Managing Periodontal Disease in the Post-Antibiotic Age
With antibiotic-resistant infections on the rise, peroxide-based Perio Tray therapy offers an ideal complement to conventional gum disease treatments and a safer alternative to antibiotics.
As any dental professional knows, periodontal disease is one of the most prevalent—and persistent—health problems dental patients face. Over the years, clinicians have sought an optimal method of addressing this problem, eventually reaching the consensus that routine maintenance, i.e., scaling and root planing (SRP), coupled with homecare like brushing and flossing, and, in some cases, surgery were the best available options for disease management. To bridge the gaps left by these treatments, however, dentists have also historically turned to antibiotics, thought to assist with healing and keeping bacteria and associated inflammation to a minimum. Unfortunately, we now know that not only do antibiotics fall short of fulfilling these goals, but they also come with a dangerous downside—one that poses a threat to both dental patients and public health.
The Problem in Perspective
For decades, dentists prescribed oral antibiotics to address the infections and inflammation inducing periodontal disease, and still there are persistently high rates of disease. Clearly, the antibiotic therapies have limitations. Antibiotics additionally give rise to a distinct and more alarming concern: once a course of therapy has been completed, surviving bacteria may not only repopulate but also develop resistance to antibiotics. And because antibiotics for gum disease are always administered at the systemic level, prescribing them for periodontal patients creates health risks that extend beyond the oral cavity and dentistry itself.
The troubling, real-world impact of antibiotic over-prescription was recently revealed via a publication issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). According to the 2019 report, every 11 seconds, someone in the U.S. becomes infected by antibiotic-resistant bacteria, and every 15 minutes, someone dies from their infection. In total, this translates to nearly 2.8 million infections and 35,000 deaths annually. To put dentistry’s contribution in perspective, the Minnesota Department of Public Health tracked 2,176 Clostridium difficile (C. diff) infections occurring from 2009–2015 across 5 counties. A total of 1,626 cases were confirmed, 57% (926) of which were found to have been prescribed antibiotics before C. diff infection. Of these, 15%, or 136 prescriptions, were written by dentists. The report’s authors went on to conclude that “dental antibiotic prescribing rates are likely underestimated,” indicating that dentistry may play an even larger role in the problem than the data demonstrates.
Welcome to the Post-Antibiotic Era
The 2019 CDC report serves as an urgent wake-up call for dental providers: “Stop referring to a coming post-antibiotic era—it’s already here,” implored the Director of the CDC. “You and I are living in a time when some miracle drugs no longer perform miracles and families are being ripped apart by a microscopic enemy.” The CDC’s stance was reiterated by the American Dental Association (ADA), which in 2019 also unveiled new guidelines advocating against antibiotic use for treatment of most pulpal and periapical conditions. “Evidence suggests that antibiotics for the target conditions may provide negligible benefits and probably contribute to large harms. The expert panel suggests that antibiotics for target conditions be used only when systemic involvement is present and that immediate DCDT (definitive, conservative dental treatment) should be prioritized in all cases.”
A Safer Solution
To practice good antibiotic stewardship, you may be wondering how to best help your periodontal patients manage disease symptoms between appointments and reduce the overall need for scaling and surgery. Thankfully, Perio Protect offers patients and providers a simple, non-invasive, and, most importantly, safe way to effectively treat gum disease.
Why it Works
Perio Protect leverages the proven efficacy of antibacterial hydrogen peroxide alongside the manufacturer’s innovative Perio Tray delivery system. Together, this combination makes for an ideal adjunct to conventional homecare like brushing and flossing and can be used before and after scaling and surgery to enhance treatment outcomes. While hydrogen peroxide has well-researched benefits, the primary advantage of using Perio Tray therapy over other methods of medicament delivery is that the patented seal holds peroxide in place, allowing it sustained access to bacteria in periodontal pockets as deep as 9mm. Additionally, the low concentration of 1.7% hydrogen peroxide in Perio Gel has been found particularly effective at physically disrupting the matrix that protects biofilm communities, debriding bacterial cell walls, and oxygenating the periodontal pocket, which makes it difficult for gram-negative obligate anaerobes to thrive.
With peroxide, there’s no risk of pathogens building resistance—like they do with antibiotics—or causing subsequent systemic illness down the line. And, as an oxidative and oxygenating agent, Perio Gel does more than just kill bacteria—it changes the microenvironment of the gingival pocket, promoting healing as healthy bacteria replace pathogenic ones. Perio Tray therapy even affords patients bonus benefits like fresher breath and, thanks to peroxide’s whitening capabilities, a brighter smile.
Treatment You Can Trust
Since Perio Tray therapy was introduced in 2005, thousands of dentists and their patients have relied on this unique system, with its efficacy validated by multiple clinical studies (as well as ample patient testimonials). After just a few weeks of Perio Tray therapy, most patients show a significant reduction in symptoms like inflammation, bleeding, and pocket depths.. The longest study performed found that Perio Protect patients experienced 75% less bleeding within the first phase of treatment and, with regular tray usage, were able to maintain healthy conditions for up to 5 years of the study.
To learn more and discover how to bring the benefits of Perio Tray therapy to your practice, visit perioprotect.com.