Th New Paradigm for Periodontal Disease Control, Part 3

Dentistry has found ways to manage these infections beyond cleaning up the biofilms in the past 10 years. Routinely altering the patient's susceptibility (shifting it towards being more resistant to disease) helps them keep their teeth longer.

Shifting a patient's inflammatory response can be done with unique medications (Periostat, Oracea). These medications suppress an enzyme that is critical in creating inflammation.

Probiotics like Evora Plus have been engineered to displace the bad bugs in the biofilms with a specific group of bacterial species. Just as we see Activia yogurt commercials showing how we can add good bugs to our gut, we now see how oral probiotics shift the prevalence of oral bacteria that promote periodontal disease. 

Achieving excellent diabetic control is another way to improve a patient's threshold for infection.

Autoimmune disorders, such as diabetes, are complex and numerous. Rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, HIV--just to name a few--are all diseases that, when well-controlled, influence the outcome of teeth in periodontal disease patients.

Smoking cessation, stress reduction, creating healthy work environments, behavioral therapy, proper diet and managing alcohol intake, consistent exercise--all of these are lifestyle changes that make a difference.

Most people don't realize that periodontal disease is a bug problem AND a bite problem. Balancing a bite with orthodontics, wearing bite guards, and anchoring or stabilizing teeth are dental solutions to treating periodontal disease. And the last resort, of course, is to remove teeth that have contributed to the constant pileup of biofilms.