Dr. Melba Bonelli has a large family dental practice in Marlton, New Jersey. She has been treating patients with the Perio Protect Method® since 2006.
Question - How has Perio Protect® been successful in your office? Answer - The Perio Protect Method® has been a great adjunct to initial periodontal therapy in my practice. I can’t imagine treating periodontal patients without it. One of my first significant cases involves a 33 year old Caucasian male presenting to my office with generalized 4-7mm pockets, class 3 bleeding index, with generalized 1-2 of recession/etiological factors of moderate plaque and calculus. Posterior vertical and horizontal boney defects were evidenced by the radiographs. After two weeks of using the Perio Protect® system with scaling and root planing, his 4mm pockets were 2mm and his 7mm pockets were 5mm. I was amazed. The tissues were coral pink, stippled and healthy. Bleeding index was a 1 and the teeth were so spotlessly clean it looked like something literally melted the plaque off of this gentleman’s teeth. I decided to fit him for a second set of trays to see if it was possible to take this gentleman to a normal healthy range of cleansable sulcus depths. To my surprise, Perio Protect® did it! He has maintained for over a year with sulcus depth 4mm or less with no bleeding upon probing. His homecare continues to be remarkable. I have countless cases that are similar to this one, but this is memorable because it was my first real success.
Question - Are the kinds of results you are describing typical? Answer - Yes, these results are typical and bring a reward to treating the periodontal patient like no other system I have ever used. I have tried just about every intrapocket medicament that is in the dental formulary of sulcular medicaments without real success. Perio Protect® has lasting results and really empowers the patient to win a battle that has been lost by countless others for so many years.
Question - How did you begin to implement the Perio Protect MethodTM in your office? Answer - I start by gathering all the necessary oral diagnostic tools needed to make a diagnosis and assessing the risk factors associated with the patient’s systemic health. I then order blood work for each of my patients with a diagnosis of gingivitis or periodontitis. 95% of the time my patients with periodontitis also had undiagnosed high cholesterol with high triglycerides and low-density lipoproteins (LDLs). Two patients were undiagnosed diabetics as well. Once blood work is received and patients commit to treatment of initial therapy of scaling and root planing, impressions are then taken to have the first trays ordered. Patients who decide not to have Perio Protect treatment are then asked to sign the denial form and are given a referral letter to see the local periodontist to receive follow up care. I no longer allow a perio patient to remain in my office without Perio Protect treatment or perio specialty supervision. I feel that strongly about the link between periodontal disease and other systemic diseases noted in recent literature. I conscientiously close the door to any possible medical/legal ramifications to patient non-compliance. I truly feel that once I know about the technology I am legally and ethically responsible to provide a certain level of care to my patients.
Question - What does Perio Protect® allow you to do that other conventional treatments do not? Answer - The Perio Protect Method empowers patients to take care of their periodontal health. All other systems allow the patient to be un-accountable for their periodontal health. Long term results are dependent upon patient compliance and care for themselves. Patient involvement is the best way to treat any disease.
