Why Do We Use an Endoscope?

You’ve heard of an endoscope. It’s a camera inserted into a body part that allows the doctor to see the body part. It’s the perfect way to explore an area with minimal risk. It’s a standard in joint and GYN diagnosis and assists the surgeon in numerous procedures.

But an endoscope in dentistry?

Periodontitis affects at least 42% of the adult population in the United States. That’s the disease that causes bone loss around the teeth and, if not treated, results in the loosening of the teeth. It’s the primary disease that we treat in our practice. The initiator of the disease is plaque, the bacterial colony that covers the tooth. It’s there whether we eat or not. Plaque must be removed every twenty-four hours.

Accumulations of plaque cause the attachment between the gum and the tooth to let go. And through a complex series of immune responses, the plaque goes further below the gum line and calcifies into an adherent hard mass called calculus. That calculus then accumulates more plaque. This results in decreasing bone support for the teeth.

Calculus removal is the primary method of stopping the disease. Traditionally, this is done with a “deep cleaning.” The endoscope makes the deep cleaning effective. Why? The camera magnifies the root surface by 40 times. We can see the calculus and get it out.

When we started using the endoscope 23 years ago, we reduced the amount of gum surgery we did by over 95%. That’s how effective a talented hygienist using an endoscope can be.

So if you are getting continual deep cleanings, try periodontal endoscopy. For most, you’ll have to do it only once to get the desired results.