|
Should I be Concerned if I am Referred to a Periodontist?
If you have been referred by your general dentist to our experts here at the Lanap & Implant Center of Pennsylvania it means that they want you to receive the best care possible. Your dentist is confident that in seeing our periodontists you will have a proper diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of gum disease. Our experts have had years of advanced training in the surgical placement of dental implants and gum care.
Referred for Periodontal Treatment at
The Lanap & Implant Center of Pennsylvania
If you have periodontal disease, you’re certainly not alone. In fact, more that half of American adults age 30 and older have some form of periodontal disease. Some patients who require simple periodontal treatment can be managed by a general dentist. However, in light of extensive research suggests that periodontal disease can be linked to stroke, heart disease, diabetes and other chronic diseases. More challenging periodontal treatment may require a higher level of expertise that only a trained specialist in periodontology can provide.
Here are some possible reasons your general dentist might refer you our experts for more advanced periodontal treatment.
- You have a moderate or severe level of periodontal disease presently
- Bleeding gums
- Swollen gums
- Receding gums
- Loose teeth
- A change in your bite (how your upper and lower teeth come into contact with each other)
- Pain or discomfort within, around or underneath your gums.
- You have a personal or family history of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, respiratory disease, osteoporosis, or cancer.
- You’re a smoker, which increases your risk of acquiring advanced disease.
Referred for a Dental Implant Procedure at
The Lanap & Implant Center of Pennsylvania
Periodontists are dentistry’s experts in the surgical placement of dental implants. There is a reason why your general dentist to referred you to us for your care.
- Within the dental profession, periodontists are known as the masters of both hard tissue (teeth and bones) and soft tissue (gums, cheeks, etc.). Placing a successful dental implant requires extensive knowledge of both tissue types.
- Placing a dental implant is a surgical procedure, and the extra three years of education periodontists receive beyond dental school includes in-depth surgical training that most general dentists don’t receive.
- You need multiple implants, which is a more complex procedure with several optional approaches to consider.
- You have limited bone structure into which the implant can be inserted.
- Your implant will be placed in the upper back jaw near the sinus, which requires sinus augmentation to raise the sinus floor, develop enough bone for the implant, and create adequate space between the implant and the sinus.
What Will My First Visit Be Like?
During your first visit, our doctors review your complete medical and dental histories. It’s extremely important for us to know if you’re taking any medications or being treated for any condition that can affect periodontal care, such as heart disease, diabetes, or pregnancy. With our expertise we will then examine your gums for any gum line recession, assess how your teeth come into contact with each other when biting, and check to see if any of your teeth are loose. We will further evaluate the health of your gums by placing a small measuring instrument (called a probe) in the spaces between your teeth and gums (called periodontal pockets) to measure the depth of those spaces. We will also take digital CT cone beam scan x-rays to observe the health of the bone below your gum line. We will communicate directly with your general dentist so they are informed of your care and prognosis of treatment.
We know at the LANAP & Implant Center you might come into our office with anxiety of the unknown or fears from the past – we expect it. We are confident that after meeting Dr. DiGiallorenzo, Dr. Hsu and Dr. Kapoor you will leave our office trusting in us as your dental provider. We want you to be confident in yourself that know that you have made the right dental health decision and choice. We want to be your partner as you new path one step closer to having a mouth you are proud of – we are with you, each and every step along the way.
|
