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Building Better Smiles
OGDEN -- Dr. Cliff Sorensen believes he has a way to defeat the cause of tooth cavities in all Utahns by the year 2009.
Sorensen, a Huntsville dentist for 42 years, said there is a system that can tell a dentist within minutes if a patient has harmful bacteria in their mouth, putting them at risk for tooth decay, and creating a treatment plan to eradicate it.
"The bacterial infection that causes cavities is curable. You don't have to continue to put up with dental decay and the expense, anxiety and fear that comes with it. You can become cavity free for life," Sorensen said. "The California Dental Association made it their goal to eradicate the bacteria by 2010. I'd like Utah to be the first state to say we accomplished that."
Dental caries is a disease that damages the structure of the teeth, leading to cavities and tooth decay. Left untreated, infection, pain, tooth loss and other diseases can occur, Sorensen said. Several things can lead to caries, including lifestyle, diet and medications that reduce the flow of saliva.
A new system, called CariFree fights the bacteria that thrives in a person's acidic mouth, Sorensen said. To test for the bacteria, two teeth are swabbed and then placed in a testing meter to asses the level of risk. This is called CAMBRA, Caries Management By Risk Assessment, a set of recommendations and guidelines geared toward determining a person's risk of caries. It includes identifying three factors that may put a person at high risk for caries and include bacteria, poor diet and low saliva flow.
If the reading comes back high, the person is placed on a treatment plan that consists of an antibacterial mouth rinse twice a day for up to three months to kill bacteria and a maintenance rinse to help prevent the bacteria from returning and keep PH levels in the mouth neutral.
"This program does not take the place of a dentist, but instead a trained clinician joins the team and goes into the dental office and educates the patient," Sorensen said. "We even go into homes, businesses and senior centers to test patients and educate them. We don't want to take business away from dentists but instead want patients to take this to their dentist and ask about it."
On Friday, Sorensen held a special training session for new clinicians. Today from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Juniper Room at the Marriott Hotel in Ogden, dentists as well as the public are invited to learn more about the program and receive a free assessment.
"The cost of treatment is about the same as the cost of one filling," Sorensen said. "That can run anywhere from $121 to $151. I've had a lot of success with it. The CAMBRA methodology has been recognized worldwide and a lot of research has gone into it. We can now assess the problem and do things to prevent the bacteria from coming back and re-infecting."
Dr. Mark Cowley, secretary for the Utah Dental Association, said CAMBRA is not a totally new philosophy but is being focused on again. He said there are several treatment options for patients with caries including the use of fluoridated products and prescription products.
"For years, the holy grail in dentistry has been to eradicate that bacteria, which mostly is caused by mutans streptococci," Cowley said. "This CAMBRA program is one that the American and Utah dental associations are looking at. Right now, though, we don't have a set cure for caries."
Cowley said while he hasn't heard of CariFree, he has heard of similar treatments.
"There's one treatment in the form of a lollipop that changes the bacterial balance in the mouth for up to 10 weeks and therefore lowers the risk of caries," Cowley said. "There are a lot of options out there.
"Patients should continue to visit their dentist every six months, use a fluoridated toothpaste, floss, avoid sugary and acidic foods and, if at high risk for caries, seek available treatment."
Add Your Comment
The taste of the A&B rinse is horrible, l
like bleach. Why?
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