Periodontal disease is relentless. According to the CDC, 47 percent of Americans have it, with that percentage increasing to over 70 percent when you reach 65 years of age. As dentists, we constantly fight periodontal disease. For a while, getting the better of it seemed a long way away, but could Perio Protect trays change all that?
Main causes of periodontal disease
Periodontal disease is the medical term for gum disease. It is caused by biofilm which is essentially a layer of bacteria that covers the teeth and gums. This bacteria is what is usually cleaned away with a good oral health regimen. If the bacteria is allowed to remain, it builds up and causes gingivitis. If left unchecked, gingivitis turns into periodontal disease.
The effects of periodontal disease can be severe. It begins slowly, with gingivitis and a bad taste in the mouth that will not go away. Gums may become swollen and tender and may bleed when brushing or when eating. If left untreated, periodontal disease can result in tooth loss.
The challenge of fighting periodontal disease is that the bacteria that causes it is difficult to get to. It lives in hard to reach places under the gums, which proves problematic when treating it. Once established, traditional brushing and flossing do not reach the bacteria, allowing it to grow unchecked.
Traditional methods of treatment include cleaning by a dental hygienist, laser bacteria removal, deep cleaning, medication and occasionally corrective surgery. Perio Protect trays are changing all that.
What can Perio Protect trays do to tackle periodontal disease?
Perio Protect trays are a prescribed treatment that is proving very effective at taking on periodontal disease. It is a customized tray that is formed to match the shape of your mouth. The tray is tailored to form a seal between it and your gums. You place medication inside the tray, place the tray into to your mouth and let the medication do its work.
The tray ensures the medication can get to where it is needed most, around the gum line and within the pockets between teeth. The seal ensures all the medication gets to where it needs to be and doesn’t leak into the mouth so is perfectly safe for use.
So how does it tackle periodontal disease?
The Perio Protect tray is able to get medication to the bacteria to actively fight it. This breaks the cycle of growth and helps reduce the number of bacteria in the mouth. Regular applications of the treatment further reduce bacteria and keep it under control.
Perio Protect trays are customized by your dentist to exactly match your mouth shape and size. Once complete, the treatment is then administered at home. Initially, you use the tray two or three times per day for around ten to fifteen minutes each time. Then, once the bacteria is under control, this reduces to once per day alongside your regular brushing.
Perio Protect trays offer a non-invasive way to help fight periodontal disease. It is a treatment that you continue in the comfort of your own home over the long term and is proving very effective at fighting bacteria.
If you would like to know more about Perio Protect trays or periodontal disease, contact Aesthetic Family Dentistry today to schedule a consultation.
