Treating the Fearful - from a Dentist's Perspective.

Sept. 4, 2012 - PRLog -- Hygienist Kim Stevens and Howard Schwadron, DDS are recognized with the Orkos Award for excellence in a case study treating a patient with severe gum disease (a.k.a. periodontal disease) and a fear of subgingival cleanings. The patient’s situation was first documented by Kim Stevens, RDH in 1995 and detrimentally progressed over the years. From 1995 to 2007 the patient insisted that Dr. Schwardron treat her exclusively and refused deep cleanings (also known as scaling and root planing) repeatedly, only consenting to topical cleanings and polishing. By 2007 when the doctor told her she had to have scaling and root planing or lose her teeth so she consented to a hygiene appointment with Stevens.

At the September appointment in 2007, Stevens completed a comprehensive periodontal exam that included probing for periodontal pockets (measuring the gaps that formed between her teeth and gums). The lower arch contained the deepest pockets measuring 10 millimeters. Her far back tooth (tooth #31) was in the worse shape. It had drifted in the absence of the tooth next to it (tooth #30) and pitched forward. There was 100% bleeding on probing (meaning, at every possible point her gums were bleeding) and the bleeding was heavy. Upon being presented with the prognosis, the patient had to acknowledge the situation. As Stevens recalls that the patient was so afraid of a deep cleaning that she chose not to use the technical term for it – “scaling and root planing” and she reiterated Dr. Schwadron’s message that a deep cleaning was needed, but still the patient adamantly refused. Stevens admitted becoming very frustrated. Stevens then told her the only thing left to try was a non-invasive delivery of medication with prescription Perio Trays®. Stevens thought she would still lose her teeth, but the patient agreed to this non-invasive approach and Dr. Schwadron prescribed Perio Trays® from Perio Protect.

The story has a happy ending and is documented at the following website: http://www.theorkosaward.com

For more information about the Perio Tray, go to http://www.periotray.com

For more information about Perio Protect, go to http://www.perioprotect.com