Q: Is it typical for a periodontist to do dental cleaning or is it normal for a regular dentist to do this?

A: Depending on the practice and your situation, either the Periodontist or the regular dentist can do the maintenance cleanings. More often than not, they alternate every 3 months.

Q: I’ll be going to the dentist in a few weeks after a long hiatus and I’m preparing myself mentally as to what he will say. I’ve been doing my own research on calculus/tartar. I know by now that I will be looking forward to root planing and ultrasonic scaling on at least 4 teeth as I can see a tartar build up with my naked eye. Does it take long for a dentist to remove calculus with their special tools? For one tooth, will it be a 5 minute job to remove the tartar/plaque or is it more like 15 minutes? How strong is this calculus material? Thank you for your time on behalf a nervous patient.

A: It is really difficult to quantify the time it takes to remove calculus from each tooth. There are so many factors including location, severity, disease present, tissue tone, tissue height, patient compliance, etc. My recommendation: Locate a very experienced periodontist that has great reviews and is gentle with his/her patients. It sounds to me like you need a caring and patient doctor to explain what is going on so there will not be any surprises. You will then establish trust and feel comfortable that your care will be painless and you can just relax and get the necessary treatment done.

Best of Luck

Q: Can I have a deep cleaning and regenerative surgery at the same time?

A: What specific treatment plan were you given? What case type are you?  Please provide the type of regenerative procedure suggested.  Conventional?  Laser? It is very difficult to answer your question without this information.

Q: Do I need to have deep cleaning before laser surgery?

A: If you are having LANAP, then you don’t have to go through any scaling before the laser surgery. If it is not LANAP, then you should consider getting a second opinion from a qualified laser periodontist that offers the FDA cleared protocol known as LANAP.

Q: What type of treatment is necessary when someone has gingivitis? Is surgery necessary?

A: Gingivitis is soft tissue inflammation. This is usually reversible with a thorough professional cleaning and excellent oral hygiene. However, before any gum treatment, including a cleaning, is started, a quality set of digital x rays should be completed with a comprehensive oral examination. A review of your medical history is also important. If the bone is not affected, then a soft tissue management program would be indicated. This might include some laser therapy, depending on the individual case. If the bone is affected, then more advanced treatment, including laser periodontal therapy, might be indicated. Diagnosis is the most important first step.

Q: When I visited my first dentist for a regular cleaning, she advised me to do a deep cleaning and declined to do a regular cleaning. I then visited a second dentist and he said he could do a regular cleaning for me at once. I told him that my previous dentist had suggested doing a deep cleaning instead. He told me that was unnecessary. If I just do a regular cleaning rather than a deep cleaning, will it make my teeth and mouth healthy or not?

A: I would recommend having a qualified Laser Periodontist (gum specialist) evaluate your condition. This would probably require a full set of digital x rays and a complete oral examination, including pocket measurements. An appropriate diagnosis can then be made. The Periodontist will then recommend what time of cleanings would be best.

Q: I just came back from the dentist and was told I have advanced periodontal disease. The doctor I went to wants me to have one tooth pulled w/bone grafting. She then wants to do root/scale cleaning and then gum surgery to further clean I guess. I truly hate the dentist, hence the reason I’m where I’m at. Would laser surgery be something I could consider?

A: I would get an opinion from a well-qualified, experienced, Laser Periodontist (specialist) that is trained in the LANAP procedure before you do anything.  You should be presented with all your options.

Q: Does periodontal cleaning involve cutting the gums?

A: No. Periodontal cleaning is not surgery or laser surgery. It is merely using some sort of hand or ultrasonic instrument to clean the teeth.