That’s in my mouth?
“That’s in my mouth?!” says nearly every patient after seeing their high risk slide!
A lot has changed in our understanding of gum infections. I won’t bore you with a history lesson, but we've certainly moved past the non-specific plaque theory from the 70s. Simply put, it's all about the bugs, balance, and treating the real issue.
Gum infections often lurk unseen
You can’t see periodontal disease; what we see is the damage and symptoms from the infection.
When a patient has active periodontitis, it's a sign of an imbalance in their body.
Oral pathogens cause systemic problems because they don’t just reside in the mouth.
Seeing bad bugs packs a punch!
My favorite tool is the phase-contrast microscope because it gives us the ability to show our patients what is swimming in their mouth in seconds. So, no more 10-minute conversations about pockets or bleeding points. Simply show the bugs, and bam! The patient gets it! Can I get an Amen?
Did you that some shapes are always bad?
Just as we can swiftly spot decay on X-rays, identifying harmful bacteria with phase-contrast microscopes follows a similar intuitive process.
Spirochetes - These snake shaped critters are always bad. Plus, they have a superpower because they can live in multiple hosts in one lifetime!
That means that cutie you smooched this past weekend might've shared more than just a moment! 😳
Entamoeba Gingivalis (E.g.) - This protozoan parasite is like Pacman, and its favorite food is our White Blood Cells!
It effortlessly bypasses the body's defenses, medications, and antibiotics.
And when the mouth is inflamed? That's like rolling out the red carpet for E.g. because it thrives in inflammation.
Trichomonas Tenax - This flagellated protozoan parasite’s byproducts can alter the host's immune response, promoting the survival and replication of other pathogens.
These little buggers excel at grabbing patients' attention and leaving them eager for treatment!
A balanced neighborhood is what we’re aiming to achieve!
Imagine your mouth as a bustling city full of bacteria. Some are the friendly neighbors, keeping things in check, while others are the troublemakers – the bad bugs. In periodontitis, these troublemakers start causing chaos outnumbering the good guys three to one!
With a microscope, we can spot these troublemakers early, before they throw their bacterial parties and multiply like crazy. So, by catching them early we can evict them before they turn your mouth into their personal playground!
Your friend Coach Tosha, RDH
