Visiting your periodontist for the first time

Your first visit to the periodontist will be evaluative. It will involve a review of your medical history and your social history. You should describe any of your medical problems that could affect your periodontal treatment. A lot of systemic diseases can affect your mouth and the health of your gums so you should inform your dentist about any medical condition that could affect your treatment. You should also inform your periodontist about any medications you are taking and the corresponding dosages.

If you are a smoker then your periodontist will ask you to make efforts to quit. It is very important to stop smoking especially prior to surgical procedures. Smoking has so many negative effects on your gums. It will increase the risks of periodontal disease, make periodontal disease worse if you have it already, decrease the effectiveness of periodontal treatment, and reduce the ability of your body to heal quickly.

Your first visit to your periodontist will involve a thorough examination of your neck, jaw joints or temporomandibular joints, head, structures in your mouth, tongue, cheeks, tonsils, throat, teeth, and of course your gums. You may also have to go through an x-ray. A special type of x-ray called a periapical x-ray can be performed on you. This will determine the extent and the pattern of bone loss around your teeth. The x-rays will show the entire tooth from the crown to the root. A special type of x-ray called a panoramic radiograph may be done as well. This will provide the dentist with a picture of the important structures in your skull, including the maxillary sinuses and the jaw joints.

When the examination is over, your periodontist will come up with a plan to treat your periodontal problems. People will have different wants and needs so periodontal treatment plans are as unique as the individual. Some people would want to get state of the art treatment no matter how much it costs while others are constrained with insurance budgets or financial concerns. Others would want to be treated for the least amount of time.

You may find that periodontists treatment styles differ from one another. Some periodontists believe that diseases have to be attacked aggressively through surgery. Other periodontists will be more conservative and try non-surgical approaches. It is important that you understand why your periodontist is taking such an approach on you. You should be comfortable with the treatment plan of your periodontist.

Regular follow-up examinations and cleanings will be required from you. You should maintain good oral health as much as possible. The cleanings and the check-ups are meant to maintain the health of you mouth and your gums and are meant to prevent any future diseases from happening or getting worse. Those who have gingivitis and no other problems are advised to visit the dentist twice a year while those with more severe periodontal problems should visit their dentist every quarter.