Improving Immune System Function by Targeting Periodontitis? (Webinar)

Prioritizing the health of our immune system has never been more important than during a viral pandemic. Patients know this, and they’re well-primed to hear about ways they can boost their immunity. Of course, there are recommendations such as dietary supplements, good nutrition, adequate sleep, increased physical activity, and stress management; but, how about addressing chronic infections that compromise immunity? Could this include periodontitis? Maybe.

No one has investigated whether treatment of periodontitis, specifically, enhances immunity*. However, what we do have is mounting evidence that many chronic infections can dysregulate the immune system in ways that increase susceptibility to unrelated pathogens. Chronic infections exert another negative impact, and that is that vaccines for unrelated illnesses may not be as effective in people who have chronic infections. With the threat we face during this pandemic, there has never been a greater incentive to diagnose and treat periodontitis. And, for our patients in periodontal maintenance, it’s never been more important to ensure that periodontal disease activity does not recur.

This webinar provides a practical, evidence-based overview of the role of the periodontal microbiota in subverting the host immune response to create a pro-inflammatory environment that induces pathological changes beyond the periodontium to distant organs throughout the body. Of note, this includes the lungs and increased risk for respiratory infections ― highly relevant at this time. The course will also discuss the importance of gauging the rate of periodontal disease progression (grading), introduced in the 2017 classification system for diagnosing periodontitis, and assessing stability in a reduced periodontium. Additional topics include diagnosing periodontitis in its earliest stages, improving the accuracy of periodontal exams, how we hijack the diagnosis of early stage periodontitis, and the use of a tray/hydrogen peroxide system that has demonstrated effectiveness in stabilizing the periodontium during periodontal maintenance.

* According to a literature review conducted on May 23- 27, 2020