Dr. Elizabeth Rutledge - November Dental Practice Hero
Dr. Elizabeth Rutledge was born and raised in Port Huron, MI, and attended Michigan State University, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry. She then studied dentistry at the University of Detroit Mercy and graduated in May 2010. Dr. Rutledge began her career as a dentist in July 2010 and purchased her dental practice in January 2014. She has since made it her goal to provide the very best care for every one of her patients. She feels lucky to be able to call Jackson, MI, home and to have the opportunity to help patients achieve their best possible smiles and health every day. Dr. Rutledge enjoys spending time with her family—husband, Mike and son, Teddy—and their two bulldogs. She also enjoys being an active member of the Jackson District Dental Society, the Michigan Dental Association, the American Dental Association, the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, and the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine. In her free time, Dr. Rutledge enjoys strength and conditioning training, golfing, traveling, shopping, and baking.
Q: Why do you believe it is important to proactively diagnose periodontal disease?
A: I believe it is important to proactively diagnose periodontal disease because, in doing so, we can help prevent a lifetime of dental issues for our patients. If we are able to prevent bone loss from progressing, we are increasing the likelihood that our patients will be able to maintain their teeth for the rest of their lives. Also, if we can actively involve our patients in the importance of proper oral hygiene practices, we can help significantly decrease the amount of inflammation in the gingival tissues and prevent that from causing issues with their overall health.
Q: How do you speak to your patients about periodontal disease?
A: I speak to my patients about periodontal disease honestly and in a way that is specific to them: what the causes/contributing factors are for them; how it can influence their overall health; what treatment is best for them; and how we can work together to keep them as healthy as possible moving forward. I like to make sure that I use words and analogies that they can easily understand, and I want them to know I am coming to them from a place of care and concern. At the end of the day, I want them to be as involved as possible because we cannot achieve success without their involvement.
Q: What obstacles do you face in getting patients to agree to treatment and how do you overcome them?
A: One of the biggest obstacles we face in getting patients to agree to treatment is usually the cost of treatment. To overcome this obstacle, we must clearly communicate with our patients what the problem is, it’s cause, how we address it to prevent future issues, and why we have to address it in a different way than with “just a cleaning.” This is very important to us, and we take as much time as we need in order to make sure the patient thoroughly understands this as well.
Q: How do you incorporate the Perio Protect Method into your treatment protocols?
A: The Perio Protect Method has been a game changer for our practice! Perio Protect tray therapy is recommended for all patients who are being treated for active periodontitis; for all patients on a periodontal maintenance schedule; for those with active gingivitis who have more than 10 bleeding points on probing; for those with disabilities who have a hard time brushing their teeth; and for those with implants. The goal of treatment with Perio Protect tray therapy in our practice is to decrease the usage of trays to one time per day. For those patients who follow the protocol for Perio Protect tray usage, we have seen pink, stippled, healthy gingival tissue with a significant decrease in bleeding and decreases in plaque and calculus accumulation, and we are even beginning to see a decrease in pocket depths.