Questions relating to Periodontal Disease
- What is periodontal disease?
- What are the symptoms of periodontal disease?
- Why is my dentist sending me to a periodontist?
- How is periodontal infection treated?
- Does periodontal treatment hurt?
- Why must I start treatment right away?
Questions relating to Dental Implants
- What are dental implants?
- Do implants work as well as natural teeth?
- I have heard that dental implants are expensive. How much do they cost?
- Does insurance pay for dental implants?
- How soon is it possible to eat after receiving dental implants?
- How long does the whole dental implant process take? Will I be without teeth or unable to eat for a long time?
- When can I resume my normal schedule?
- Is the placement of implants painful? How long does it take?
- How can I tell if I am healthy enough to have dental implants?
- Where dental implants are concerned, are there risks of the body rejecting them?
- How long will implants last?
- Do implants require special care?
- I must have some teeth extracted and I intend to have implants placed to restore my ability to chew. Can a dental implant be placed at the same visit as the teeth are extracted?
- My husband and I retired. We enjoy traveling and are on the road quite a bit. I know I need dental implants, but how can I have them done without staying in one place for several months.
General Questions
- What is going to happen on my first visit?
- How much will my treatment cost and will insurance cover it?
- Are there medical consequences if I delay treatment?
- Do you use the latest equipment and techniques?
- What treatments do you provide?
- How is my general dentist important to my periodontal care?
Questions relating to 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 "Consequences".
What are the symptoms of periodontal disease?
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 "Consequences".
Why 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.
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. After your initial examination, we will completely explain your different options for treatment. For more information see the section entitled "Procedures".
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. Many of our patients come back stating they are amazed at how little discomfort they experienced.
For more information on these techniques, see Procedures.
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 Consequences section for a list of these.
Questions relating to Dental Implants
Implants are the most natural looking replacement for missing teeth. The implant itself is a post that is placed into your jawbone and acts just like a tooth root. This post provides an anchor for your general dentist to place crowns, bridges or other restorations.
We are experts in the placement of dental implants. 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".
Do implants work as well as natural teeth?
Dental implants function much better than removable teeth, (e.g. partials or dentures). Patients comment that dental implants are so natural in appearance and function that it is like having their natural teeth back. Today’s advancements make implants function within 90% of the efficiency of natural teeth in terms of both bite and feel.
I have heard that dental implants are expensive. How much do they cost?
The procedure can involve a significant investment, with fees ranging from approximately $3500.00 and up for a single tooth replacement (about the same as a conventional “3-tooth bridge”) to $5,000.00 and up for replacement of multiple missing teeth. However, the cost of non-treatment can be considerably more expensive. Continual bone loss occurs from the wearing of full dentures (plates) and partials. This progressive loss of bone can eventually cause nerve exposure, jaw fracture and a complete inability to function with regular dentures. Correction at this point may be very expensive and can involve extensive bone grafts, which requires hospitalization and an extended recovery period.
Placing implants before the bone loss becomes severe not only saves money in the long run, but also slows the bone loss process, increasing the likelihood of long-term success.
Does insurance pay for dental implants?
Yes and no – sorry to be so vague, but some carriers pay for them, some don’t, and some pay a portion of the costs.
How soon is it possible to eat after receiving dental implants?
As soon as the final dental work has been placed, you can resume normal eating again. A strict soft diet is necessary between placing the implant and placing the final dental work since stress prior to the final cementing of the restorative tooth could cause the implant to weaken and fail.
How long does the whole dental implant process take? Will I be without teeth or unable to eat for a long time?
The first phase of treatment, after a detailed evaluation and treatment plan, usually is the actual placement of the implants. This procedure is generally done in the doctor’s office during one visit. Through the implant healing period, you will probably wear your modified denture or a temporary denture or bridge and maintain normal activities without restriction. You will need to follow a modified, soft diet for the first couple of weeks.
The implant healing period can take from 6 weeks to 8 months depending on the quantity and quality of available bone.
The next phase, which usually starts 2-6 weeks after the first phase, your new replacement teeth are created and fitted. The third phase is usually completed within 4 to 8 weeks. Total treatment time for most implant cases will usually be 3-11 months.
When can I resume my normal schedule?
Generally people are back at their normal schedule the next day. If that normal schedule requires a lot of physical exertion or speaking, you may want to reduce your schedule for 48-72 hours.
Is the placement of implants painful? How long does it take?
Implant placement usually does not result in much post-operative discomfort – usually the patient takes Tylenol or Advil for about 2-5 days. If more extensive treatment is needed, for example bone grafts or many implants, then the post-operative course may require more time and medication. Anesthesia during the
surgery should make the placement procedure pain-free. Depending on the complexity and number of implants being placed, the procedure can take between 30 minutes to 3-4 hours.
How can I tell if I am healthy enough to have dental implants?
Generally speaking, if a person is well enough to undergo the treatment necessary for fixed bridgework or routine tooth extractions, the same person can undergo dental implant procedures.
Where dental implants are concerned, are there risks of the body rejecting them?
The body completely accepts placement of dental implant material within bone: therefore, today’s dental implants meet with great success.
They should last a lifetime. We know that dental problems mostly stem from improper home care or lack of treatment when needed. The same holds true for implants. With proper care and routine dental check-ups they should last a lifetime.
Do implants require special care?
Presume that dental implants are natural teeth and treat them that way. Return for regular check-ups, brush and floss.
I must have some teeth extracted and I intend to have implants placed to restore my ability to chew. Can a dental implant be placed at the same visit as the teeth are extracted?
Whether or not the dental implant can be placed immediately after extraction depends on the amount of available bone in the area. Placing the implant at the same visit helps preserve both width and height of bone and may prevent the need for placing bone grafts when bone naturally shrinks back after teeth are extracted. During the first year after teeth have been removed, as much as 40% of jawbone width can be lost.
Sometimes, infection from a tooth or periodontal disease has destroyed the bone to such an extent that it becomes necessary to do a bone grafting procedure prior to implant placement. If it is possible to place the implant at the same visit as the teeth are extracted, this can save at least three months in healing time compared to waiting for an extraction site to heal before the implants can be placed.
My husband and I retired. We enjoy traveling and are on the road quite a bit. I know I need dental implants, but how can I have them done without staying in one place for several months?
Patients are encouraged to continue their normal activities, even if it involves traveling out of town or even out of state during most of the time of their treatment process. Usually the longest period of time we recommend our patients to stay close to home is the time immediately following the implant surgery. Most people (age does not matter) are able to go about their normal activities in only 2-
3 days after their surgery. We do recommend staying close to town after this surgery for 21 days to insure that normal healing occurs.
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, 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.
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 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.
For more information see our Financial Policies or contact our insurance coordinator at (815) 744-7175.
What are the medical consequences if I delay treatment?
Periodontal disease is an ongoing infection which becomes inflamed. When this inflammation gets into the bone around your teeth, it then enters your blood stream. From there it travels to other parts of the body and contributes to many medical problems.
Recent research has found that patients with periodontal inflammation are more than twice as likely to have heart disease and stroke.
To learn more about the medical consequences of periodontal inflammation, please see the Consequences section.
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".
What other treatments do you provide?
Besides periodontal treatment and dental implants, we can perform a number of procedures, including:
- Crown Lengthening
- Gingival Contouring
- Ridge Augmentation
- Dental Implants
For more information on these procedures, please see the section entitled "Procedures".
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.