Dr. Linden will be happy to answer any questions related to periodontics (gum disease, implants, etc.) as long as they are general in nature. He will be unable to answer questions about specific periodontal issues which would require a personal examination (unless, of course, you live in the vicinity and visit his office). Dr. Linden's answers to your questions are offered for educational purposes only, and are not intended as a substitute for professional periodontal care. Your name and email address will be kept confidential and will not be posted along with Dr. Linden's answer, nor will they be sold to third parties or used for any purpose other than to notify you that the answer to your question has been posted to this blog.
| Question | Date |
|---|---|
| Do some problems still require conventional gum surgery?Yes. We still use conventional procedures in some circumstances, but even during these procedures, we utilize the laser as much as possible. This reduces post operative discomfort for our patients. | 9 Mar, 2010 3:56 AM |
| How soon after Laser periodontal surgery can I go back to work and family responsibilities?Laser surgery enables people to get on with their lives with minimal disruption. You might leave the office a bit "numb" but this wears off after a short period of time and you should feel little or no discomfort. Recent patients come to mind who, shortly after surgery, have traveled, made public or TV appearances or business deals, taken care of children, worked with heavy equipment, or performed as professional musicians. | 9 Mar, 2010 4:02 AM |
| How long does Laser gum surgery take to perform?In many cases, we can do the treatment in one long session (2-3 hours). Sometimes, it can be split up into two sessions, usually one week apart. | 9 Mar, 2010 4:09 AM |
| Will this treatment hurt?No. You will not feel anything. We use local anesthesia and will be extremely gentle. Patient comfort is our primary consideration. | 9 Mar, 2010 4:19 AM |
| Does insurance cover laser gum surgery?We do not participate with any insurance plans, but typical dental insurance that covers "gum surgery" should cover you for laser surgery as well. Please check with your dental insurance carrier. We will also help you with the insurance "red tape" when you finish your consultation appointment. | 9 Mar, 2010 4:23 AM |
| Can a patient make payments for the periodontal services such as laser surgery, implants or conventional surgery?Yes. We offer financing through the American Dental Association's approved financing programs. Please call our office for details. | 9 Mar, 2010 4:26 AM |
| How would a periodontist determine whether I might be a candidate for laser gum surgery?By conducting a thorough clinical exam and reviewing a quality full mouth series of low exposure digital x-rays. | 5 Mar, 2010 3:43 PM |
| What is the advantage of laser surgery over "conventional" gum surgery? Are the results better than conventional surgery?With laser surgery, there is no cutting or stitching of the gums, and therefore, minimal post operative discomfort. In our office, we are finding the results have been superior to the conventional therapy. | 9 Mar, 2010 3:52 AM |
| Are you available to give lectures on laser periodontal surgery?Yes, as one of the first Periodontists on the east coast of the US doing this FDA approved technique, I am often invited to present Laser gum surgery to dentists, doctors, and health care workers. Check our web site under "Lectures". | 9 Mar, 2010 4:28 AM |
| I am on blood thinners. Do I have to get off these medications before the laser surgery?One of the advantages of laser surgery is that patients don't have to stop their medications as with conventional gum surgery. This eliminates the risk to you of discontinuing the medications. | 9 Mar, 2010 4:31 AM |
| Will I have gum recession after the laser surgery?Laser surgery does not cause any recession of the gums around the natural teeth or crowned teeth. | 9 Mar, 2010 4:33 AM |
| Do I have to follow a special regimen after the laser surgery is completed?Dr. Linden will review with you at the consultation appointment the suggested regimen of cleaning, follow-up and necessary home care. | 9 Mar, 2010 4:36 AM |
| I see that there are connections between heart attacks, cardiovascular disease, premature births and numerous other medical conditions with "unstable" periodontal disease. Does this laser surgery help? How about preventing infections if someone has an operation?Yes. The FDA approved Laser protocol we follow targets only the diseased tissue and specific bacteria that cause gum disease. These are the same bacteria that have been correlated with a number serious medical conditions. We also utilize the laser protocol before patients undergo hip replacement, knee replacement, chemotherapy, and other major surgeries to prevent any infection from traveling from the areas of gum disease around the teeth to other parts of the body. | 9 Mar, 2010 4:38 AM |
| How much is this treatment?Each patient is different and the fee depends on the severity and extent of the disease. | 9 Mar, 2010 4:40 AM |
| I understand that it is hard to determine price without seeing a patient, but if you were to compare laser to conventional surgery as an average, is it higher in cost or lower in cost, and by what percent?LANAP is not more expensive than conventional surgery. The two cost about the same, but in most cases, LANAP is preferable for the reasons discussed on http://www.drgums.com/periodontal-surgery/lanap.html. | 3 May, 2010 11:50 PM |
| Is there a link between periodontal (gum) disease and heart disease?The link between periodontal disease and heart problems is well-established. Please see the Heart Disease and Stroke page of our site (http://www.drgums.com/mouth-body-connection/gum-disease-heart-disease-stroke.html) and the Periodontal Disease and Your Heart section of our blog (http://www.drgums.com/blog/category/periodontal-disease-overall-health/periodontal-disease-heart). | 7 May, 2010 10:47 PM |
| Do dental insurance policies cover your services?Most dental insurance plans cover periodontal therapy. We are an out-of-network provider. However, we will fill out all necessary forms and submit them to your insurance company for reimbursement directly to you. Please check your policy for further details. We would be happy to help you better understand what your out-of-network dental benefits may be. | 21 May, 2010 1:12 AM |
| How far are you located from NYC?Our New Jersey office is about half an hour away, depending on where in the city you're coming from. We'll be opening a Manhattan office soon, in addition to our NJ office. | 9 Jun, 2010 5:02 PM |
| Is it ever possible to treat and heal gum pockets as serious as #6 without surgery? Thanks.If you are referring to a 6 mm pocket then the answer is yes. We can treat pockets of varying degrees depending on the clinical presentation and radiographs. We always recommend a complete oral exam and treatment plan. | 14 Jun, 2010 4:18 PM |
| My orthodontist referred me to a periodontist. I had gum issues before. Can I get laser surgery or treatment even though I have braces? Yes it is possible to have laser treatment with braces. We would recommend a thorough clinical exam and radiographs to confirm this mode of treatment. Having periodontal issues during orthodontic treatment is a concern, but intervention is usually successful and oftentimes done with the laser. | 17 Jun, 2010 8:55 PM |
| I am missing two teeth lower teeth and am considering replacing a bridge with implants. I have been told that I will need to have bone harvested from the back of my mouth and inserted into my jaw to prepare it for implants. I will be under general anesthesia but am very nervous about this whole procedure. How painful will it be when I wake up? How difficult is recovery from this procedure?There are many different treatment options to consider when treating this area of the mouth. The anterior region of the lower (mandibular) jaw tends to have thinner bone. In many cases the ridge of bone is deficient for the placement of implants. In our office, we use local anesthesia and use either freeze dried bone (cadaver bone that is safe) or synthetic bone. We graft the sites as needed before implant placement. We would usually wait at least 3 months before the placement of the implants. We do not use general anesthesia. We do not have to harvest the bone from the back of your mouth. We try to keep the procedure as simple and conservative as possible. However, in very extreme and rare circumstances such as automobile accident cases or severe trauma, it might be necessary to refer you to a hospital trauma team. Many of those cases do require general anesthesia. | 22 Jun, 2010 6:20 PM |
