Break Down Biofilm with the Power of PerioDT

For some clinicians, it’s their own experiences as a young dental patient that established their values and approach in providing care to their patients years later.

“I had a very painful experience when I was a teenager and one of my lower molars was extracted,” recalled Dr. Irina Dragan. “I remember my mom telling me, ‘You’re at the dentist—it’s supposed to be painful.’ That moment really stuck with me, and it’s what inspired me to become a dentist whose patients were not going to be in pain.”

Today, Dr. Dragan owns The Perio Studio in downtown Boston, MA, where she provides patient-centered care and treatment options designed to keep patients out of pain.

Solving the Biofilm Problem

With disease prevention being a top priority at The Perio Studio, Dr. Dragan offers her patients a non-surgical option during scaling and root planing procedures. With the help of PerioDT, she and her hygienist can target one of the toughest areas in dentistry: the bacteria.

“I haven’t really seen a product that works like PerioDT to help with biofilm desiccation and calculus removal,” said Dr. Dragan, who is an adjunct associate professor of periodontology at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine. “Other products offer biofilm therapy, but they’re typically larger investments, and for the average general practice, it may not be worth it to buy an expensive unit with a long learning curve for your team. PerioDT offers a faster and more cost-effective approach to eliminating biofilm.”

How It Works

The “DT” in PerioDT is short for Desiccation Technology, a simple physical process that removes water from the combination of infectious microbial material, dead cellular debris, and other macromolecules found around tooth and prosthetic surfaces in the oral cavity. Best of all, this process targets and eliminates bacteria in less than 30 seconds.

“The procedure is so fast, and you’re able to remove calculus in a way that doesn’t compromise the soft tissue,” said Dr. Dragan. “That’s very important, because if the soft tissue isn’t compromised, patients won’t have any bleeding, and the risk of an abscess or infection developing post-treatment decreases. And because calculus removal is easier and faster, in some cases, you may not even need to offer anesthesia to your patients.”

Time Savings & Patient Education

Even if an assistant isn’t available, said Dr. Dragan, it’s easy to apply the PerioDT gel or liquid alone. That’s essential, considering the number of patients presenting to her office who need an exam, cleaning, and full-mouth series of x-rays.

“It can be difficult to squeeze everything into one appointment, but PerioDT helps make the whole process faster, especially for my hygienist. Because calculus removal is easier—particularly if you’re using hand instruments—the patient gets a better cleaning, which gets them in and out of the chair more quickly.”

One syringe of PerioDT can complete a full arch of treatment, and after application, a red color shows where the material has been placed.

“I think PerioDT is a great way to educate patients about biofilm and how it affects their periodontal health,” added Dr. Dragan. “Sometimes, we apply it, and then show patients in the mirror which areas of their mouth are being treated.”

The Future Is Bright

Nearly half of U.S. adults age 30 and over experience some form of periodontal disease, which is what makes PerioDT such an important tool in the fight against bacteria. Not only does it remove and coagulate debris from the pocket, but it reduces bleeding at treatment sites and sets up the periodontal wound to heal. “I’ve seen some of the data that shows the amount of periodontal disease and gum recession that unfortunately many in our population suffer from,” noted Dr. Dragan. “Because my practice is focused on perio, we see a lot of calculus present around implants intraoperatively and cases of peri-implantitis, so I’m excited to use PerioDT with these types of patients.”

Improving Health Outcomes

Dr. Dragan also is looking forward to conducting some clinical research with the product.

“I’m excited about the opportunity to really dive into PerioDT and its potential outcomes,” she affirmed. “There is a strong relationship between oral health and overall health, and I’m grateful to have a practice where I can help advance periodontal treatment options and procedures.”