Periodontal Examination
Rockwall & Paris, Texas
We encourage our patients to schedule regular periodontal exams, typically at least every six months or more frequently for those who have gum disease or are at greater risk of developing it. As periodontal disease progresses, the pockets between the teeth and gums can become deeper, allowing more plaque and calculus to collect below the gumline. Without treatment, ongoing inflammation can damage the gum tissue and supporting bone and contribute to gum recession and eventual tooth loss.
To evaluate the health of your teeth and gums, we may take digital X-rays and use a thin periodontal probe to measure the spaces between your teeth and gums. Healthy probing depths are generally 3 mm or less. Deeper pockets can be a sign of periodontal disease, particularly when accompanied by bleeding, gum recession, attachment loss, or bone loss. Because several factors are considered when determining the presence and severity of periodontal disease, a complete periodontal evaluation is important for an accurate diagnosis.
Regular periodontal exams allow us to identify changes in your gum health and address problems before they have an opportunity to become more advanced. Maintaining healthy gums is also an important part of your overall health. Research has identified associations between periodontal disease and systemic conditions such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes, although these relationships are complex and do not necessarily indicate that one condition directly causes the other.
Periodontal Examinations
Costs Associated
If you are not currently a patient of ours, we are offering a special deal for a comprehensive periodontal exam that includes an oral exam, consultation, oral cancer screening, review of treatment options, digital X-rays, and a written treatment plan. To make an appointment.
When considering the cost of periodontal exams, remember that scheduling these exams not only reduces your risk of developing periodontal disease, but also saves you money in the long run by avoiding the need for more costly procedures to correct issues that could have otherwise been avoided.
For patients who are covered under a dental insurance plan, although we are not in-network, we will gladly help prepare and file your claim to ensure you receive your maximum reimbursement. Payment is due in full on the day of treatment. We accept cash, check, Visa, Discover, Mastercard, and American Express. If you are concerned about the cost of receiving treatment, please know that we offer our patients Compassionate Finance, which offers a variety of payment solutions with fixed interest rates and manageable monthly payments, and CareCredit®, which offers 24-month payment plans with zero interest, as well as low-interest financing for 24-60 months.
Comprehensive Exams
& Diagnosis
During your periodontal exam, we will review your medical and dental health history, make sure your list of medications is up to date, and listen to and address any questions or concerns you may have. When you are ready, we will perform a thorough examination to determine the overall state of your oral health. If necessary, an oral cancer screening may be performed and/or digital X-rays may be taken.
Once the examination is complete, we will share our findings and, if necessary, discuss treatment options and offer recommendations on the best path forward. We are happy to answer any questions you may have regarding your treatment options during this time.
Treatment Options
Following Periodonatal Exam
One treatment option we will often pursue for patients who have moderate to severe gum disease is called scaling and root planing, or a “deep cleaning”. The deep cleaning begins with the removal of bacterial plaque and calculus from the root surfaces of your teeth below your gum line, as well as correcting rough areas, abrasions, and/or pits in order to inhibit plaque accumulation on root surfaces and then allowing your gums the ability to reattach to the cleaned root surface.
Quite often, we will use perioscope technology (Perioscopy), which is a small video camera that allows us to see down into the gum pockets and well below the gumline during the deep cleaning procedure. A traditional deep cleaning may not always be sufficient in treating your gum disease, but we are able to correct many periodontal issues that would typically require surgery with a specialized deep cleaning, in large part because we utilize advanced technology, such as a perioscope. Because we are able to identify and remove these deposits on the root surfaces by using the perioscope, we can effectively treat and correct moderate and even severe cases of periodontal disease that would otherwise require surgical intervention. In fact, the perioscope frequently allows us to achieve even better results than surgery since it is so minimally invasive and we are able to provide such a thorough cleaning of the areas of gum disease.
Although we have great success in correcting periodontal issues with a deep cleaning, particularly when using the perioscope, more extensive procedures may be necessary depending on the underlying issue and the severity of your case. All available treatment options will be explained in great detail at your periodontal exam.
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