Inside the Practice: Inside Bridging Periodontal Communication Gaps

On this episode we look at the challenges dentists face when communicating with both patients and other health care providers about periodontal disease. While it can go largely unnoticed in undiagnosed patients, periodontitis is among the most widespread infectious diseases around the globe and numerous studies link periodontal issues to other conditions including diabetes and heart disease. Yet patients rarely understand the full gravity of the condition and often refuse treatment. Additionally, medical doctors rarely refer diabetic patients or others with periodontal comorbidities to a dental professional for a periodontal evaluation. Dr. Richard Nagelberg, a full time practicing dentist and director of medical affairs for OraPharma, is hopeful that a new free tool created by OraPharma can be used to both improve periodontal diagnostics as well as patient understanding of the condition and communication about the disease with other health care professionals. Dr Nagelberg joins Dental Products Report editorial director Noah Levine to talk about the challenges presented by periodontal disease and how using the MyPerioHealth app with a patient can help.