Questions relating to Dental Implants
Questions relating to Periodontal Disease
General Questions
Questions relating to Dental Implants
 What are dental implants?
Implants are natural looking replacements for missing teeth. The implant
itself is a post that attaches 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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Do implants work as well as natural
teeth?
Dental implants function much better than removable teeth, (e.g. partials
or dentures). Today’s advancements make implants function within
90% of the efficiency of natural teeth in terms of both bite and
feel.
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How much do dental
implants cost?
The cost of implants varies from patient to patient, depending on
the complexity of each case. As a general rule, however, the investment
can be expected to be within the range of anyone who can afford fixed
bridgework. Often, the cost of insertion of an implant accounts for
only a small percentage of the total cost for all the dental treatment
required.
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How soon is it possible
to eat after receiving dental implants?
As soon as the final restoration has been placed, you can resume
normal eating again. A strict soft diet is necessary between placing
the implant and placing the final restoration since stress prior to
the final cementing of the restorative tooth could cause the implant
to be weakened and fail.
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Questions relating to Periodontal Disease
What is periodontal disease?
Periodontal disease (also known as periodontal infection, gum disease
or pyorrhea) is an ongoing infection in the gums around your teeth.
The cause of periodontal disease is infectious bacteria which gets
deep into your gums.
This infection starts destroying the bone that supports your teeth.
If left untreated, it can lead to tooth loss. For more information,
please see the section entitled "Periodontal
Disease".
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What are the symptoms of
periodontal infection?
Because periodontal infection grows under your gums, you can
have no symptoms at all. More advanced cases can result in some of
the following symptoms:
- Red, swollen or tender gums
- Tooth sensitivity to heat/cold
- Bad breath
- Deep pockets around the teeth
- Spaces between the teeth
- Loose or shifting teeth
- Missing teeth
- Gums receding around the teeth (longer looking teeth)
For more information see the section entitled "Periodontal
Disease".
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Why, all of a sudden, is
my dentist sending me to a periodontist?
Periodontists have advanced training in the treatment of periodontal
disease and dental implants.
Patients with periodontal infection have a lowered 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:
- Poor oral hygiene
- Dental plaque
- Smoking
- Genetic factors
- Stress
- Diet
- Age
- Illness
Two other important factors are:
- Lack of regular dental checkups.
- 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.
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How is periodontal disease
treated?
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 Procedures.
After your initial examination, we will completely explain the specific
line of treatment you will need.
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Does periodontal treatment
hurt?
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 Procedures.
Many of our patients come back stating they are amazed at how little
discomfort they experienced.
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Why must I start treatment
right away?
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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General Questions
What is going to happen on
my first visit?
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, 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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How much will treatment
cost and will my insurance cover it?
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 do accept assignment of most insurance benefits and your
responsibility will only be to cover the remainder.
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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What are the medical
consequences if I delay treatment?
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 suffer 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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Do you use the latest
equipment and techniques?
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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What other treatments
do you provide?
Besides periodontal treatment and dental implants,
we can perform a number of procedures, including:
- Crown lengthening
- Aesthetic crown lengthening
- Antibiotic treatment
- Ridge augmentation
- Soft tissue grafting
- Gingival (gum) contouring
- Connective Tissue Grafting
For more information on these procedures, please see the section entitled "Procedures".
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How is my general dentist
important in my periodontal care?
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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