PERIODONTITIS: A Destructive and Life-Threatening Microbial Disease 

COURSE SUMMARY: In addition to destroying support for teeth, pathogenic periodontal microorganisms cause life-threatening systemic problems.  Two of the most aggressive red-complex microorganisms are found in the brains of Alzheimer’s victims.  At least one periodontal pathogen, Fusobacteria nucleatum, has been identified as a carcinogen for colon cancer.  There are many other systemic diseases correlated with the presence of periodontal pathogens including increased risk of heart attacks and strokes.

The absence or very low acceptable levels of periodontal pathogens is definitive for lack of periodontal destruction and appears to allow at least a degree of healing. Routine treatment for periodontitis ignores monitoring for pathogenic microorganisms to determine disease-control success at all at-risk sites.  In fact, our routine treatment recommendations of flossing, using spinning brushes, scrubbing techniques and polishing can cause significant damage to teeth, supporting bone, esthetics and will not prevent pathogenic periodontal infections.  

In this webinar, we will cover effective methods for monitoring pathogenic infections as well as identify specific sites at high-risk.  We will also cover techniques for patients to effectively destroy pathogenic biofilms, even in deep pockets with minimum friction methods. 

​LEARNING OBJECTIVES: 

1. Define periodontitis
2. Describe the prevalence and growing concern of periodontitis
3. Understand the etiology of periodontitis
4. List periodontitis risk factors
5. Formulate a periodontitis diagnosis 
6. Summarize treatment options for periodontitis