PerioPeak helps manage gum disease

PerioPeak

Location: 511 S. Sequim Ave.

Phone: 425-765-6322

Hours: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Thursday

“This is connected to all of this,” professional dental hygienist Judy Carroll, says, cupping her mouth, then gesturing toward her feet.

“If you have other diseases, it’s absolutely crucial to get your gum disease treated. My experience is when people host virulent bacteria, it is a big deal, especially with rheumatoid arthritis. We know that oral pathogens are part of its cause and others.”

Carroll, who’s been in the field for 25 years as a registered dental hygienist, has spent the past 15 focusing on technology and a holistic approach to better reveal, treat and manage periodontal or gum disease in her private practice PerioPeak Innovations.

For five years, she commuted from Sequim to Bremerton, treating patients from other states and countries as far away as Australia with her pioneering therapy known as Regenerative Periodontal Endoscopy.

She tired of the commute and has had her practice within Olympic SmileCare, 511 S. Sequim Ave., since 2014, working with dentist Dr. Jared Despains.

“When we work together, it’s magic,” Carroll said.

Because of her Internet presence and dozens of positive reviews, PerioPeak attracts many of the worst cases — people on the verge of losing several to all of their teeth — and with a three-pronged non-invasive approach, Carroll is able to give them a new lease on life.

“My business is advanced periodontal therapy, very individualized periodontal medicine using integrative care with medical professionals so the patient is getting a comprehensive and holistic approach,” Carroll said.

“The main technology is a dental endoscope which I use under the gum line to remove infection and tartar without surgery. I also can promote bone generation with stem cell technology and can treat ‘hopeless’ teeth so they don’t have to be extracted,” Carroll explained. “With the endoscope, we can clean perfectly under the gums with great visual access instead of doing it blindly.”

According to her website, “Peridontal endoscopy makes use of ultra-tiny, diamond tipped instruments — fast and precise tools used in a two-handed technique. A skilled clinician can remove plaque and calculus without damaging any gum tissue or teeth roots. The periscope illuminates — and magnifies 48 times — the root of the tooth under the gum … and allows a skilled clinician to locate previously undetected root deposits with pinpoint accuracy.”

Fighting gum disease

Carroll said that periodontal disease is the most prevalent disease globally with some 75 percent of the world’s population having some form of it and that its ramifications extend to other body systems.

“What sets PerioPeak apart is DNA testing to determine what kind of bacteria a patient has and what his or her genetic history is because oral bacteria is connected to many other serious diseases such as Alzheimer’s, cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis and lung infections.”

Carroll said studies have shown that bacterial gum disease can exacerbate the above conditions and negatively affect body systems.

“A person can have harmful bacteria without knowing it or not have signs or symptoms in their mouth,” Carroll said. “We take a salivary sample so we know what bacteria it is and we can target therapy for that with antibiotics.”

PerioPeak also employs DNA testing for eight gene markers associated with inflammation to provide powerful insight into the genetic component of disease.

Carroll concedes that the treatment, not covered by insurance, is expensive in the short term, “but the patient saves thousands of dollars in extraction and ongoing medical treatment. I’m treating the source of the problem so it doesn’t return — that’s the most satisfying thing — we’re talking about saving people’s lives. It’s what I love, it’s my passion.”