Whilst visiting the dentist today (during which I was overjoyed to find I need only a filling instead of a root canal), I was informed that I have periodontal disease, of which I am ignorant.
Is this something I really need to worry about, or is it a way for dentists to pull in some extra bucks?
It’s something you need to really worry about, assuming your worry takes the form of increased attention to oral hygeine, especially flossing. Left unchecked, periodontal disease can progress from mild bleeding and irritation of the gums to the loss of teeth and underlying bone. It can also lead to other health complications, including an elevated risk of cardiac disease and stroke.
You don’t say how serious the disease is or what your dentist suggested as a course of treatment. If you’re at the point that the dentist is recommending root scaling or even surgery, you’d probably be wise to get a second opinion. If you have gingivitis or small pockets, you may be able to get away with increased vigilance, extra flossing, and maybe a fluoride rinse. If you smoke, this is another reason to quit, since smoking aggravates gum disease, and if you have diabetes, you should know that periodontal disease is associated with poor control of blood glucose. If you’re not eating a good diet already, make sure you’re getting the appropriate amoung calcium and C, D, and B vitamins.
This is nothing to take lightly. I found some good information about the disease here.
She is recommending scaling. The x-rays showed very noticeable spurs of whatever just under my gum line.
Quitting smoking is already on the list; diabetes and diet are not an issue.
Thanks.
If you don’t do something in the early stages later on your dentist most certainly WILL be pulling in “extra” bucks.
My mother lost all her teeth to periodontal disease in her mid-40’s. Do you know how much dentures cost? And they have to be adjusted every so often, which costs money, and if you don’t, you can get sores on you gums, which are painful and can cost you money, and your jawbone atrophies, and… well, this gets really ugly.
If you catch it early and make the necessary changes in your oral hygiene routines you CAN stop its progression. I had to get the scaling done, after which I got serious about brushing and flossing. In particular, I have a toothbrush, etc. at work and brush at lunch faithfully, which for me, has made all the difference in the world. And, oh yes, very faithful about those six-month cleanings. My gums are healthy, my teeth are healthy, and it doesn’t hurt to chew. Wow, it’s true, it’s the simple things in life that are most important.
If scaling has been recommended get a second opinion - some dentists are money-grubbers and its a painful enough procedure you don’t want to put up with it unless you really need it. If you do need it, get it done then improve your teeth-cleaning going forward. Do it right, you dentist won’t be making a big profit on you because your mouth will be too healthy to need further expensive work.
My mother also lost all her teeth to advanced periodontal disease.
http://www.dentalfind.com/glossary/pyorrhea.html
Get a second opinion, or third, if you are worried about being scammed, but don’t ignore it.
My dentist recommended a bunch of really expensive & painful stuff; I had only the scaling done, then started using Listerine regularly. I did not change my flossing (none!) or brushing (Interplak tooth brush once a day only) habits at all. I have no periodontal disease now. My dentist thinks I floss and brush better and that’s the reason. She also thinks the Listerine helps some…but obviously, I think it helps a LOT!
On a related note, are those new plastic flosses any good? They’re a whole lot easier to use, but I wonder of a piece of smooth plastic works as well as a thread.
Gum disease is nothing to fool with. On the other hand, some dentists are shysters, and my wife and I have been to a couple of the latter. We had one in Chicago who claimed I needed gum surgery, which he would do for $$$. When I moved back to Houston, I got an honest and competent dentist who said otherwise. A decade later he said I finally really did need the surgery, and sent me to a periodontist.
The point being, get a second opinion. And I guess be a little suspicious of people who want to collect all the money for themselves.
Thanks to all for your helpful comments. She didn’t seem like she was trying to scam me; she was very forthright in laying out what she thought I needed, and what I didn’t need. All she recommended was the scaling.
shrug I guess I’ll go through with it. Insurance won’t cover another round of x-rays, and without insurance that would cost almost as much as I’ll pay for the scaling. It’s a few hundred dollars that I could certainly use on other things, but I can consider it an investment for my old age.
I had a similar problem with a Dentist out here.
I went in to make an appointment for a checkup so I could get a cleaning as well. The dentist said they were too backed up to get me in for a cleaning for several months, but immediately made me an appointment for 2 days later to get a scaling done???
Now I admit I don’t floss like I should, and its even possible the scalings were needed. But not being able to give me a cleaning for 2 months but having plenty of openings for the scaling (which takes longer than a cleaning) REALLY pegged my BS meter.
-GMG
Take it from the voice of experience: spend the money now. I wound up paying many tens of thousands of dollars that I could have used for other things (I literally could have bought a house with the money I spent on my dental problems).