,As a dental health professional, you’ve likely seen many of your patients struggle with both gum disease and dental caries. This co-occurrence isn’t surprising given that these conditions represent a global health problem affecting more than 3.5 billion people worldwide. Despite a decline in prevalence over the past few decades, caries is still the most common non-communicable health condition. On the other hand, rates of periodontal disease have remained relatively static, with an estimated 10% of the world’s population now affected by severe periodontitis. And, while both diseases are preventable, together, they are responsible for the majority of edentulism (tooth loss) in adults everywhere., ,Though many people experience caries and periodontitis simultaneously, the nature of the connection between these conditions remains unclear. Some evidence suggests that there may be a positive association: two recent studies—one conducted in Finland and the other in Chile—found that dental caries was positively associated with periodontitis in adults, especially in subjects with severe periodontitis. But several other studies conflictingly report negative (or no) association between the two diseases. Overall, expert consensus seems to be that there’s a lack of robust analysis on the topic and more research is needed to conclusively determine correlation or causation. What we do know, however, is that risk factors shared by both diseases include nutritional, oral hygiene, and social behaviors. All of these, in turn, contribute to the formation of bacterial colonies known as biofilm, which comprise the root cause of both caries and periodontitis., ,Since minimizing biofilm accumulation is key to keeping both caries and periodontitis at bay, dentists typically prescribe a combination of at-home and in-office preventive care. For most patients, this means brushing twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, flossing daily, and maintaining regular dental appointments. In cases where patients are diagnosed with more severe periodontitis, the addition of mechanical debridement (scaling and root planing), and possibly surgery, may be required. While these approaches do reduce the presence of harmful oral bacteria and can therefore prevent caries as well as periodontitis, they frequently undertreat (or miss entirely) hard-to-reach biofilm living beneath the gumline, thus limiting their utility once periodontal disease has advanced. Thankfully, Perio Protect® gives traditional treatment methods a helping hand by offering patients with caries and gum disease a better way to manage biofilm between dental visits., ,The Perio Protect Method® is a unique treatment system that uses a prescription Perio Tray™ to deliver 1.7% hydrogen peroxide gel into gingival pockets as deep as 9mm. Peroxide is a well-studied antibacterial agent, proven to combat the microorganisms that cause cavities, gum disease, as well as halitosis (bad breath). It’s also a bleaching agent used to whiten teeth, so, in addition to reducing inflammation, bleeding, and other periodontal symptoms, Perio Protect patients can expect a brighter smile after just a few weeks of treatment., ,Compared to brushing and flossing, sealed Perio Tray delivery is more successful at addressing the problem of subgingival biofilm, making it a perfect complement to the traditional home care regimen and conventional periodontal therapy. And, because Perio Protect isn’t technique sensitive and has an easy-to-use design, it promotes better treatment outcomes and encourages treatment adherence—patients can simply fill their custom-fit tray, place it for as little as 10 minutes a day, and go about their daily routines while passively improving their oral health. Perio Tray delivery is so comfortable, convenient, and effective that 100% of surveyed patients say they’d recommend the Perio Protect Method to others., ,Co-occurrence of caries and periodontitis is a serious problem plaguing many dental patients, but Perio Protect makes it easier than ever to find relief. To learn more and discover why clinicians and patients alike have trusted this innovative treatment for over ten years, visit perioprotect.com.
