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The following individuals and businesses have assisted in our research and periodontal treatment methodologies.

Dr Ron Schefdore

Dr Ron Schefdore, Founder and Director of Healthy Heart Dentistry and Pharmaden Nutraceuticals, has my highest esteem. He has displayed the utmost level of professional responsibility and foresight by leading the way for the integration of double-blind, university tested, targeted pharmaceutical grade nutritional supplements in the treatment of periodontal disease.

Ron has also paved the way and made possible the opportunity for dental professionals to screen for systemic disease with FDA approved finger-nick blood tests in their own offices. In this way, dental professionals are assisting physicians and patients in the discovery of yet undiagnosed systemic disease, primarily, cardiovascular disease and diabetes—the major causes of death and disability in this country.

With the epidemic proportion of individuals in our country predisposed to cardiovascular disease and diabetes, dental professionals have the potential to screen patients for these life-threatening systemic diseases, thereby intercepting and assisting in the treatment of systemic disease at unprecedented rates. Cardiovascular disease is the number one killer in the US and it is estimated that 50% of the population will be diabetic by the year 2030.

Dentistry in the 21st century is not just about creating beautiful smiles. It is about saving lives. Never before has there been a time where we can have such a powerful role in our patients’ total body health. The impact of the “Mouth/Body Connection” is real and substantiated by thousands of pieces of scientific research, world-wide. It is time we, as dental health professionals, take seriously the newfound role which is ours alone, and master the steps required to assist our patients in living longer, healthier lives.

Dr Schefdore is leading the way for all of us. Along with the Perio Arts Institute and PerioPassion! Seminars, I applaud him for his tremendous dedication, leadership and ingenuity in improving our ability to help our patients.

Below, find a summary of the preliminary results of our research.

After reviewing the following research summary, imagine the impact we can have on our patients’ lives by screening for systemic disease with simple in-office blood testing and by treating their periodontal disease with Pharmaden nutraceuticals which are targeted to improve the health of the delicate periodontal tissues. (Visual evidence of the effectiveness of treating periodontal disease with Pharmaden nutritional supplements is seen in the ppt presentation entitled “Periodontal Nutrition”)

Without question, no general or periodontal practice should be without these adjuncts to their patient care. Certainly, we will find these diagnostic and screening tools become standard-of-care in the world of professional dental care.

Perio Arts Institute/ Port Warwick Dental Arts
Blood Testing Research Summary
Lisa Marie Samaha, DDS, FAGD, PC

In research studies at the Perio Arts Institute and Port Warwick Dental Arts, we have tested well over one hundred periodontal patients for hs-CRP and HgA1c blood levels and have found the following:

Hs-CRP Testing Results

hs-CRP in men: 72% of men tested had an above normal reading for future heart attack and stroke. Of that 72%, 9% were in the high, high risk category with levels above 10. The highest reading we noted, which was related specifically to an acute periodontal infection of one tooth, was 44.25. With definitive treatment of the acute periodontal infection, to include extraction of the affected tooth, through debridement and the use of Pharmaden periodontal nutraceuticals, a targeted antibiotic, the patient’s 44.25 hs-CRP level was reduced to the normal range of .65 within 10 days.

hs-CRP in women: 75% of women tested had an above normal reading for future heart attack and stroke. Of that 75%, 13% were in the high, high risk category, with levels above 10, with an average score of 18.5.

**It is critical to note that a score above 1 is considered to indicate an elevated risk for future heart attack and stroke while a score above 3 is considered high risk for future heart attack and stroke.

The NEJM, Nov 2003, indicates that hs-CRP is a more accurate indicator of future heart attack and stroke than elevations in cholesterol. Half of all heart attacks occur in individuals with normal cholesterol levels.

The Journal of Periodontology, Oct 2007, reveals that traditional periodontal treatment alone (scaling and root planing) does not reduce hs-CRP.

Our research also shows that dental professionals who perform periodontal treatment (scaling and root planing) and use Pharmaden nutraceuticals as an adjunct to treatment are routinely reducing hs-CRP levels 30-90% in 60 days. Any dental professional can duplicate these results by following a prescribed treatment protocol such as that developed and taught in the Perio Arts Institute’s PerioPassion! Seminars.

If the hs-CRP is in the high, high risk category, it is prudent to notify the patient and his/her physician, in writing. If the Pharmaden targeted nutritional supplements for treating periodontal disease do not reduce hs-CRP within 3 months, there are typically other systemic issues contributing to the elevation of hs-CRP and further medical evaluation is necessary.

HGA1c Testing Results

HgA1c is a measure of the patient’s past three months’ blood glucose levels. It is a screening tool for diabetes. When levels are above 6, concern over pre-diabetic or diabetic status is present. In our research of over one hundred patients, we have discovered:

HgA1c in men: 22% greater than 6 and of that 22%, 3% were over 7.

HgA1c in women: 41% were above normal and of that 41%, 4% were over 7.

Readings in both men and women were found extremely high - 10.2% and 10.7%.