| Why,
all of a sudden, is my dentist sending me to a periodontist?
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Periodontists
have advanced training in the treatment of periodontal
disease and in the placement of dental implants.
Patients with periodontal infection
show weakened resistance to periodontal bacteria.
This causes a continuing gum infection that can
grow in bursts of activity. Some factors that
can cause a dramatic increase in the severity
of your periodontal disease are:
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Poor
oral hygiene |
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Dental
plaque |
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Smoking |
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Genetic
factors |
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Stress |
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Diet |
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Age |
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Illness |
Two other important factors are:
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Lack
of regular dental checkups. |
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Lack
of regular dental cleanings. |
When your infection has a
"burst" of growth, or when there are
signs that this is may occur, your dentist may
recommend periodontal treatment.
Back
to the Questions
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Periodontal disease
is an infection in the gums and jawbone. The
goal of treatment is to remove this infection
and prevent it from coming back. For more information,
see the Procedures section.
After your initial examination,
we will completely explain the specific line of
treatment required.
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to the Questions
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One of
our primary concerns is that you remain comfortable
during treatment. Towards this end, we offer an
extensive array of the latest techniques to minimize
discomfort.
For more information on these techniques,
see the Procedures
section.
Many of our patients come
back stating they are amazed at how little discomfort
they experienced.
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to the Questions
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On your first
visit to our office, you will receive a periodontal
examination. You should experience little to no discomfort
during this examination. If necessary, x-rays will be
taken to further evaluate any loss of bone around your
teeth.
Afterwards, our findings and your options
for treatment will be thoroughly explained. At that
time, the doctor will answer any questions you may have.
Our goal is that you leave with a complete
understanding of your condition and the treatment needed
to restore you to optimum oral health.
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to the Questions |
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Everyone deserves
to keep their natural teeth for a lifetime. While periodontal
treatment is not as costly as replacing natural teeth
due to tooth loss, its cost can vary greatly depending
upon your needs.
If you have dental insurance, this may
provide full or partial coverage. Our office will contact
your insurance company to learn what they will cover.
We feel that finances should never
be an obstacle to treatment. For your convenience, we
offer several payment options. We also have payment
plans to suit your individual needs. Our insurance coordinator
will be happy to answer any of your financial or insurance
questions.
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to the Questions
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Periodontal
infection grows in "bursts of activity".
It is likely that you have been referred
to us because your general dentist has noticed an increase
in infection activity.
This infection eats away at the bone that
supports your teeth, leading to tooth loss. If not treated,
there can be a number of consequences. Please see the
Dental & Medical Consequences
section for a list of these.
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to the Questions
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When periodontal
infection gets into the bone around your teeth, it can
then enter your blood stream. From there it travels
to other parts of the body and can contribute to medical
problems.
Recent research has found that patients
with periodontal disease are more than twice as likely
to have heart disease and stroke.
Please read the section entitled "Dental
& Medical Consequences"
to see an overview of recent research correlating periodontal
disease with serious medical problems.
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Your general
dentist knows your entire dental history, the condition
of your teeth, and your future dental needs. He is in
charge of your overall dental care. We work closely
with him or her to ensure you will receive the best
possible dental care.
In many cases, your general dentist may
do your preliminary periodontal treatment and a portion
of your periodontal maintenance afterwards.
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We keep ourselves
up to date regarding equipment and periodontal procedures.
You can be sure you will receive state-of-the-art care
in our office.
Regarding sterilization, we believe
that all procedures should be safe as well as comfortable.
We use only the latest sterilization techniques. For
more information on treatment techniques and sterilization
see the section entitled "Procedures".
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to the Questions
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Besides periodontal
treatment and dental implants, we can perform a number
of procedures, including:
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Crown
Lengthening |
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Cosmetic
Gingival (gum) Grafting |
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Gingival (gum) Contouring |
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Bone
Grafting |
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Frenectomy |
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Ridge
Augmentation |
For more information on these procedures, please see the
section entitled "Procedures".
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to the Questions
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