Periodontal Examination
Rockwall & Paris, Texas
We encourage all of our patients to schedule regular periodontal exams at least every six months, or with greater frequency for patients who have developed or are at an increased risk of developing gum disease. As gum disease progresses, the pocket between the gum and tooth root will deepen, which allows for a greater amount of calculus and bacterial plaque to accumulate, attach, and harden to the surface of your teeth below the gum line. Over time, this calculus and bacteria will grow, which in turn will cause further deterioration of the supporting bone and recession of your gums.
To determine the overall health of your gums and teeth, we will take digital X-rays and measure the depth of your gum pockets using a thin probe. Healthy pockets should be under 4mm in depth. Pockets that are between 4-6mm in depth indicate periodontitis, which is the mildest form of gum disease. Pockets between 6-8 mm indicate moderate periodontitis, and pockets that are deeper than 8mm indicate severe periodontitis.
Scheduling regular periodontal exams is important because it allows us to address gum disease as quickly as possible, and because gum disease can impact more than just your oral health. Individuals with gum disease are also at increased risk of other diseases and systemic problems, such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and other health issues.
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, it 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-monty 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 planning or a “deep cleaning”. The deep cleaning begins with 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, with 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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