Periodontal therapy and adjunctive services
Previously, some adjunctive services have been married with periodontal therapy to help combat dental biofilm. Adjunctive periodontal treatment services that often help to aid hand instrumentation of scaling and root planing include dental lasers, oral mouthwashes, antibiotics, and ultrasonic hand scaling.5
While studies have shown that these services are effective, sometimes there are cases where a patient returns for a periodontal maintenance appointment within eight to 12 weeks of periodontal therapy with unresponsive tissues. When biofilm is still present and periodontal disease is still active, dental professionals may feel at a loss as to what other treatment they could offer their patients. Now, thanks to advancements in technology, dental professionals can use periodontal desiccation to help to ensure a better outcome with periodontal treatment.
Clinical benefits of periodontal desiccation
Periodontal desiccation offers many benefits to the patient and clinician. The process of periodontal desiccation works by drying out the plaque biofilm and the necrotic tissue that could remain after periodontal scaling and root planing.2 Once the biofilm matrix is dry, it can no longer remain attached to the tooth’s surface, so it is flushed out of the periodontal pocket. This benefits the patient by reducing the high counts of microorganisms in this localized area.2
Another benefit of periodontal desiccation is that the biofilm cannot grow and divide when desiccated, thus there is a high likelihood that the periodontal bacteria are completely erased in the pocket.2,3
Clinicians may also be fond of periodontal desiccation as a treatment modality because it is a simple, pain-free procedure, and there are few side effects or contraindications.2
Dental clinicians who want to learn more about oral tissue desiccation should investigate local and national companies that can dispense the desiccation medication. These companies can provide samples, continuing education, and demonstrations of how the medication will work orally. Always review the patient’s medical history for any contraindication that could limit periodontal desiccation.
Oral tissue desiccation is a newer but less invasive alternative to help patients control plaque biofilm levels and maintain their periodontal health.
Editor’s note: This article first appeared in Clinical Insights newsletter, a publication of the Endeavor Business Media Dental Group. Read more articles and subscribe.