Discussion
Other than minor de-scaling, the last time I had any remedial dental work carried out was way back in 1983, when two impacted wisdom teeth were extracted. Regular check-ups have always been very routine. "Everything looks fine. Just be careful with your brushing technique because there is a little gum recession in places. I'll see you again in a year."
For a 49 year old man, I thought I had 30 pretty good teeth. Until yesterday that is, when a new dentist at my NHS clinic diagnosed moderate Periodontitis. I watched in a mirror as he pushed his measuring probe up under my gums in several places around my molars. In a couple of locations, the depth reached 5 to 6mm - the severe level. X-ray images clearly show the 'pockets' which were once filled with bone and tissue.
I'm somewhat annoyed that this condition wasn't picked up before now. For obvious professional reasons, this new dentist wouldn't be drawn on my suggestion that my old dentist (no longer at the clinic) hadn't been as thorough as he should have been.
I'm booked in to see a hygienist in a few weeks time and then I have to return to the dentist 3 months afterwards. The dentist also told me there is a private clinic in a nearby town which specializes in this condition. I think I'll see how it goes with the hygienist first.
Does anyone have any experience of Periodontitis, the condition and its treatment? Can the loss of tooth-supporting bone and tissue be fully reversed? Any stories and information would be appreciated.
For a 49 year old man, I thought I had 30 pretty good teeth. Until yesterday that is, when a new dentist at my NHS clinic diagnosed moderate Periodontitis. I watched in a mirror as he pushed his measuring probe up under my gums in several places around my molars. In a couple of locations, the depth reached 5 to 6mm - the severe level. X-ray images clearly show the 'pockets' which were once filled with bone and tissue.
I'm somewhat annoyed that this condition wasn't picked up before now. For obvious professional reasons, this new dentist wouldn't be drawn on my suggestion that my old dentist (no longer at the clinic) hadn't been as thorough as he should have been.
I'm booked in to see a hygienist in a few weeks time and then I have to return to the dentist 3 months afterwards. The dentist also told me there is a private clinic in a nearby town which specializes in this condition. I think I'll see how it goes with the hygienist first.
Does anyone have any experience of Periodontitis, the condition and its treatment? Can the loss of tooth-supporting bone and tissue be fully reversed? Any stories and information would be appreciated.
JoeBolt said:
Other than minor de-scaling, the last time I had any remedial dental work carried out was way back in 1983, when two impacted wisdom teeth were extracted. Regular check-ups have always been very routine. "Everything looks fine. Just be careful with your brushing technique because there is a little gum recession in places. I'll see you again in a year."
For a 49 year old man, I thought I had 30 pretty good teeth. Until yesterday that is, when a new dentist at my NHS clinic diagnosed moderate Periodontitis. I watched in a mirror as he pushed his measuring probe up under my gums in several places around my molars. In a couple of locations, the depth reached 5 to 6mm - the severe level. X-ray images clearly show the 'pockets' which were once filled with bone and tissue.
I'm somewhat annoyed that this condition wasn't picked up before now. For obvious professional reasons, this new dentist wouldn't be drawn on my suggestion that my old dentist (no longer at the clinic) hadn't been as thorough as he should have been.
I'm booked in to see a hygienist in a few weeks time and then I have to return to the dentist 3 months afterwards. The dentist also told me there is a private clinic in a nearby town which specializes in this condition. I think I'll see how it goes with the hygienist first.
Does anyone have any experience of Periodontitis, the condition and its treatment? Can the loss of tooth-supporting bone and tissue be fully reversed? Any stories and information would be appreciated.
Hiya, I am a dental hygienist. For a 49 year old man, I thought I had 30 pretty good teeth. Until yesterday that is, when a new dentist at my NHS clinic diagnosed moderate Periodontitis. I watched in a mirror as he pushed his measuring probe up under my gums in several places around my molars. In a couple of locations, the depth reached 5 to 6mm - the severe level. X-ray images clearly show the 'pockets' which were once filled with bone and tissue.
I'm somewhat annoyed that this condition wasn't picked up before now. For obvious professional reasons, this new dentist wouldn't be drawn on my suggestion that my old dentist (no longer at the clinic) hadn't been as thorough as he should have been.
I'm booked in to see a hygienist in a few weeks time and then I have to return to the dentist 3 months afterwards. The dentist also told me there is a private clinic in a nearby town which specializes in this condition. I think I'll see how it goes with the hygienist first.
Does anyone have any experience of Periodontitis, the condition and its treatment? Can the loss of tooth-supporting bone and tissue be fully reversed? Any stories and information would be appreciated.
Periodontitis doesn't have a cure as such, it's all about management really. The main success of treatment relies on your homecare, your hygienist should show you the best interdental cleaning aids to use. Interdental brushes rather than floss. Pick up a sonicare electric toothbrush and take it to your appointment, ask for an in mouth demo.
5-6mm is usually quite manageable, your hygienist should make a chart to record all the pocket depths then clean carefully under the gums using anaesthetic if needed.(this will take more than 1 appointment)
Then you need to be absolutely meticulous at home with your hygiene regime.
In a non-smoker, who is medically fit and well, with good hygiene, success is about 70%. Some pockets might not heal fully, some might stay the same.
After about 12 weeks a new chart is taken to compare.
- If I have pockets remaining, I'd treat them again, if still no response then I'd consider specialist referral.
I'm sure you've read all this on the web by now
OTOH, I've shelled out £1000 on root planing at a specialist Periodontal surgeon this month - all my own fault after a lifetime of looking after my teeth conscientiously, I got out of the habit of visiting the hygienist for two years & ended up with 3-4mm all round.
Other than that nothing serious ever & I find two weeks after finishing the root planing, I now have an abscess on a wisdom tooth & I'm knocking back Ibuprofen just to get through the day. My new principal leisure activity is sitting in a dentist's chair, handing over tenners. If I'd honestly have known this would have been the outcome, I'd have taken my chances even if it meant posting my teeth for a check up.
Other than that nothing serious ever & I find two weeks after finishing the root planing, I now have an abscess on a wisdom tooth & I'm knocking back Ibuprofen just to get through the day. My new principal leisure activity is sitting in a dentist's chair, handing over tenners. If I'd honestly have known this would have been the outcome, I'd have taken my chances even if it meant posting my teeth for a check up.
after not seeing the dentist for about 7 years I finally went as I was getting blood everytime I brushed my teeth.
2 x-rays later, no periodontitis just gingivitis which after a deep clean and use of interdental brushes plus mouthwash has now been sorted. Will def. be doing hygienist twice per year and getting x-rays every other visit to the dentist.
I thought I had periodontitis but happily not!
Hope you get yours sorted OP.
2 x-rays later, no periodontitis just gingivitis which after a deep clean and use of interdental brushes plus mouthwash has now been sorted. Will def. be doing hygienist twice per year and getting x-rays every other visit to the dentist.
I thought I had periodontitis but happily not!
Hope you get yours sorted OP.
Thanks for the replies. Some useful information here.
One mistake I've been making is not visiting the hygienist. At my present NHS clinic, I thought I could only see the hygienist with a referral from the dentist. The dentist always did a bit of descaling and polishing during my check-ups, so I thought that was why he never referred me. Wrong, the hygienist operates on a private basis and I can make an appointment with her anytime, as long as I've had a recent check-up. I'll certainly make sure to do this in future.
Rachie, I have been searching the internet for Periodontitis information, but keep being directed to mostly American sites selling expensive home treatments. Do you have a favorite web site which you can recommend to patients, for all things dental?
One mistake I've been making is not visiting the hygienist. At my present NHS clinic, I thought I could only see the hygienist with a referral from the dentist. The dentist always did a bit of descaling and polishing during my check-ups, so I thought that was why he never referred me. Wrong, the hygienist operates on a private basis and I can make an appointment with her anytime, as long as I've had a recent check-up. I'll certainly make sure to do this in future.
Rachie, I have been searching the internet for Periodontitis information, but keep being directed to mostly American sites selling expensive home treatments. Do you have a favorite web site which you can recommend to patients, for all things dental?
I quite like the Colgate site,
http://www.colgateprofessional.com/patient-educati...
Since last year you can book to see a hygienist directly without referral from a dentist. However I would always recommend having regular check ups too.
http://www.colgateprofessional.com/patient-educati...
Since last year you can book to see a hygienist directly without referral from a dentist. However I would always recommend having regular check ups too.
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