Non-surgical approaches to treatment of periodontal disease

Dental Tribune International

Thu. 23. June 2022

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COPENHAGEN, Denmark: The tenth edition of EuroPerio, the leading congress in periodontics and implant dentistry, attracted thousands of visitors to Bella Center in Copenhagen last week, from 15 to 18 June. Attendees were able to choose from a wide range of presentations, live surgeries, debates and sponsor sessions.

British multinational consumer goods company Unilever exhibited at this year’s EuroPerio10, where it also sponsored a scientific session on non-surgical approaches to the treatment of periodontal disease.

In the opening presentation, Prof. Moritz Kebschull, chair of restorative dentistry in the School of Dentistry at the University of Birmingham in the UK, talked about modern approaches to primary and secondary prevention of periodontal disease and put forward some of the latest international clinical practice recommendations. He also described the current understanding of the pathobiology of periodontal disease and discussed the upcoming trends in prevention based on cutting-edge research.

Talking about supportive periodontal therapy and oral health behavioural change in dental patients, Prof. Kebschull highlighted the importance of maintaining good oral hygiene at home. “Self-performed plaque control is the key,” he noted.

Also on the topic of the importance of prevention, Dr Alison Green, who works in oral care research and development at Unilever, then provided insights on the effectiveness of dentifrices containing zinc salts regarding gingival health. She listed the benefits of zinc salts in toothpaste, detailing an impressive suite of clinical studies conducted over two decades which demonstrated that toothpaste containing zinc salts can reduce plaque growth and improve gingival health by reducing inflammation and bleeding.

For example, according to clinical studies, toothpaste enriched with zinc salts inhibits growth and metabolism of oral anaerobic and aerobic bacteria. Additionally, zinc ions are effectively delivered to plaque, can inhibit plaque growth for up to 18 hours and are substantive in the mouth, even after food intake. Finally, Dr Green noted that toothpaste zinc salts do not stain enamel and can be formulated for a pleasant taste.

More information about Unilever can be found here.