Integrating the aMMP-8 biomarker diagnostic into general dental prevention enhances the expertise of your dental hygiene department. Communication with patients is simplified and patient uptake of preventive measures increases many times over. The key benefit is the detection of patients with worsening symptoms within a matter of minutes. Previously invisible subclinical collagen breakdown is made visible to patients in a measurable way with the help of an informative analysis report. As a result, around 43% of all patients will require additional preventive measures and will request that your clinic administer these.
Dentistry, Periodontology, Dental Hygiene
Early detection of active collagen breakdown with aMMP-8
The Early Warning System
aMMP-8 is the activated form of matrix metalloproteinase 8, a biomarker that indicates the active breakdown of gingival, periodontal soft and hard tissue – before signs of inflammation or of attachment loss become clinically visible (in the screening of apparently healthy patients). The test can therefore flag the earliest stages of this destructive disease of the teeth’s supporting tissue – which may otherwise only be detected months later using probing or x-ray examination.
Diagnostic procedures like probing depth, bleeding on probing (BOP), the periodontal screening index (PSI), or x-ray examination indicate the manifestation of tissue breakdown and serve to determine whether the patient is suffering from gingivitis/muscositis or periodontitis/peri-implantitis. These methods cannot be classified as forms of medical prevention because measurable tissue loss has already occurred at this stage.
The plaque index and gingivitis index as traditional oral hygiene parameters provide information about the presence of bacterial plaque and can be used to motivate patients. However, the presence of plaque alone does not constitute sufficient evidence of the development of tissue damage.
If the patient has a healthy immune system, even a large amount of plaque does not necessarily lead to periodontitis or peri-implantitis.
The microbiological or microbial marker diagnostic determines which bacteria is colonizing the diseased periodontal pockets in patients with periodontitis and peri-implantitis. The guidelines published by the German Society of Periodontology (DG PARO) and German Society of Dentistry and Oral Medicine (DGZMK) state that such tests are only useful in terms of selecting an adjuvant systemic antibiotic treatment to target an existing infection. 16 Accordingly, bacterial testing is of little prognostic value.
The Interleukin-1 genetic test provides information about the patient’s expected immune response to bacteria and about their general, genetically determined propensity for inflammation based on their predisposition to produce Interleukin at an early stage. The test does not provide any information about the current status.
The direct association between systemic diseases and silent oral inflammations
Detecting “Silent” Oral Inflammations
Systemic diseases or conditions are diseases that affect entire systems in the body, such as the blood system (leukemia, anemia), the central nervous system, or the muscular system as a whole. In a broader sense, systemic or generalized diseases also include those that affect the entire body in a more or less unspecific manner. These include diabetes mellitus, rheumatism, psoriasis, sarcoidosis, systemic lupus erythematodes, scleroderma, and cystic fibrosis.
1
Prolonged Stress
…because stress may increase the propensity for inflammation
2
Couples Planning a Pregnancy
…because sperm mobility may be reduced and it may take longer to conceive
3
Women Aged 45+
…because the risk of osteoporosis may be elevated
4
Everyone Aged 35+
…because the risk of developing periodontitis increases with age
5
Athletes/Fitness Enthusiasts
…because performance may be impaired
1
Cardiovascular Diseases
…because the risks of heart attack and stroke may be increased
2
Pulmonary Diseases
…because exacerbations may become more frequent in those with COPD
3
Diabetes
…because it may become more difficult to regulate blood glucose
4
Patients with an Endoprosthesis
…because the prognosis may worsen after having a knee or hip replacement implant
5
Rheumatic Diseases
…because joint pain may increase
PerioSafe – the molecular-biological preventative diagnostic
Periodontitis Prevention Program
PerioSafe Pro DRS closes the diagnostic gap by allowing you to detect and select patients who are in need of additional preventive measures (shorter recall intervals for prophylaxis) in order to stabilize and preserve their oral health. Active collagen breakdowns and silent oral inflammations can be detected in a matter of minutes with this delegable test – ideally before any visible damage occurs.
Evaluating the potential for preventive measures – which patients require additional preventive measures to preserve their oral health?
Around 43% of your patients are in the PSI 0 – 1 group. Around 50% of patients aged over 30 and/or with a chronic pre-existing condition will show a positive result in an aMMP-8 screening test and will require additional preventive measures to preserve their oral health or stabilize it in the long term.
The need for periodontitis prevention based on DMS IV
The Potential
With a sensitivity and specificity of 90%, the aMMP-8 test identifies patients with periodontal risk factors (Prof. Sorsa et. al.). 80% of patients with a positive test result decide to take part in a prevention program (Dr. P. v. de. Schoor et. al.).
Quantitative Analysis with the ORALyzer
Digital – Quantitative – Chairside
- Detects active collagen degradation
- Is simple to perform
- Provides a quantitative result in just a few minutes
- Is validated and reliable
- Is delegable and privately billable
- Is suitable for use in both dental clinics and medical practices, thereby enabling interdisciplinary diagnosis and treatment
The Personalized Prevention Plan with Declaration of Consent
The Best Protection Against Periodontitis
The earlier a hidden inflammation can be detected, the easier it will be to treat. What’s more, the earlier the affected areas of the implant and periodontium are specifically and professionally treated, the higher the chances that the patient will make a full recovery. Therefore, every opportunity for early detection and prophylaxis should be utilized to ensure that complications or implant loss can be combated through treatment at an early stage. However, it is not possible to distinguish healthy from unhealthy peri-implant tissue using probing or pocket-depth measurement alone.
Enhance Existing Diagnostics with the PerioSafe PRO DR
The aMMP-8 technology used in the PerioSafe Digital Reader System is two to three times more sensitive than the standard “bleeding on probing” (BOP) procedure, enabling a reliable quantitative assessment of periodontal “grading” – a key progression parameter.
ImplantSafe® DR offers fast quantitative detection of the risk of peri-implantitis and its progression for each and every implant. There’s no waiting for test results to come back from a lab.
Instant digital analysis enables rapid visualization of the measurement, which in turn helps raise awareness among dental implant patients and motivate them to take preventive action.
Declaration of Consent in the prevention plan
The Declaration of Consent, which was developed with leading lawyers, provides you with the forensic documentation you require and explains to patients the importance of attending preventive checkup at the recommended intervals.
Center of Expertise for the Preservation of Natural Teeth, Implant Protection, and Molecular-Biological Preventative Diagnostics
The PerioPrevention Concept
Almost half of all adults in Germany are diagnosed with moderate periodontitis (grade 3) (DMS-V). Experts estimate that around 28 million German adults are in need of periodontal treatment. And yet only around one million treatments for periodontal disease were claimed from statutory health insurance companies in 2016.
In other words, only 3 to 4% of those affected are receiving suitable treatment. This discrepancy may possibly be explained by the fact that the early stage of periodontal degradation is not be detected in time or that the necessary treatment is not pursued.
PerioPrevention Centers (PPC) are dental practices and clinics that are particularly committed to the preservation of natural teeth and implant protection, and have specialized in these areas. They use aMMP-8 biomarker technology for screening and monitoring processes as standard and are the first point of call in their region for interdisciplinary cooperation with medical specialists. PCCs have the expertise and equipment needed to use modern diagnostics and minimally invasive measures to prevent the development of periodontal diseases at an early stage and sustainably eliminate them. The interdisciplinary PPC prevention strategies include:
- Early detection of active collagen degradation using a quantitative test/laboratory test (PerioSafe PRO DR/ImplantSafe DR & ORALyzer) as diagnostic standard practice
- Creation of a personal prevention plan and recording of the quantitative MMP-8 input value. Professional teeth cleaning (PTC) with pocket decontamination or deep cleaning plus advice on dental care at home (needs-oriented)
- PerioPrevention concept – according to a Swedish long-term study, regular professional teeth cleaning is the best way to achieve successful long-term results. The 25-year study by Axelsson & Lindhe therefore recommends that patients start by having their teeth professionally cleaned 4–6 times per year for the first 24 months. The frequency can then be reduced to 2–4 times per year.
- Clinical monitoring and quantitative control with aMMP-8 for progression monitoring purposes plus a treatment and recall decision based on diagnostics
- Interdisciplinary consultations with the medical specialists treating the patient, if necessary
The PerioPrevention Concept According to Axelsson and Lindhe
As a result of their 25-year study, the Swedish researchers Axelsson and Lindhe recommend that patients have their teeth professionally cleaned 4–6 times a year for the first two years. The frequency can then be reduced to 2–3 times per year. This would make it possible to reduce the number of teeth lost by 90% to approx. 1.4.
Early Detection of PA Progression
Implant Protection and Preservation of Natural Teeth
Almost half of all adults in Germany are diagnosed with moderate periodontitis (grade 3) (DMS-V). Experts estimate that around 28 million German adults are in need of periodontal treatment. And yet only around one million treatments for periodontal disease were claimed from statutory health insurance companies in 2016.
In other words, only 3 to 4% of those affected are receiving suitable treatment. This discrepancy may possibly be explained by the fact that the early stage of periodontal degradation is not be detected in time or that the necessary treatment is not pursued.
By the time they reach retirement age, Germans lose approx. 14 teeth (according the DMS IV). In most cases, tooth loss results from the unnoticed progression of silent periodontal inflammation, the frequency of which has also increased by around 23%.
The PerioPrevention Concept is developed in line with the scientific principles established by the Universities of Gothenburg and Helsinki according to Axelsson/Lindhe and based on more than 30 years of research and science. It confirms that with early detection and prevention, silent inflammation and tooth loss caused by periodontitis can be reduced by almost 90%.
aMMP-8 Detects which Patients are Experiencing PA Progression
PSI
measures the attachment loss that has already occurred – pocket depth (damage measurement)
MMP-8
measures the active tissue degeneration and has a prognostic value
PA progression
is not visible to the naked eye as it is a molecular process of the immune system
The PerioPrevention Concept
A Strong Team for Oral and Physical Health
Almost half of all adults in Germany are diagnosed with moderate periodontitis (grade 3) (DMS-V). Experts estimate that around 28 million German adults are in need of periodontal treatment. And yet only around one million treatments for periodontal disease were claimed from statutory health insurance companies in 2016.
In other words, only 3 to 4% of those affected are receiving suitable treatment. This discrepancy may possibly be explained by the fact that the early stage of periodontal degradation is not be detected in time or that the necessary treatment is not pursued.
Do you recognize your clinic’s own philosophy and want to integrate the medical biomarker technology as standard so that you, too, can communicate with medical specialists and keep your patients healthy in an interdisciplinary manner?
Then join a pan-European network in the fight against periodontitis and peri-implantitis and for the preservation of oral and physical health.
Become a PerioPrevention Center and Receive your Quality Seal
The PPC quality seal (Perio Prevention & Oral Anti-Aging Center) is the mark of quality for dental clinics that specially focus on prevention and are certified in the area of immunological diagnostic technology.
More than 300 PPCs across Europe use the latest saliva diagnostic technology to guarantee the best possible preservation of natural teeth, protection of implants, and maintenance of general health.
