ST. LOUIS, MO – September 16, 2015 – Patients come to the dental office with clear healthcare needs, but each patient’s unique mix of desires and concerns complicate treatment. Dentists are routinely asked about costs, time away from work, fear or anxieties, and hopes of whiter, brighter smiles. A delicate balancing act is required to develop a comprehensive treatment plan to satisfy patients. Some doctors are particularly good at this. Patricia Lugo-Blanco of Mayaguez, Puerto Rico is one of them. Dr. Lugo-Blanco recently received the Orkos Award for a case study that illustrates her fine sense of balance.
When the 71-year-old patient in this case study first presented to Dr. Lugo-Blanco’s office, it was clear that she hadn’t seen a dentist in many years. She was afraid of dental procedures, in part because she had several teeth extracted in the past, but she knew she needed professional attention. Upon examination, Dr. Lugo-Blanco diagnosed her with moderate to severe periodontitis. Her pocket probing scores ranged from 3-9mm with bone loss and she exhibited generalized heavy bleeding of the gingival tissue. Treatment of the disease was urged because the patient also had high blood pressure and is at higher risk for a cardiac event, which has a well-known association to gum disease. The patient accepted treatment. She also hoped that subsequent restorative work would repair her smile.
For the treatment of gum disease, Dr. Lugo-Blanco focuses on the bacterial infections inducing the disease, so she makes sure that patients have the best tools to address the bacterial cause. Treatment started on June 6 with oral hygiene instructions and a homecare kit that included an electric toothbrush, floss, toothpaste and rinse. Dr. Lugo-Blanco also prescribed periodontal trays (Perio Trays®) from Perio Protect LLC (St. Louis, MO, USA) to deliver hydrogen peroxide gel (Perio Gel®, QNT Anderson, LLC, Bismarck, ND) deep under the gums where the infections hide. Patients use the trays and medication at home for just minutes each day.
“Perio Protect has become a priority in our office, as important as brushing and flossing, simply because patients can’t brush and floss away periodontal disease. The bacteria are too deep below the gums to be removed with toothbrush, rinse, or floss. But with the Perio Tray®, medication is maintained below the gums to fight the infections causing the disease. And,” Dr. Lugo-Blanco emphasizes, “we really want to address the cause, not just the symptoms, to improve patient health. We start with prescription tray delivery to get the bleeding under control. Patients then continue to use their trays between office visits and also after therapy to maintain the treatment gains.” In this case the periodontal improvement was necessary before the patient would be a good candidate for the partial dentures she wanted.
After three weeks of the new homecare regimen, the patient returned to the office for the needed cleanings and laser therapy. Bleeding had already subsided significantly and continued to improve. By November the bleeding was resolved and the pocket probing scores measured within normal limits, allowing Dr. Lugo-Blanco to prescribe maxillary and mandibular removable partial dentures, which improved both the function of the patient’s bite and the appearance of her smile. Importantly for the patient, her natural teeth were significantly whiter, a nice side effect of the hydrogen peroxide gel.
“In our office,” hygienist Yesenia Ramos said, “Dr. Lugo-Blanco and our prosthodontist Dr. Rodriquez focus on patient health, but often patients want whiter teeth and fresher breath and all at an affordable price. With Perio Protect, we can provide health benefits and cosmetic improvements at the same time. These cosmetic side effects help with compliance. Perio Protect is a great value for patients. They tell us they are more confident with their smiles.”
The excellent results documented by Dr. Lugo-Blanco earned a case study Orkos Award, founded by Perio Protect LLC to recognize excellence in treatment of periodontal disease. “Orkos is an ancient Greek word associated with the Hippocratic Oath, “explained Dr. Tanya Dunlap of Perio Protect, “and Dr. Lugo-Blanco deserved the award for her attention to the patient’s periodontal condition, restorative work, and dental anxieties. Patient health and satisfaction can be hard to achieve, and Dr. Lugo-Blanco has our congratulations.”
