Perio Protect

The Perio Tray® by Perio Protect: Non-Invasive Therapy for Gum Disease

Gum disease is caused by a bacterial infection that is hidden below your gums. Dental cleanings can effectively treat the bacteria, but when you return home the cycle often continues. Bacterial cells grow back in just hours after a cleaning, and toothbrush, rinse and floss can’t reach deep enough to address the infection at home.

The Perio Tray by Perio Protect gently applies medication deep under the gums to fight the infections. You use it at home for just minutes each day. The Tray is comfortable, flexible, and custom-fit precisely for your mouth.

With Perio Tray therapy, you have a new chance against the infections. In additional to healthier gums, patients commonly report whiter teeth and fresher breath. If you’ve been told that you have gum disease (gingivitis or periodontitis), ask our team if Perio Trays are right for you.

Who is a good candidate for Perio Protect?

Perio Protect isn’t meant as a preventative measure to stop gum disease. That’s what diligent brushing, flossing, and the use of mouthwash is all about. But once you have gum disease, where tartar and plaque have moved under the gum line and are causing enough irritation to make the gums pull away from the teeth, now Perio Protect could be very helpful. 

For some patients, the non-invasive Perio Trays reduce the need for surgical intervention. For others, Perio Protect can be a compliment to traditional root scaling, root planing, and even gum flap surgery. It helps ensure the bacteria can’t return and get a new foothold.

Your Golden Dental Solutions dentist can tell you if you’re a good candidate for Perio Protect to treat your gum disease. 

Is Perio Protect therapy painful?

There isn’t any pain whatsoever when you wear your Perio Protect Trays. They are custom made to fit your teeth precisely and comfortably. The hydrogen peroxide solution you put into your trays doesn’t cause any pain or discomfort, except for the bacteria it is going after in your periodontal pockets.

Is there any preparation for Perio Protect therapy?

There isn’t anything you need to do to prepare for your Perio Protect therapy from Golden Dental Solutions. Once we feel you’re a good candidate, we’ll take impressions of your bite and send them to the Perio Protect lab where they will fabricate your customized trays.

The only preparation, if you would call it that, is to fill your Trays before you wear them for the prescribed period each day. 

How long do I need to wear my Perio Protect Trays?

You wear your trays for just a few minutes each day, usually for a period of 10-15 minutes. Most of our gum disease patients start initially with 2-3 Perio Tray applications each day. Once the infection is under control and the inflammation and gum bleeding decrease, we will usually move to you a single application every day to continue to manage your infection.

Is there any recovery after Perio Protect treatment?

Unlike gum surgery, using your Perio Trays is simple and completely non-invasive. There isn’t any recovery after you wear your trays. You simply wear them for 10 to 15 minutes at a time. The frequency will be decided by our doctor and our team based on the level of your gum disease. Afterwards, you can do whatever you please.

What kind of results can Perio Protect achieve?

Brushing and flossing are mandatory tools of daily home oral hygiene, but some people simply struggle with gum infections and perennial bad breath caused by the bacteria.

The Perio Trays have a patented seal that delivers the bacteria-killing peroxide where toothbrushes and floss cannot reach. In research, Perio Protect has reduced gum bleeding by 75 percent. In a controlled clinical trial, 100 percent of patients surveyed after being placed on Perio Protect treatment said they would recommend the treatment to others.

The hydrogen peroxide you place in the Perio Trays has two roles. First, it kills bacteria. Peroxide is a broad-spectrum antimicrobial, meaning it kills various bacterial species in the gum pockets. Antibiotic treatments often can only target specific strains. Also, the bubbles from the hydrogen peroxide are releasing oxygen deep into the pockets. This creates a healthier environment for bacterial growth, so healthy bacteria (which your mouth is full of at all times) can repopulate and exclude bad, pathogenic bacteria.

Are there side effects with Perio Protect?

Hydrogen peroxide is a natural occurring substance in your body. In fact, your body makes peroxide in your liver, and your white blood cells use it to fight infection. There aren’t any side effects or complications with these treatments.

Can I whiten my teeth before or after using Perio Protect?

Interestingly enough, teeth whitening uses the same catalyst as Perio Protect, hydrogen peroxide. The difference is where it is applied and the strength of the solution. Perio Protect’s completely custom trays fit your teeth precisely and they also feature an internal seal. This ensures the hydrogen peroxide formula is delivered beneath the gumline to kill the bacteria that is causing gum disease.

At Golden Dental Solutions, our in-office Zoom! or KöR teeth whitening systems also use peroxide. Here, the peroxide penetrates the enamel of your teeth to break up stains that have penetrated and lodged in the enamel. Unlike Perio Protect, with teeth whitening, we apply the whitening gel only to the tooth surfaces of the patient. We put a block on the gums.

So, yes, you can whiten your teeth before or after using Perio Protect. An interesting side effect of using Perio Protect, however, is that the hydrogen peroxide whitens your teeth. This is not to the same degree as our in-office or at-home teeth whitening options at Golden Dental Solutions, but for some patients it delays their need to come in for whitening.

Is Perio Protect covered by my dental insurance?

All insurance providers can be variable in what they cover, but we’ve had good success with gaining insurance coverage for Perio Protect. We work with your insurance company to achieve the highest level of coverage possible, but it is a good idea to inquire directly with your provider.