Southland Benefit Solutions has announced it will
cover treatments that use a periodontal medicament carrier, a device used to deliver medication below the gum line. In statement released last week, the Tuscaloosa, Alabama, based Southland said it would be the first carrier to offer such coverage (procedure code D5994). According to the statement, the move was made to position the company as a benefits leader and signal the company’s commitment to provide comprehensive solutions for treatment and wellness.
Periodontal medicament carriers, best known by the product Perio Tray (manufactured by St. Louis-based Perio Protect), place medication deep into periodontal pockets, the spaces between teeth and gums that can harbor bacteria. In healthy gum tissue, pocket depth ranges from 1-3 mm. When a pocket becomes infected, the space can exceed 3 mm, a depth almost impossible to clean with a toothbrush, rinse, or floss.
Southland expects that research showing improvements in pocket depths and bleeding conditions with Perio Tray delivery will translate into better treatment outcomes for patients and a reduction in long-term health costs. In a July 2014 survey of dentists with extensive experience prescribing Perio Trays, surgical costs were reduced by 43%, extractions were reduced by 35%, and repetitive procedures to clean teeth below the gums were reduced by 32%. The survey was conducted by Perio Protect and Actuarial Worksite Marketing.
