'Excellent results’ from new botanically based perio treatment options: PeriActive and PerioPatch

These two new perio treatment options, derived from "natural substances," offer an alternative to traditonal antimicrobials. One dentist at the School of Dental Medicine at Stony Brook has already enthusiastically incorporated them into his practice.

In the medical news, there has been significant coverage in recent years about two distinct but related medical issues: the role of inflammation in a wide range of chronic diseases (e.g., diabetes, cardiovascular disease, arthritis) and the growing recognition of the perio-systemic link (i.e., that treating oral infection and inflammation leads to improvements in overall health) (1, 2). Based on recent CDC reports that over 50% of the American adult population has significant periodontal disease, the importance of effectively treating periodontal disease cannot be underestimated (3). Then, too, there has been widespread public health concern about the overuse of antibiotics due to development of resistance as well as significant undesirable side effects. This article will focus on two new products, PeriActive and PerioPatch.

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Unlike chlorhexidine and other rinses that kill bacteria, PeriActive is the only topical product that, in addition to reducing bacterial plaque, penetrates deep inside the gums, reducing the actual source of the disease—gingival inflammation—and repairing the damaged tissue. Its soothing film further protects and relieves associated symptoms of inflammation, including bleeding, sensitivity, and soreness. With regular use, PeriActive not only speeds the healing of gingivitis, but it also prevents more serious stages of gum disease from developing (4–6).

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A more aggressive form of treatment than PeriActive, PerioPatch is especially effective for advanced stages of periodontal disease. It works rapidly to reduce inflammation and rebuild gingival tissue. It actually works “outside in,” as it is so effective that it can be placed on the outer aspect of the gingiva rather than inside the periodontal pocket. When applied to the gingiva, it generates increased collagen and clinical attachment level and reduces pocket depth (6–8). Its unique, proprietary bilayer film protects the tissue while absorbing the inflammatory exudates both from the tissue and from the gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) that would otherwise perpetuate the inflamed state. A single patch can absorb more than 140µl of GCF in 1 hour, effectively keeping the crevicular space free of inflammatory cytokines and other factors that activate the disease cycle.

These products were developed by Izun Oral Care using an extraction process that transforms natural substances into health treatments that are pharmaceutically effective. They have been proven to reduce inflammation and promote faster healing—with no adverse events—in numerous double-blind, randomized, and peer-reviewed studies at major academic centers such as Columbia University, University of North Carolina, and University of Michigan (9–11).

David W. Paquette, DMD, MPH, MMSc, associate dean, School of Dental Medicine at Stony Brook, who has a special interest in novel interventions for periodontal disease, has already incorporated PerioPatch into his patient treatment protocols. “I’m seeing some excellent results on patients that I’m treating with gingival and periodontal inflammation and irritation,” he said.

References
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2. Chapple IL, Wilson NH. Manifesto for a paradigm shift: periodontal health for a better life. British Dent J. 2014 Feb 21;216(4).
3. NIH Publication No. 02-1142; 2007
4. Samuels N, Grbic JT, Saffer AJ, Wexler ID, Williams RC. Effect of an herbal mouth rinse in preventing periodontal inflammation in an experimental gingivitis model: a pilot study. Compend Contin Educ Dent. 2012;33(3):204-6, 208-11.
5. Levine W, Samuels N, Williams R. Effect of a botanical mouth rinse on dental plaque formation: a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial Journal of Oral Hygiene and Health. 2014;2(4):150-4.
6. Levine W, Samuels N, Bar Sheshet M, Grbic J. A novel treatment of gingival recession using a botanical topical gingival patch and mouthrinse. The J of Cont Dent Pra. 2013;14(5):948-53.
7. Samuels N, Saffer A, Wexler ID, Oberbaum M. Localized reduction of gingival inflammation using site-specific therapy with a topical gingival patch. J Clin Dent. 2012;23(2):64-7.
8. Saffer A, Samuels N. A novel adjuvant treatment to scaling and root planing with a topical gingival patch: a case series. Clinical Advances in Periodontics. 2012: 1-6.
9. Grbic J, Wexler I, Celenti R, Altman J, Saffer A. A phase II trial of a transmucosal herbal patch for the treatment of gingivitis. J Am Dent Assoc. 2011;142(10):1168-75.
10. Wilder R, Paquette D, Offenbacher S. Phase IV, Single Blinded randomized controlled clinical trial using a botanical topical gingival patch, (in preparation) 2016.
11. Chaushu L, Weinreb M, Beitlitum I, Moses O,Nemcovsky CE. Evaluation of a topical herbal patch for soft tissue wound healing. An animal study. J Clin Periodontol. 2015 Jan 31. doi: 10.1111/jcpe.12372. [Epub 2015 Mar 9]
12. Jivanescu A, Borgnakke WS, Goguta L, Erimescu R, Shapira L, Bratu E. Effects of a hydrogel patch on denture-related traumatic ulcers; an exploratory study. J Prosthodont. 2015;24(2):109-14. doi: 10.1111/jopr.12186. Epub 2014 Jul 8.
13. Nemcovsky, Carlos E. A novel device to enhance soft tissue healing: Clinical applications of PeriZone PerioPatch in a variety of cases. Dental Products Report September 2012.