Embracing the Evolution of Periodontal Health

By: SUMMER LaMOUREAUX, Director, PDS Institute of Dentistry and Hygiene Operations

With change comes an exciting adventure for the future of dental hygiene.

The state-of-the-art hygiene program adopted by PDS-supported owner dentists not only raises the bar of clinical excellence, but it sets industry standards for others to follow. In October, we celebrated National Dental Hygiene Month and recognized almost 1,400 PDS-supported hygienists for their commitment to oral-systemic wellness and the integral role they play in educating patients about The Mouth-Body Connection all year long.

Part of the PDS five-year strategic growth strategy includes a focus on improved periodontal health outcomes by moving toward a predictive, rather than reactive, periodontology model. With all the advancements in science such as blood and saliva screenings like OralDNA, aMMP-8 (PerioFitness) and HbA1c, hygienists are on the front lines of predictive care. For all clinicians, this means a greater ability to help stabilize a patient’s dental disease, resulting in better overall health outcomes. For patients, this means access to earlier detection of genetic risk factors associated with cardiovascular disease, diabetes, dementia, cancer and so much more.

So far, 30 offices have begun HbA1c testing, a blood test that indicates a patient’s average blood sugar (glucose) level within the last 2-3 months and, while it cannot diagnose, can help detect whether a person has or is at risk of diabetes or prediabetes. During initial HbA1c testing, out of more than 480 tests PDS-supported practices have performed, 29% of patients were found to have glucose numbers that fell in the pre-diabetic to diabetic range. We anticipate offering HbA1c testing to additional offices in 2023.

OralDNA Labs

In November, PDS integrated OralDNA Labs with Epic to simplify the lab-ordering process by eliminating scanning and expediting results. As you may be aware, salivary diagnostics can detect high-risk periodontal pathogens that cause periodontal disease and threaten oral-systemic health. Genetic risk screening of interleukin-6 (IL -6 ) can establish patients who are at increased risk for more severe periodontal infections due to an exaggerated immune response. Offering an integrated model of testing, in addition to clinical examination, helps patients and team members better understand their treatment choices. The Alert 2 combination test, a combination of MyPerioPath and MyPerioID, is part of the PDS team member dental plan with a copayment of $10. Visit the Dental tab on the Benefits homepage of the PDSConnect intranet to learn more.

PerioFitness Testing

Dentognostics is our research-driven technology partner known for advancements in “PerioFitness”, a test designed to detect the aMMP-8 enzyme, or biomarker, related to collagen breakdown seen in periodontitis. In 2022, PDS expanded its pilot of PerioFitness testing in an additional 48 offices. Early but very promising outcomes indicate this screening is enhancing patient care not only though case acceptance but increased patient retention rates. Additional deployments are planned in 2023 with the inclusion and build-out of Epic integration.

HbA1c Testing

PDS launched a pilot program in Clark County, Nev. to introduce HbA1c testing at the chairside in supported practices with a focus on the diabetic patient population. Every year an estimated 21,422 people in Nevada are diagnosed with diabetes. According to the American Diabetes Association, approximately 254,570 people in Nevada, or 10.6% of the adult population, have been diagnosed with diabetes. An additional 70,000 people in Nevada have diabetes but don’t know it, greatly increasing their health risk.

Additionally, PDS unveiled its Smile Generation Dental Plan with a diabetes focus, targeting diabetic and prediabetic patients in the region and offering them inexpensive dental coverage, diabetic screenings, discounted benefits and more. For many patients that are without dental insurance, cost is one of the primary factors hindering patients from accepting diagnosed dental treatments.

The Dental-Medical Integration Adventure

For years, oral health was considered a separate component from the rest of the body, like two different books sitting on different shelves, often taught independent of one another.

Today, we understand that oral health and overall health are bidirectionally linked. With Epic fully deployed in all PDS-supported practices, primary care providers and dental clinicians can collaborate to deliver comprehensive integrated treatment plans, a shift from the previous care delivery approach.

Change challenges us to improve and encourages clinicians to embrace the unknown, often an uncomfortable feeling. But with the unknown comes a great adventure and one in which PDS is strategically positioned to maintain competitive advantage.

As periodontal care and treatment evolves, exploring change and advancements will require hard work, self-reflection and some growing pains, as all great adventures do. Together, we are learning, adapting and rewriting the next chapter of dentistry. Let’s get comfortable with being uncomfortable.