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Gum
Disease Recently a profound discovery has indicated that some individuals inherit a susceptibility to periodontal disease. This concept contradicts my training that plaque alone causes periodontal disease and that treatment should consist of effective plaque removal. Using modern Genetic Sequencing Techniques we can evaluate a patient's genetic susceptibility. We know that a person who is Genotype Positive increases their chance of periodontal disease by 19 times. Knowing an individual patient's risk status should affect how actively that patient needs to be seen after receiving gum treatment. In addition to the inherited genetic predisposition, risk factors for developing severe periodontal disease include poor oral hygiene and smoking. John
V. Reitz, D.D.S., F.A.G.D. Copyright
2010. All rights reserved. |
