Case Study: Class III Moderate Periodontitis with Halitosis

Posted on February 16, 2018May 19, 2021 by Jamie Griggs RDH

Background: The patient is a 61-year-old male who presented with concerns of halitosis. The home care routine consisted of daily tooth brushing and inconsistent flossing. Following the periodontal assessment, the patient was classified as Class III generalized periodontitis with localized Class IV due to pocket depth measurements, heavy bleeding on probing with inflamed, bulbous and erythematous tissue. The patient has a history of periodontal therapy and has maintained a 3-month recare inte...

Knowing Your Opponent-Biofilm

Posted on February 2, 2018May 19, 2021 by Annie-Laurie Harris, BSDH, RDHMP

According to Merriam-Webster, biofilm is defined as a thin usually resistant layer of microorganisms (such as bacteria) that form on and coat various surfaces. Environmental biofilms are found on the mountain stream rock beds, the dog’s water bowl, etc.. Oral biofilms are the slimy layer on retainers and night guards. They are present in the sulcus and depending on the composition of the biofilm can be very pathogenic. Biofilms are constantly responding to their environment and evolving. ...

Exchanging Spit and What Else?

Posted on January 19, 2018May 19, 2021 by Karen Davis RDH, BSDH

Recently, I had a patient who presented with generalized gingivitis. Her husband was also recently diagnosed and treated for generalized chronic periodontitis. She asked the familiar question “How did I get gingivitis? I brush and floss every day.” These questions opened the door for an interesting discussion about her risk factors. She has two children under the age of 4 and she works full time as a nurse. Both of these contribute to her disrupted and inadequate sleep patterns. She is overw...

Salivary Diagnostics, Lasers and Beyond…

Posted on January 12, 2018May 19, 2021 by Liz Lundry RDH

As a hygienist, one of my main duties is to provide non-surgical therapy for the treatment of periodontal disease. The goal, (during the non-surgical treatment approach), is to change the environment of the pocket, address the active infection and keep the patient in remission as long as possible. Meticulous removal of sub-gingival calculus with hand instruments and micro-ultrasonics is crucial. We must provide a biologically acceptable root surface. In addition to detoxifying the root su...

Case Study: Class II Periodontitis

Posted on January 5, 2018May 19, 2021 by Sue Baughman RDH

Background: The patient is a 54 year old female who presented with the chief complaint “My gums bleed when I brush, there are possible cavities and I don’t like the tooth crowding.” Her last dental visit was about 6 years ago. There is a family history of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, stroke and cancer. The home care consisted of manual tooth brushing 1-2 times per day with occasional antibacterial mouth rinse. During the clinical assessment, it was discovered that several amalgam restor...

What is “Differential Diagnosis”?

Posted on December 15, 2017May 19, 2021 by Ronald C. McGlennen, MD

There is an old adage in medicine that says “When you hear hoof beats, think horses. Don’t think zebras.” This phrase can be applied to every patient and case; your eyes don’t tell the whole story. It is usually good advice to confirm the obvious, rather than spending time and resources investigating rare things. Consider the virtue of the “differential diagnosis”. In medicine, the differential diagnosis is a process by which the consideration of diagnosing one disease is distinguished fr...

A Higher Standard of Care

Posted on December 8, 2017May 19, 2021 by Stacey Espe RDH

For many years now, research has shown that there is a mouth body connection. In other words, what is happening in the mouth can impact what is happening with the body! In order for someone to have good health, they need to have good oral health. Unfortunately, periodontal disease is silent, as it does not hurt until it is severe. The minimal pain factor, as periodontal disease develops, may be why 80% of the United States population is suffering from periodontal disease. In the next paragra...

Case Study: Pregnancy and Periodontal Pathogens

Posted on December 1, 2017May 19, 2021 by Evelyn Chan DMD

Background: Patient is a 31 year old female, who presented with the chief complaint "My gums are swollen and painful." The last dental visit with exam was about 6 months ago. The radiographic examination including bitewings revealed horizontal bone loss and heavy amounts of generalized subgingival calculus. The patient's gums were erythematous with probe depths between 5-9 mm. Patient was diagnosed with generalized severe chronic periodontal disease. The additional challenge was that the patie...

Periodontist Turned Patient

Posted on November 17, 2017May 19, 2021 by Lauralee Nygaard DDS MS PS

As a periodontist, I pride myself on healthy gums. I admit to only getting a prophylaxis when the schedule permitted. My home care most likely resembles what most dental professional do, brush twice daily with an electric toothbrush and flossing most days. In grad school, it was discovered I had a few 4mm periodontal pockets. However, my professors were not concerned and I was never diagnosed with periodontal disease. Now fast forward several years. At age 37, after surviving an...

Pregnancy Gingivitis: Test, Don’t Guess

Posted on November 3, 2017May 19, 2021 by Kim Miller, RDH, BSDH

In 2015, about 1 out of 10 babies was born too early in the United States (1). In recognition of November's Prematurity Awareness Month, enjoy a hygienist's passion for providing exceptional periodontal care not just for the patient but the unborn patient. "Recently, I was training in a well-established dental practice of more than 30 years. The four woman, very talented and all out of school less than a year hygiene team, prompted the question about my opinion of pregnancy gingivitis. I...