Another Great Conversation Tip; Framing Periodontitis

BY DR. MARK MURPHY, DDS, FAGD

We had so many positive responses and requests for more of last month’s tip, so here is another one.

According to a CDC report*, 47.2% of adults aged 30 years and older have some form of periodontal disease. Also, periodontal disease increases with age, 70.1% of adults 65 years and older have periodontal disease.

When talking about periodontitis with patients, it is important to create a sense of curiosity and self-discovery for them.  Although it is easier to tell them what you see in your exam, it is far better for them to figure it out themselves.  They will be more likely to own the problem and want the solution.

Here is the key. Talk about perio on a model, using pictures or slides. Before you ever look in their mouth, create a scorecard for them:

·       Not bleeding is good

·       That first line on the probe means healthy

·       Pink colored gums are good

·       Red gums and bleeding are bad

·       Deeper probe depths means bad

·       Even deeper means bone loss

·       Bone loss is painless like heart disease or cancer…it does not hurt until it is too late

·       Bone loss is irreversible, we can arrest the disease, but cannot grow the bone back

Let’s have a look together and see how healthy your gums are…use a large face mirror in their hand to follow along. Show them some healthy areas first, then begin your exam. They will be curious, discover for themselves areas of concern, and be more likely to accept your treatment recommendations. Not always, just more often.

*Eke PI, Dye B, Wei L, Thornton-Evans G, Genco R. Prevalence of Periodontitis in Adults in the United States: 2009 and 2010. J Dent Res. Published online 30 August 2012:1–7. View full text.