Eduardo: Advanced Periodontal Disease Treatment

When Eduardo, a 44-year-old construction worker with two small children at home, came to us for his first dental checkup, his oral care was less than satisfactory. Our examination showed visible periodontal disease. Eduardo’s gums bled upon probing, and his teeth had generalized pocketing of 4-6 millimeters.

We coordinated with Eduardo’s primary care physician for tests that showed his blood pressure was also high—140/92—and his cholesterol levels were elevated. We also discovered that Eduardo was insulin resistant. His MyPerioPath® test results indicated he had elevated levels of P. gingivalis, T. forsythia, and A. actinomycetemcomitans, all of which are associated with heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.

His biggest worry was missing work due to poor health and not being able to support his family.

In treating Eduardo, our periodontal protocol specific for oral inflammation included these treatments:

• Laser pre-conditioning, which reduced his bacterial load
• Full mouth scaling
• Root planing, which removed the toxic surface irritants from the roots of teeth
• Localized anti-microbials, which eliminated biofilm and resolved the infection
• Systemic antibiotics, which we ordered to treat Eduardo’s high bacteria level
• Meticulous home care, including oral hygiene instructions for brushing, flossing, and specialized cleaners
• Perio Protect®, a comprehensive method customized for individual patients to treat bacteria that grows between teeth and gum tissues.

Some four to six weeks after Eduardo’s treatment, we performed follow-up tests, using the patented MyPerioPath®. The results showed that Eduardo’s microbial counts were all below threshold. His blood pressure had gone down to 128/84 as well.

Studies show a direct correlation between oral inflammation and elevated blood pressure. His cholesterol levels had reduced, and he is now below 50% risk of cardiovascular disease. Recently Eduardo undertook a two-hour glucose tolerance test, and he is no longer insulin resistant.

Insulin resistance increases the chance of developing Type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Learning about insulin resistance is the first step toward making lifestyle changes that can help prevent diabetes and other health problems. With our encouragement, Eduardo has done this.

Eduardo is very excited about his improved health, and he no longer has to worry about missing work!

Want to find out how to help the Eduardos in your office? Check out our easy way to get started!