Activists are those who take direct, vigorous action in support of a doctrine or practice which they vehemently champion. This makes a Dental Activist a great label for today’s caring, driven, dental professional. You have an extremely compelling and consequential message and mission.

The public-at-large needs to hear your message and benefit from your dental activism. Even though they sometimes don’t seem to be listening, you have the most receptive audience ever. Consider these points regarding periodontal disease:

1. Approximately eighty percent of all adults have some form of periodontal disease. They need you!

2. Periodontal disease has been linked to cardiac arrests, blood clots, strokes, respiratory ailments, premature births, hip replacement infections, and other serious ailments. It is no longer considered just a localized infection; it has quick and easy access to the entire blood stream.

3. Most periodontal disease goes either under-diagnosed or untreated. Patients may not see their dentists concerning periodontal problems; instead, they may limit dental concerns to tooth and cosmetic issues.

4. The mouth is a breeding ground for bacteria and infections. Most infections are introduced orally.

5. More patients are adopting a preventive and holistic health approach. With the immune system being at the core of this approach, how can a strong immune system be built upon a foundation of periodontal disease?

6. Preventive oral health care is not a concept that is widely accepted beyond brushing and flossing. Such care in many other health fields has been a growing trend for years. A heightened focus on preventive oral care would not only help patients change their attitudes about new preventive measures, but would boost support of basic brushing and flossing.

7. We should not underestimate the positive influence of Dental Activism. There are more subtle consequences of periodontal disease that can affect your patients’ quality of life. Such things can be as small as bad moods due to low-level infections or as big as lost productivity -- and even lost wages -- from illnesses contracted as a result of weakened immune systems.

The Whitener applauds you, Dental Activists, who are making a difference in the fight against periodontal disease. In this issue, we cover a number of related subjects in support of your good work, including:

• At-Home Cleaning & Debriding - Carbamide peroxide was first used as an oral antiseptic to treat periodontal disease. The valuable, re-emerging treatment tool, At-Home Cleaning and Debriding, is covered in a series of two articles. First, Victoria DaCosta, RDH outlines the modality model for using 10% carbamide peroxide in an At-Home Whitening, Cleaning, and Debriding stent. Next, Dr. Rodney Ogrin covers the opportunities and practicalities of implementing At-Home Cleaning & Debriding in your practice.
• Health Risks of Periodontal Disease - Gum disease can have serious consequences! Review a list of health risks associated with untreated periodontal disease to help you communicate its seriousness to your patients.
• Whitening - The article, The Crisis/Opportunity of Whitening Trends, shares a perspective on how to convert recent trends in professional tooth whitening into opportunities to get more patients in your door and lead them from cosmetic to broader dental solutions.
• Tongue Cleaning - Review the benefits of tongue cleaners and how your practice can use them to help patients improve overall oral health and fight halitosis.
• Community Service - Dental activism is a community affair. Learn about a program to receive FREE whitening material to be used for community service.