Regardless of how they’ve aesthetically improved your patients’ smile, veneers or crowns, if not fitted properly, can be more susceptible to bacteria and may be to blame for bad breath.
With an average temperature of about 95°F, humidity of 100 per cent, abundant oxygen, and a regular coating of sugar and carbohydrates the mouth can harbour more than 400 species of organisms.
Billions of these micro organisms, mainly bacteria, grow in layers, crowded together on every damp surface of the mouth and in every nook and cranny.
Any void in the crown or veneer margin can harbour odour-producing bacteria that chemically degrade into volatile sulphur compounds, a major source of bad breath.
Whilst there are some medical reasons for bad breath, 90 per cent of physiological odour that originates from sites within the oral cavity is attributed to VSC. Even offending foods and tobacco cause only a small percentage of bad breath problems.
If the treatment or prevention of bad breath, which can be associated with ill fitting crowns and veneers and maintenance of fresh breath, is to be effective, it is important to intercept VSC activity.
To reduce the production of VSC it is important to remove amino acids, the building blocks for bacteria and plaque, and eliminate the proteins to decrease the ability of all micro organisms in the oral cavity to multiply. The active ingredient in the RetarDEX oral health care range is clinically proven to deactivate amino acids.
It has long since been known supra-gingival and sub-gingival plaque deposits are populated by heterogeneous micro organisms. Within sub-gingival microbiota there are more than 250 bacterial species and it is probable a minor number of these could be capable of maintaining and sustaining pathological reactions in the periodontium. It is therefore of great importance to ensure all areas surrounding the site for veneer placements are kept free from the pathogens responsible for bad breath and the periodontal disease process. One measure of success could be the elimination of gingival bleeding before, during and after treatment.
Research documents the ability of the active ingredient stabilised activated chlorine dioxide present in the RetarDEX range to reduce bleeding on probing scores. Mervyn Druian, a leading cosmetic dentist, believes; ‘This can aid recovery of the gingival tissue during the preparation and fitting of veneers. I recommend my patients start using the RetarDEX oral rinse and toothpaste at home, before treatment commences, to ensure removal of the protein pellicle and biofilm, in order to achieve an unsurpassed level of oral hygiene and pristine gum health. I give them a pack containing all the products they will need to achieve this.’
It is important to ensure the oral hygiene products recommended during the placement of veneers and other cosmetic treatments play an active role in improving and maintaining good oral health. Wherever possible bad breath that may be associated with ill fitting veneers should be taken seriously to decrease the possibility of destructive periodontal involvement and failing treatments.
References available on request.