After five years of chemotherapy and one year in remission, a 78-year-old female cancer survivor was ready to smile again.
She went to see Missouri-based dentist Dr. Jack Griffin about restoring her severely decayed teeth. Dr. Griffin rebuilt the woman's smile with crowns and ACTIVA BioACTIVE-CEMENT, a revolutionary new product from Pulpdent Corporation. Dr. Griffin shares the case study, complete with his treatment plan, clinical outcomes, and images, in a recent article.
Patients undergoing cancer treatment face a variety of oral health challenges, including xerostomia (commonly referred to as dry mouth). Without sufficient saliva to neutralize acids and support the natural remineralization process, patients suffering from dry mouth can be more susceptible to the acids that cause tooth decay. Such was the case of the cancer survivor who presented at Dr. Griffin's office with rampant root surface decay.
Dr. Griffin fitted the patient with seven dental crowns. To help protect her teeth against further decay, he cemented the crowns with ACTIVA BioACTIVE, a dental material that is biomimetic, meaning it imitates the physical and chemical properties of teeth. ACTIVA BioACTIVE releases and recharges calcium and phosphate (the basic building blocks of teeth) as well as fluoride ions. In the process, the material becomes integrated with the tooth, forming a protective seal.
According to Dr. Griffin, materials like ACTIVA BioACTIVE offer a "promising alternative" to their traditional counterparts, adding that the material "results in excellent tissue health and long-term prognosis."
Click here to learn more about ACTIVA BioACTIVE-CEMENT.
To stay updated on bioactivity and learn about the Heroic Dentistry Series, which demonstrates ACTIVA's unprecedented capabilities, visit www.pulpdent.com.