Dental Microscope

A New Standard of Preventative Dental Care: Microscopic Plaque Evaluation

What is Periodontal Disease?

Gum disease is one of the most commonly occurring illnesses in modern society. Periodontal disease affects approximately 75 percent of adults over age 30, and is the leading cause of tooth loss.

Periodontal disease begins with an accumulation of plaque — a sticky deposit of mucus, food particles and bacteria — that adheres to your teeth at the gum line. The swollen gums create a pocket around the tooth that allows bacteria to enter the lower layers of gums and erode support for the tooth.

Dentist and dental hygienist use special tools to reach underneath the gums for scaling (also known as root planing) the plaque from the pockets and around the tooth. This process removes the bacteria and the risk of further bone damage.

Dr. Aver is highly concerned with early diagnosis and treatment of conditions affecting gum tissue. Without early detection, serious forms of gum disease can occur. Advanced gum disease can result in irreversible damage not only to the teeth and gums, but can affect the entire body if not treated promptly.

How is Periodontal Disease Prevented?

Gum disease can be prevented in majority of cases if diagnosed during early stages. The use of phase contrast dental microscope can detect the early onset of changes within the periodontal bacteria allowing Dr. Aver to use and recommend appropriate remedy for that particular bacterium. By using natural herbal remedies along with conventional treatments, Dr. Aver is able to prevent and/or get the disease under control. The use of water irrigators like Hydrofloss or Water pick with Organic herbal gum irrigator is highly recommended. Remember to brush teeth more than 30 seconds; three to five minutes is recommended. Always brush the teeth, but also brush at the gum line where plaque first forms. Flossing removes food particles and plaque between teeth that brushing can not easily remove. Therefore, it is important to floss after eating to remove the bacteria and food particles stuck between teeth. On the contrary, if the diseased condition is left alone, the gums may become very painful and swollen, red or bluish in color, recede and bleed easily. In time, tooth sockets become so eroded that teeth loosen and fall out or must be extracted. Without proper preventative care and nutritional defense, the gums and supporting structures become vulnerable to bacterial invasion.

Causes of Periodontal Disease

Periodontal disease can result from vitamin deficiency, certain medications, glandular disorders and blood disorders.

Treatment for Periodontal Disease

Dr. Aver uses a digital dental microscope as part of her comprehensive preventative care exam. On the microscopic slides healthy conditions reveal low levels of bacteria, white blood cells, and some red blood cells. Dr. Aver looks for low motility, which is movement, and low count of bacteria. The bacteria, especially the rods and spirochetes, are responsible for the bleeding and destruction of the gums and bone.

An alarming finding of oral spirochetes may have dramatic biological effect on the whole body. These long, slender, thin, corkscrew shaped microbes are found in the oral cavity in various numbers and forms. They have been strongly implicated as playing a role in the etiology of periodontal disease.

The bacteria initiates a response by the immune system known as inflammation, which presents itself with bad breath, bleeding, swelling and painful gums. The microbes hide deep in the periodontal pocket where the roots of the teeth are located.

Bacteria that invade and infect the gums and bone around the teeth are difficult to reach. Deep inside of the tooth pocket the bacteria colonize, thrive, replicate, and find their way into the bloodstream. As the infection is difficult to reach, the inflammatory process is prolonged, becomes detrimental to other systems in the body, and depletes immune system reserves.

Bacteremia (bacteria in blood) may promote or complicate systemic conditions such as: diabetes, coronary heart disease, cardiovascular disease, lung infections, abscesses, premature low birth weight babies, Alzheimer’s disease and osteoporosis.

Long term exposure to spirochetes can develop into systemic chronic inflammatory diseases that resurface later in life. Oral spirochetes associated with chronic conditions are similar to those found in syphilis, Lyme disease and atherosclerotic heart disease. Another spirochete that is thought to populate the gingival sulcus is Helicobacter pylori which is the bacteria that causes stomach ulcers and cancer.

Most spirochetes are free-living and anaerobic (don’t require oxygen to survive). They flourish in an environment that supports this condition. Acidosis (an acidic condition of the body) which reduces available oxygen to the cells can contribute to the increased presence of these bacteria.

When these microorganisms are discovered, irrigation of the gums with a bactericidal agent is used prior to any invasive dental treatment to avoid causing a bacteremia (bacteria circulating throughout the blood stream). These include herbal anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory gum irrigation, Ozonated water, or Tooth and Gum Tonic which consists of botanical anti-microbials. All of these will kill any active pathogenic organisms.

The microscope has many different functions in aiding the prevention and treatment of periodontal problems such as:

Better inspection and evaluation of the gums in the mouth
Detection of micro-inflammation
Early detection allowing for non-surgical gum treatment
Evaluate treatment effectiveness through monitoring the bacteria under microscope during periodontal wellness appointments
Allows the patient to view real time visual images of the bacteria which improves patients’ compliance with the treatment
Custom fit toothpaste and mouthwash depending on what kind of bacteria is present in the periodontal pocket.

Please Click for Instructions

Dr. Aver offers this evaluation to her patients once a year as part of wellness check ups or periodontal maintenance. It provides a quick, easy and painless assessment of oral bacteria and presents immediate feedback before the patient leaves the office. Dr. Aver also may measure saliva pH for patients with high load of spirochetes.

The only way to fight the disease when it reaches this stage is to keep the immune system strong by practicing good daily oral hygiene, which includes brushing teeth with natural toothpaste twice a day, using dental floss, irrigating gum pockets with water gum irrigator Hydrofloss using organic natural herbal irrigation, physical health and proper nutrition.