The average person looking to care for his/her teeth probably does not keep up to date on what is happening in the world of dental research. The dental health conscious should read up on research inroads in order to learn what can be done to take care of the teeth. Recently, researchers in Melbourne, Australia have attained tremendous results with the very first gum disease vaccine. The vaccine may prove very promising to those who have a fear of going to the dentist and having their teeth treated.

The Incredible Vaccine Breakthrough

After many years of work, dental scientists from the University of Melbourne have arrived at creating a vaccine that might cut down on the need for surgery and antibiotics. Surgery could be extremely necessary in certain situations. The troubling paradox about invasive surgeries is patients fear them. So, they avoid seeing the dentist which leads to not having the surgery. The disastrous end result here is, frequently, a loss of teeth due to the periodontal disease running ragged and untreated. Those with severe periodontal disease could find this vaccine to be a potential alternative to frightening and difficult surgeries.

The Costs of Surgery

Fear might not be the only thing keeping people from the dentist. The Washington Post once reported that about 85 million Americans lacked dental insurance. Without dental insurance, the ability to afford basic care much less costly care for invasive surgeries is difficult. A vaccine could make things a little easier for those on a budget since the vaccine might end up being far less costly than the surgery it prevents.

Preventive Care Potential

Although the vaccine has not advanced out of the testing stage and is not approved by the FDA in the United States, the news from Australia provides hope for the future. In particular, the preventive care potential of the vaccine could be a dental game changer. A person who has mild gum disease could be treated by the vaccine prior to the problem reaching the level of severe periodontal disease. Curtailing the progression of gum disease may not necessarily be possible with basic cleaning or root planing. Genetic factors could lead someone to being more prone to suffering from periodontal disease. The arrival of the vaccine may be able to assist those with such genetic predispositions.

The Current Landscape

Again, the vaccine is not currently available. Until it is, regular visits and checkups at the local dentist office are the way to reduce the chances of invasive surgeries. These checkups help with keeping the teeth in the best condition possible. Hopefully, if genetics lead to dental disease, the arrival of the problem may be years away and occurs when a revolutionary vaccine is commonplace among family dentists.

For more information, check out a site like http://www.cresthillfamilydental.com.