Periodontal or gum disease is one of the most common, and unfortunately, most under-diagnosed diseases in America. It affects 85-90% of people over the age of 35 to some degree! And most people are unaware of even having a problem until it is shown to them. It is essentially an infection of the gum and bone around teeth. It causes the bone to deteriorate and the gums to bleed or recede. Pockets of gum tissue form and stay full of decaying food and bacteria all the time. This can lead to discomfort, bad breath, abscesses, and loss of teeth. Not only is it a mouth problem, but it is also linked to heart attacks, strokes, diabetes, lung infections, and premature births! Every time you eat or brush when you have gum disease, you introduce bacteria into your blood stream, and this infection can settle in places it should not be. This is a serious problem!

If you have or are headed toward gum disease, the traditional treatment is much more involved than a regular “cleaning”. It may simply be that the hygienist needs to take more time with you to treat you correctly. They may have to use special tools to get to troublesome areas. In true periodontal therapy, each half of the mouth is numbed so the pockets under the gums can be cleaned properly and comfortably. The procedure can take several trips to complete and the maintenance afterward is much more involved. It is crucial to see your dentist regularly to avoid a reoccurrence of the disease process.

A new treatment available for periodontal patients is now available. For patients with moderate gingivitis through severe periodontitis, our office offers the convenient, comfortable Perio Protect™ treatment, which is a method that uses an FDA-cleared medical device that enables dentists in most cases to provide effective treatment with little to no uncomfortable scraping, no surgery, and no shots! It is much less invasive and may be used by itself or along with normal periodontal therapy, depending on your specific needs.

The Perio Protect™ system, which is very easy to use, has been proven in clinical studies to kill harmful bacteria within 72 hours. Within days of using the medication, inflammation and swelling is reduced and bleeding gum tissue decreases dramatically. Bad breath, for many patients, is eliminated, and it even whitens your teeth! Studies are in progress right now to show how well it works against decay as well.

You will be fitted for custom made mouthpieces called Perio Trays™, which are similar to athletic mouth guards. They are very thin, soft, and comfortable. An FDA-registered laboratory makes the trays which have a custom made seal at your gumline inside the trays. Therapy is done at home by placing the doctor prescribed medications inside the trays, which hold the medicine in place to deliver it right to the source of the infection. The gel modifies the calculus and tartar (the hard bacteria buildup) in such a way that it turns soft and chalky, allowing brushing and flossing to be much more effective. The gel also kills the bacteria, which allows your gums to heal. Even deep pockets, which usually required surgical intervention, are often healing to easily manageable levels. The bone around affected teeth hardens in such a way that many teeth that were thought to be unsalvageable can be kept for much longer than expected. At each subsequent dental visit, our hygienist will gently remove any remaining softened deposits and evaluate the progress of your healing. Your dental visits will be quick, easy.

The Perio Protect system is revolutionary in its ease of use and effectiveness. It is a great non surgical alternative to traditional gum therapies, is well received by patients due to its ease of use, and is very effective in treating the bacteria and inflammation that cause loss of bone, gum abscesses, recession, and even the bigger, whole body problems associated with gum disease. There are many reasons to try the Perio Protect system for the treatment of gum disease. Simply put, there is no easier way to get your mouth incredibly healthy. Click the Perio Protect logo on our website, www.premdent.com, for more information

Greg Grobmyer