deep cleaning of teeth/gums for early periodonitis

[bethie_alane]

can anyone tell me what to expect?

i went to one dentist and that was my diagonosis cuz i hadn't been to the dentist in 3-4 years and i let one tiny part of my gums go neglected and they were probably red and irritated for a year, yes i know, i'm paying for it now....

my dentist , actually the hygenist can preform the expensive (!!!!) procedure, however, tomorrow i am going to a periodontist to get a second opinion and see what his prices are like.....


has anyone went through this before? i am very nervous and also upset that i didn't go to the dentist early to get this taken care of cuz now it is very expensive to fix it! the original dentist quoted me at $880 to deep clean my whole mouth, $440 each time over 2 visits plus 4 follow up visits after the procedure to make sure everythingis under control...


any feedback would be welcome!!!!

[karenpe]

Hi Bethie!!

I have periodontal disease also!! I went to my first dentist appt when I was 18 years old. Pitiful I know, but my parents would not take us even tho it would have been free. Then got married and never had the money to go very often.

Well, I finally started going regularly about 4 years ago. I can't believe it wasn't worse than it was. Anyway, when I first started going to the dentist again, I had to go in for 4 different cleanings. Each time they did 1/4 of my gums. They numbed me up and scraped under the gumline. They said I had a lot of bone loss and now I have to get them cleaned every 3-4 months.

And if I remember right, it only cost me 80.00-100.00 per each of the 4 visists. OK I just found the bill (I keep everything LOL) Total of 4 visits==$320.00. This was in 1997. $292.00 for fillings...oh my!! LOL Root canal...$270.00.......Crown==$445.00

Are they going to just clean under the gumline or do they need to cut the gums to clean??? My DH had to get his gums cut (only the bottom) and it cost $1200.00 (With a specialist)

I have had 2 wisdom teeth out and only 1 pulled...and the sad thing is there was nothing wrong with the tooth except with it being too close to the one beside it...he said if he didn't pull it (since I wouldn't be able to clean it very well) I would end up losing both of them.

Now everytime I see him he always remarks how far we have come. LOL When I first went to him, he said they would clean under the gumline and see how that worked. If needed he would send me to a specialist. Fortunately those 4 cleanings worked wonders and the regular cleanings that I get now!

My gums were sore afterwards but nothing I couldn't handle and well worth it!! They will also check your bone loss for each tooth. It was uncomfortable for me also but it's all worth it...believe me. I want to hold onto my "originals" as long as I can. BTW I am 41!!

I would say check around and compare prices. If you have any other questions please email me!! Good luck!!

[geepie1961]

I had this done in 1995. At that time I paid $50 per quad (I have an HMO). They usually do one quad at a time because it takes about an 45 mintues. Unlike Karen's DH I didn't have to have my gums cut. I'm so glad I got this done, my gums look aren't red all the time and don't bleed when I brush them. I go every three months for cleaning ($64) and also to have my teeth checked for bone loss too. My gums were sore also but well worth the discomfort in order to keep my teeth. Also my dentist recommend getting an electric toothbrush, if you don't already have one, and I'm glad I got it, my teeth feel much cleaner using it and also if you don't, start flossing often. Colgate, to me, makes the best floss. In fact, I go Monday for my next cleaning. I would check around, that price sounds awful high to me. Best of luck to you.

[bethie_alane]

thanks for the advise, dang, it seems like athens, ga is expensive!

i was quoted at $440 deep cleaning (under the gum line, no cutting or surgery) for each 1/2 of my mouth, y'all got a deal! plus :( i have NO INSURANCE, but i guess i am compensated by making almost $18/hr, still.......

am seeing an official periodontist tomorrow and i am kinda excited cuz my consultation is with HIM and not a hygenist so i will be getting all sorts of offical medical information :) i'm also hoping his prices are lower, but i don't have time to shop around which is also expensive, my vist tomorrow for a 45 min consultation is $80, i'm going to grad school in aug and begin working again aug 4 so time is the essence here.....

i have already had my teeth probed or pricked or whatever at the other dentist's office where they shout out 2, 3, 4, 5 to measure how many mm down you are or whatever, i had some 2s, mostly 3 and 4, and 5s at my back teeth...

i just want this over with and taken care of! my poor section of gums by my front teeth is sore and bleeds a lot when i brush plus the gum is swollen and red, you really can't tell but its obviously something my mom notices since she has been harping on me for a year to go to the dang dentist, wish i did ages ago so i would save tons of money now but again like karenpe, i want my original teeth to last a long long long long time! i'm not even 24 yet!!!!!!!

again, thanks so much for the info, i guess the price the dentist quoted me is quite high, but i need to get this taken care of and not dilly dally, plus even if i shopped around to 2 or 3 other people that would be about $200- $300 out of my pocket for consultations and such and i already have the 2 appts made at the dentist to get each 1/2 of my mouth deep cleaned....

argh, mom is right, should have went ages ago....

thanks for responding..... glad i'm not the only one....

[patsyk]

Just another opinion, but beware! I had it done a few years back. Shortly afterward, my dad and 2 co-workers were told they needed it done also. (same dentist) Apparently most insurance companies will only pay for this procedure ONCE. Some dentists will snatch it up if you have not had it done because it costs so much to have it done. One co-worker cancelled after I told her there seemed to be something fishy going on and her next dentist said she did not need it.
Bottom line, you might want to get a second opinion especially if you are paying out of pocket.

[bethie_alane]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by patsyk [/i]
[B]Just another opinion, but beware! I had it done a few years back. Shortly afterward, my dad and 2 co-workers were told they needed it done also. (same dentist) Apparently most insurance companies will only pay for this procedure ONCE. Some dentists will snatch it up if you have not had it done because it costs so much to have it done. One co-worker cancelled after I told her there seemed to be something fishy going on and her next dentist said she did not need it.
Bottom line, you might want to get a second opinion especially if you are paying out of pocket. [/B][/QUOTE]

i got a 2nd opininon and i need it :( the one part of my gum that is swollen and irritated really hurts and it has been bright red for at least a year and only very aggrevating the past few months, i KNOW something needs to be done about that and a general clean just won't do it....... and also, when i floss some of my gums bleed pretty bad..... i also had braces which he said may have contributed to the poblem

all in all, i'm barely 24 and my mouth is falling apart, i need to make this investment so i can keep my teeth!

the 2 dentists i saw were really nice and didn't find out that i didn't have insurance until later..... will end up going to the periodontist, $300 more, but it's a specialist and someone that does this day in a day out and cancel my appts with the hygenist from the dentist's office who i'm sure is trained to do it but i'd feel more comfortable seeing a specialist... plus my consultation this morning was with the actual periodontist himself and he was very nice and explained everything to me and did not talk over my head....

argh, i'm just sooooo frustrated and upset about this, i'm don't want to go out of my way to go home and see my old dentist and spend about $15 in gas and $80 for his consultation just to get a 3rd opinion........argh,

advise to everyone: floss daily and see the dentist 2x a year!!!!!!!!

[bethie_alane]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by patsyk [/i]
[B]Just another opinion, but beware! I had it done a few years back. Shortly afterward, my dad and 2 co-workers were told they needed it done also. (same dentist) Apparently most insurance companies will only pay for this procedure ONCE. Some dentists will snatch it up if you have not had it done because it costs so much to have it done. One co-worker cancelled after I told her there seemed to be something fishy going on and her next dentist said she did not need it.
Bottom line, you might want to get a second opinion especially if you are paying out of pocket. [/B][/QUOTE]

also patsy, you said you got it done a few years back, were your gums bothering you or bleeding or irritated or what???????

[patsyk]

I did not have any symptoms, but it had been years since I had gone to the dentist. I think I just went to a dishonest dentist. All the people that I talked about also went to this dentist ( a big group office in our city ). I did not mean to imply that all dentists are dishonest. I just heard after the fact that some dishonest dentists do that. Back when I had the deep cleaning done, the dentist did the procedure all in one sitting. OOOWWW!
I was in the chair for 4 hours with laughing gas. Glad to hear things have changed. Good luck with your smile!

[lectric]

Not to make you more nervous.....but I have heard that it is quite painful.

[KAZMAN]

Its not to bad.. I had it done himmm.. with in the last few years...

I would suggest the following:
FLOSS Daily
Use lysterine (sp) daily
Get a SonicCare Electronic Toothbrush... Pricey but I think worth it..

I took a toothbrush to work so I could brush it work too..

The dentist did the deep scaling in 4 quads for me too..
wasn't to bad.. I think the Wisdom teeth being pulled was worse... Recovery wise..

[Sandal16]

I had this done about 6 months ago, without novacaine! (My choice). It was uncomfortable, but not painful. It took 2 visits and they did 1/2 of my mouth each time. I seem to accumulate tartar very quickly, but I'm too much of a chicken to go for frequent cleanings! I know I'll regret it in the future. They always tell me that flossing is more important than brushing, but I've never been able to floss in my whole life! It gives me the creeps. Strange, I know. :(

[Pipanella]

How did I, a dental hygienist, miss this thread????

Bethie, it sounds to me like you are in the early stages, and that the dentist/hygienist that suggested perio treatment caught it in time. They really sound like they are on the ball with things, so just do what is recommended.

Kazman is right on with his recommendations, too. And you have to do it faithfully. Periodontal disease is episodic, meaning that it can be not as bad, then get bad again. What this means is, you can go for one of your checkups and things look great, then two weeks later, you might have a flare-up. But it you are really really consistent with your home care, you'll do fine.

When you are done with treatment, they will probably keep you on a 3-4 month recall schedule for your cleanings. Make sure they code these out as 'after perio treatment' cleanings and not the regular ones. (I can't recall the ADA code right now....) That way, you'll have more coverage from your insurance company. The periodontist will do that if you go to them for awhile following your treatment, but eventually, you will return to your regular dentist for maintenance, so make sure they code it right. They might also have you alternate between the periodontist and your dentist once your treatment is over.

You really ARE super young for this. I would guess that you may have inherited the tendency for gum disease. Has either of your parents had a problem with it? Also, diabetics are prone to gum disease. They also know now that smoking doesn't just aggravate periodontal disease, it actually plays a part in causing it. In any case, you will have to stay on top of this for the rest of your life. It's a lot easier to prevent gum disease than it is to make it go away once you've got it.

I would be more than happy to answer any other questions you might have! Believe me, getting treatment now is the best thing you can do for yourself.

[KAZMAN]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Pipanella [/i]
[B]
When you are done with treatment, they will probably keep you on a 3-4 month recall schedule for your cleanings. Make sure they code these out as 'after perio treatment' cleanings and not the regular ones. (I can't recall the ADA code right now....) That way, you'll have more coverage from your insurance company. The periodontist will do that if you go to them for awhile following your treatment, but eventually, you will return to your regular dentist for maintenance, so make sure they code it right. [/B][/QUOTE]


OH MY I bet they have been coding it wrong..

I assumed it was 2 cleanings a year... I just had my follow up and I got the rejection letter in the mail today..
If you don't mind I would like that code to see if they filed right....

[standersen]

bethie - Please Oh Please don't "shop around" for less expensive medical/dental care!! You are wise deciding to go with the specialist! Sounds to me like you are getting a bargain, I just forked out $850 for my first crown - OUCH (literally)!!!

My DH just finished up with those "Invisalign" invisible braces, another $7000!! Dentistry is a good business obviously! LOL :D

[bethie_alane]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by standersen [/i]
[B]bethie - Please Oh Please don't "shop around" for less expensive medical/dental care!! You are wise deciding to go with the specialist! Sounds to me like you are getting a bargain, I just forked out $850 for my first crown - OUCH (literally)!!!

My DH just finished up with those "Invisalign" invisible braces, another $7000!! Dentistry is a good business obviously! LOL :D [/B][/QUOTE]



actually i shopped at one other place, a real periodontist who was $300 more expensive but i already saw him and got 1/2 my mouth cleaned for $550 (i have no insurance)

i can tell a huge difference and my teeth do not bleed when i floss or brush