Despite the Popularity of Dental Implants, PerioHealth Professionals(TM), Houston's Smile Engineers(TM), Do Everything Possible to Save Their Patients' Natural Teeth

HOUSTON, TX--(Marketwire - September 21, 2010) -  PerioHealth Professionals^™, Houston's Smile Engineers^™, say that despite the increasing popularity of dental implants, every effort should be made to save a patient's natural teeth.

What's more, the principals of PerioHealth Professionals^™, Michael K. McGuire, DDS and E. Todd Scheyer, DDS, MS, stress the importance of carefully evaluating all of a patient's treatment options, especially when it comes to considering surgical procedures, such as tooth extraction and dental implant placement.

"There is a widespread misconception among the general public that extraction and implant surgery are quicker and more convenient than undergoing the periodontal therapy that can actually save their natural teeth," explains Dr. McGuire.

Traditional periodontal treatment, including non-surgical and surgical techniques, has very high success rates^1-3 when followed by good professional and personal care.^4,5

"Implant surgery is not a 'no-maintenance' alternative to preserving your natural teeth," says Dr. Scheyer. "Many people aren't aware that even dental implants require proper oral hygiene to prevent bone loss and implant failure, which is more common than many patients realize."⁶

While implants do provide a useful option for patients whose natural dentition cannot be saved, sustained progress in the dental specialty of periodontics has made tooth preservation more attainable. For example, recent scientific advances in regeneration have made restoring lost gum and bone tissue more predictable than ever^7-8. According to Dr. McGuire, "It's critical that patients are made aware of all possible treatment options, and that a clinically proven approach is taken to determine the best possible course of treatment, which may or may not be dental implants."

References:

1. Hirshfeld L, Wasserman B. A long-term survey of tooth loss in 600 treated periodontal patients. J Periodontol. 1978 May; 49(5):225-37.
2. Oliver RC. Tooth loss with and without periodontal therapy. Periodontal Abstr. 1969 Mar; 17(1)8-9.
3. Goldman MJ, Ross IF, Goteiner D. Effect of periodontal therapy on patients maintained for 15 years or longer. A retrospective study. J Periodontol. 1986 Jun; 57(6):347-53.
4. Lindhe J, Nyman S. Long-term maintenance of patients treated for advanced periodontal disease. J Clin Periodontol. 1984 Sep; 11(8):504-14.
5. Lindhe J, Westfelt E, Nyman S, Socransky SS, et al. Healing following surgical/non-surgical treatment of periodontal disease. A clinical study. J Clin Periodontol.1982 Mar; 9(2):115-28.
6. Lindhe J, Meyle J; Group D of European Workshop on Periodontology. Peri-implant diseases: Consensus Report of the Sixth European Workshop on Periodontology. J Clin Periodontol. 2008 Sep; 35(8 Suppl):282-5.
7. McGuire MK, Scheyer ET and Schupach P. Growth factor mediated treatment of recession defects: A randomized controlled clinical trial and histological and micro-CT examination. J Periodontol 2009;80:550-564.
8. McGuire MK, Scheyer ET, Nevins M, Schupbach P. Evaluation of human recession defects treated with coronally advanced flaps and either purified recombinant human platelet-derived growth factor -ββ (rhPDGF) with beta tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) or connective tissue: A histological and micro-CT examination. Int J Perio Rest Dent 2009;29:7-21.

About PerioHealth Professionals^™

Known as Houston's "Smile Engineers^™," PerioHealth Professionals^™ has established itself as the most trusted source for accurate information and expert treatment regarding a variety of relevant topics within the dental field, including oral/systemic health links, single and multiple-site implants, tissue engineering, periodontal plastic surgery, and guided implant surgery.

PerioHealth Professionals^™ team members are firm believers in "patient-driven dentistry," which means each periodontal and implant case is treated with optimum, personalized care from the initial evaluation and treatment to long-term follow-up and maintenance. For more information, visit www.periohealth.com and www.GuidedSmiles.com, or call 713-783-5442.

Contact Information:

Media Contact:
Michael Ventriello
Lanmark Group
732-389-4500 ext. 181