Referred to Peridontist dentist.........?

Question

Blew my mind today to say "may" have early beginning of gum disease...I have been going every year to either my orthodentist or dentist for years...no telling how much money have spent on my mouth....not even been a year since last "cleaning" which I didn't feel was a good job even then....NOW this is told to me! Is this scary? what will they do? never been to one in my life....gums don't bleed, they are pink, no tooth pain,

Answer 1

Do you smoke? Smokers are more prone to periodontal disease (gum disease).
http://www.perio.org/consumer/smoking.htm

In periodontitis, gums pull away from the teeth and form "pockets" that are infected. The body's immune system fights the bacteria as the plaque spreads and grows below the gum line. Bacterial toxins and the body's enzymes fighting the infection actually start to break down the bone and connective tissue that hold teeth in place. If not treated, the bones, gums, and connective tissue that support the teeth are destroyed. The teeth may eventually become loose and have to be removed.
refer to link for more info:

http://www.umanitoba.ca/outreach/wisdomtooth/stagesof.htm

http://www.nidcr.nih.gov/HealthInformation/DiseasesAndConditions/GumPeriodontalDiseases/PeriodontalDiseases.htm

Ask your dentist for more info. What stage are you at? If you are in the earliest stages, don't worry. Now that you know you have a problem you can prevent it from getting worse.

Answer 2

Your gums can deteriorate over time but there are steps your periodontist can take to correct your situation. Several years ago I was told by my dentist that my receding gums could not be treated and there was nothing to be done. I went to another dentist and he referred me to a periodontist who immediately initiated treatment to correct the problem.

The reason I switched dentists in the first place was I asked my old dentist if anything could be done to straighten my teeth up a little. They are not bad but I was really interested. His professional response was "just do a comb-over with your mustache". Funny I guess but not an answer I appreciated from a professional. I went shopping and found a wonderful guy who actually cares. My new dentist is amazing. He's done all sorts of awesome work and we just started my straightening program.
I guess the point is that a second opinion is never a bad idea.

Answer 3

find a different dental care provider! You can very likely locate a dental center (all specialties under one roof) that can give comprehensive care. If you have fabulous insurance and can afford all of these visits they'll continue to give you all the dental care you need. Going to several many specialists drives me insane! I have a huge dentist phobia and it's difficult to meet yet another stranger who's going to be giving me bad news! Yuck!

Answer 4

if you've been going to the dentist regularly, and you take good care of your teeth, and your gums are in good health like you said, you have nothing to worry about. the first stage of gum disease is gingivitis, where tartar builds up around the gum line, hardens, then causes gum irritation. wich can be easily taken care of with a good cleaning by a dentist or dental hygenist. after gingivitis, comes perodontitis, which i doubt you have. in periodontitis, the gums start to pull away from the teeth, exposing the roots, and can eventually lead to loosness of the teeth due to bone loss. but dont worry, he probally referred you to a periodontist for a good deep down cleaning. i used to work in a dental office, and i've seen dentists who refer patients to other dentists because they simply didnt feel like doing the work themselves. its an easy way for them to make a little extra money, and still have connections. dont worry, sometimes dentists like to play these games. as long as you feel your gums and teeth are healthy, you have nothing to worry about. just a helpful hint, most dentists recommend that you have your teeth cleaned every six months. regular cleanings, and a good toothbrushing/flossing habits will guarantee you good oral health. take care!