| 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 dental implants.
Patients with periodontal infection have
lower resistance to periodontal bacteria. This causes
a continuing gum infection that can grow in bursts
of activity. Some factors that can cause a dramatic
speed-up 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, periodontal treatment may be recommended.
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 treatment you will need.
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One of our primary
concerns is that you have a comfortable experience 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, if any, discomfort during this
examination. If necessary, x-rays will be taken to further
evaluate any loss of bone around your teeth.
Afterwards, your findings and 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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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. We can discuss the cost of care fully once a treatment plan has been designed for you.
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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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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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Dental mplants are
natural looking replacements for missing teeth. The dental
implant itself is a post that is attached to your jawbone.
This post provides an anchor for your general dentist to place
crowns, bridges or other restorations.
We are experts in the placement of dental implant
posts. Dental implants begin with an evaluation by your general
dentist who will decide if you are a good candidate for this
procedure.
For more detailed information, please see the
section entitled "Dental
Implants".
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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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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". Back
to the Questions
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