By Kim Miller, RDH, BSDH
At this time of year, many offices get into the spirit of giving by raffling off patient appreciation gifts. Why not make one of those gifts a gift of health by raffling off one of PerioSciences’ new Antioxidant Oral Care Systems (mouth rinse, toothpaste, and topical gel)?
More columns from Kim Miller
Lady Gaga and Photodisinfection
A book, gloves and Nomad
Learning More About EXXCL Oral Blue
These attractive kits support a comprehensive oral care regimen and would benefit any patient. If you’re not familiar with PerioSciences, you’re in for a treat. This innovative company has created oral care products infused with healthful antioxidants, essential oils, herbs, and catechins from green tea to promote a healthy oral environment with naturally moist tissues. (Figure 1)
As you know, antioxidants are strong disease fighting molecules that neutralize free radicals. Free radicals are those pesky molecules that bombard our healthy cells, stealing electrons and causing cellular breakdown, disease, aging, cancers, and all number of problems. Free radicals are also implicated in periodontal disease, making antioxidants a wise addition to oral care.
The New Oral Care Systems are available in Natural and White Care. Both systems feature three products — AO ProToothpaste, AO ProRinse, and AO ProVantage, a topically applied gel. Each of these products is formulated with the targeted antioxidants, phloretin, and ferulic acid, which are designed to work synergistically to counteract free radical damage.
The Antioxidant Oral Care System Natural is indicated for patients following oral surgery, periodontal procedures, or with delicate oral conditions such as lichen planus. This system also benefits patients who use tobacco products. There are no harsh chemicals, alcohol, fluoride, sodium lauryl sulfate, parabens, sweeteners, or preservatives. This cool, minty, pleasant tasting system is perfect for patients who prefer natural organic products. The AO ProToothpaste Natural also contains sea buckthorn oil, of which I’m a huge fan.
The Antioxidant Oral Care System White Care is indicated for patients who want to brighten their smiles, or who just completed a whitening treatment. This system soothes tissues irritated by whitening chemicals and helps to restore normal oral pH balance. In addition, this system is formulated with Plasdone, stain-lifting polymers and targeted citrus botanicals that freshen breath. To help fight decay, the AO ProToothpaste White Care contains the maximum allowed over-the-counter amount of sodium fluoride. Hydroxyapatite and silica are added to both the White Care and the Natural toothpastes in precise combination for a superior clean without sensitivity and erosion. PerioSciences is the first to market toothpastes that use a novel combination of antioxidants and hydroxyapatite.
These kits provide about 60 days of use and come with a convenient counter stand to keep all three products at your fingertips for ready use. Suggested retail price is about $75.
If you’re interested in learning more or would like to know how to offer PerioSciences products to your patients, call PerioSciences at 800-915-8110. For published research references, product information, case studies, and more, subscribe to PerioSciences bimonthly newsletter at http://www.periosciences.com/html/training/icontact_form.
REVISITING PERIOCHIP
More Americans are avoiding the use of antibiotics, in any form. In addition, patients may have contraindications that require they steer clear of antibiotics. PerioChip, which has been available in the U.S. since 1998, offers an alternative to locally applied antibiotics. An effective antibacterial adjunct to periodontal therapy (SRP), PerioChip contains 2.5 mg of chlorhexidine gluconate, which is effective against a broad spectrum of microbes in pockets 5 mm or greater. The use of PerioChip in an acutely abscessed periodontal pocket and in pockets greater than 8 mm has not been studied and therefore is not recommended.
The chip itself is a small, thin wafer that slips directly into the pocket (Figure 2). The biodegradable delivery system allows the chip to actively reduce microbes in the pocket for seven to 10 days. Since it dissolves naturally, there is no need for a second visit to remove it.
When combined with non-surgical periodontal therapy (SRP), PerioChip has shown to be a safe and effective adjunct to help patients reduce their pocket depths. In two U.S. clinical trials involving hundreds of patients, there were twice as many SRP + PerioChip patients who achieved 2 mm or more pocket depth reduction at nine months than those who received SRP only.
To help your patients maintain remission, consider having PerioChip available for use during periodontal maintenance visits. According to the American Dental Association’s Current Dental Terminology Guide 2011-2012 (ADA CDT), the 4910 periodontal maintenance appointment is designed to keep a patient in disease remission by treating isolated areas at each visit. Should a patient present with multiple areas of recurrent infection, the descriptor below states that additional diagnosis and treatments are indicated. But when you have a patient who struggles with 5 mm areas, PerioChip would do nicely.
D4910 Periodontal Maintenance
This procedure is instituted following periodontal therapy and continues at varying intervals, determined by the clinical evaluation of the dentist, for the life of the dentition or any implant replacements. It includes removal of the bacterial plaque and calculus from supragingival and subgingival regions, site-specific scaling and root planing where indicated, and polishing the teeth. If new or recurring periodontal disease appears, additional diagnostic and treatment procedures must be considered. (ADA CDT 2011-2012, page 31)
PerioChip takes about a minute per site to place. It should be placed following thorough root debridement and any irrigation and laser therapy you provide. It should be the last thing you do. Your patient can eat and drink right away with no dietary restrictions, and the only home-care restrictions are no flossing or tooth picking for 10 days.
Find out more about PerioChip at periochip.com. There are lots of resources and information on their website.
STORE-A-TOOTH/FIND A CURE TO DONATE FUNDS FOR DIABETES RESEARCH
If you’ve not heard about Store a Tooth dental stem cell banking, you owe it to yourself and your patients to become familiar with this incredible service. Provia Labs, the owners of Store-A -Tooth, will now donate funds to the Find a Cure initiative for diabetes research. It’s an easy and straightforward process.
Identify early, when deciduous teeth are close to being lost. Schedule to have them gently removed before root resorption begins. Or if your patient has already lost all deciduous teeth, third molars may also present an opportunity to bank dental stem cells. We should talk with patients about stem cell banking when both of these scenarios occur. Once the teeth are removed, simply pack the tooth in the special Store-A-Tooth shipping kit (Figure 3) and send it to the lab for processing. A variety of pricing options make dental stem cell banking affordable for everyone.
Dental stem cells show great promise in the fight against type 1 diabetes. To show their commitment to families who struggle with the management of type 1 diabetes, Provia Labs will donate up to 50% of its proceeds to fund diabetes research for every parent who banks their child’s stem cells with Store-A-Tooth and mentions Find a Cure. These donations will help support the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Diabetes Research Institute, or Joslin Diabetes Center, all leaders in diabetes research.
HOW YOU CAN HELP FIND A CURE CAUSE
- Tell your patients – If they bank their stem cells with Store-A-Tooth, they will be helping to raise funds for diabetes research.
- Test your stem cell knowledge – Take a short stem cell quiz at www.stemcellsforacure.com. Provia will make a donation for everyone who takes the quiz, so please share the link!
- Like them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/StoreAToothFindACure
- And if you haven’t already, invite Store-A-Tooth to be a part of your dental team by offering your patients the opportunity to bank their children’s dental stem cells. www.storeatooth.com RDH
As always, email me with your favorite products, those you want to share with others, or those you would like to see appear in this column at [email protected]. Happy holidays!
KIM MILLER, RDH, BSDH, is the co-founder of PerioFrogz.com, an information- based website providing free current oralsystemic research summaries and patient education downloads. Kim is also a coach with Inspired Hygiene, delivering customized hands-on training. She speaks internationally, writes writes articles and webinars, and enjoys clinical dental hygiene. Kim lives in Arizona and welcomes you to contact her at kimmillerkrm@ gmail.com.
Past RDH Issues
