The Power of Perio

Dr Reena Wadia champions periodontal health, promoting its importance to patients seeking treatment. This will form part of her talk at the eagerly awaited BDIA Dental Showcase 2025.

The bridge between oral health and overall wellbeing grows stronger every day. This link is something firmly supported by Dr Reena Wadia, the Founder and Principal Gum Specialist at the state-of-the-art RW Perio. But there are many challenges that need to be overcome, with Reena identifying the greatest obstacles for all things periodontology:

“Patients want orthodontic and restorative treatments, and many want them instantly. It is not always possible to do everything they want within the time they expect. Compliance is also a problem – gums are the foundations that need sorting out before patients can proceed with more glamorous treatment. We often say that compliance is 80% at home, meaning that those who struggle looking after their periodontal health are delaying treatment. Patients must understand how important their gums are; once they know this, it will provide the necessary motivation to look after them prior to the dental treatment they really want.

“However, there is a greater awareness for oral health and wellness today, especially regarding how complications such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease can be connected to the teeth and gums. Many patients are driven by aesthetics, but they also want to invest in wellness, and gum health is a crucial part of this.”

For clinicians looking to develop their skills and confidence in periodontology, Reena has some astute advice:

“Firstly, a multidisciplinary approach is super important for optimising perio health prior to, during and after other treatments. In my practice, we work with local specialities to look after the whole patient journey – this is integral for holistic care. Good communication is essential for referrals and for the patient, ensuring they understand the treatment plan and all the specialities involved.

“Secondly, learning and applying your skills and knowledge is a must. At our clinic we have a global teaching academy, Perio School, with both online and hands-on courses. These are open to all, including clinicians looking to provide complex care without having to specialise. Taking advantage of great educational opportunities is always recommended.”

Such opportunities occur at BDIA Dental Showcase 2025, where Reena’s talk will focus on mitigating the risk of litigation within the periodontal field:

“Perio is one of the top reasons why dentists get sued, often caused by a failure to diagnose or refer. There are easy ways to minimise this risk and during the session I really want to provide the latest guidelines and break them down in a way that’s easy to understand and apply in practice.