Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

 (CDC) includes a vanguard discussion about health inequalities within periodontal disease prevalence in the United States.

The second in a series that highlights disparities across a variety of demographics and social characteristics, the “CDC Health Disparities and Inequalities Report – United States, 2013” finds that although there is a prevalence of periodontal disease in nearly half of adults aged 30 or older, the occurrence is much higher in non-Hispanic blacks and Mexican Americans.  The report also asserts that periodontitis is higher in men than in women; those without a high school education; lower income individuals; as well as current and former smokers.

Since 2003, the CDC has been working in partnership with the 

 (AAP) to assess the extent, severity and pervasiveness of periodontal disease in the U.S.  The AAP recommends patients receive a comprehensive periodontal evaluation annually, with dental professionals stressing the importance of the screenings on a larger scale, especially since many who suffer from periodontal disease do so without symptoms.

“The extent of all that encompasses a complete periodontal screening has been illusive in many practices for years regardless of our patient’s age, race or education,” said 

, RDH, an author, speaker, and leading advocate for greater public awareness around periodontal disease. “As a dental hygienist, I am encouraged by the CDC's latest effort in supporting a consistent method to perform a thorough periodontal screening once a year.”

There are plenty of tools available to dental practitioners to help them screen patients more effectively, including 

, a PST genetic risk test for periodontal disease.  PerioPredict measures genetic variations for Interleukin-1 (IL-1), a key mediator of inflammation, and identifies patients who are at a higher risk of developing severe periodontal disease.  Said to be fast, easy and painless, the test is performed in approximately 1 minute during a routine exam or cleaning, after which the sample is sent to 

. for analysis.  Test results are then returned to the dentist in approximately two weeks.

For more information and resources about how to expand your patients’ awareness of periodontal disease, head to the AAP’s website at 

Articles

A report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) includes a vanguard discussion about health inequalities within periodontal disease prevalence in the United States.

New CDC report highlights greater instances of periodontal disease in minorities, lower-income individuals and more

Want to know what to do with all the data you’ve been collecting from perio charting? Stephanie Pietrantonio Lodding, RDH, explains.

As hygienists, Stephanie Pietrantonio Lodding, RDH, says preventative measures can make all the difference for patients, especially when it comes to periodontal disease.

 Lodding explained why you shouldn’t skip perio charting patients. Here, she explains how perio charting information can be used to better the health of those you treat.

“Let’s make a paradigm shift today and have a zero tolerance policy for bleeding,” Lodding says, adding it should be the new acceptance in every practice when staff open the door to regular perio charting.

Watch Part I: Why you should be perio charting [VIDEO]

More tips from Stephanie Pietrantonio Lodding, RDH

How to grow your practice under the new healthcare plan [VIDEO]

How dental hygienists can get the most out of high-tech products [VIDEO]

How to deal with a difficult patient [VIDEO]

How to get patients to understand the Oral Systemic Link [VIDEO]

modernhygienist.com-2013-11-01

New CDC report highlights greater instances of periodontal disease in minorities, lower-income individuals and more

You’ve started perio charting. Now what? [VIDEO]