I'm a diligent flosser/brusher but father-time and genetics are catching up with me. I've got gum issues (deep pockets/bone loss) and require an operation.
Option 1 - Pocket Reduction Surgery (osseous surgery). Done in 4 parts, open up, clean in there and close up
Option 2 - LANAP (aka laser procedure). Done in 2 consecutive days, similar purpose as above but less invasive
Has anyone had either and can they comment on experience? It did seem like the periodontist was more trying to sell the laser - like literally it was a sales pitch "I can give you a good price" (laser is more expensive but not that significant). Going 4 times and the recovery each time seems like a PITA. Plus I've heard teeth can shift and sensitivity can linger.
Would welcome any feedback - thanks in advance
My father had the osseous surgery done and he said the recovery was the worst pain he'd been through. But that was 30+ years ago, so maybe it's better now.
Bill. Are you a dentist ? I’m assuming you are. So am I. You gave me some great recs for the big 5. Thx
Bone grafting was mentioned in passing but didn't seem to indicate that I was a candidate. I will press on this. Thanks
All 4 quadrants are involved and it pretty similar in the backs at all quadrants
Wasn't sure if joke or not, and no meds here
Eewwwww
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If so that may be it...
Wasn't sure if joke or not, and no meds here
No Joke.
I had the same issues as you. I would floss, water pik, brush. Gum would bleed and deep pockets. It turned out that my HBP pills I took causes swollen gums. Changed my pills and gums are great!
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bone grafting- osseous regeneration? How many quadrants/sextants are involved and they all in basically the same shape? It may not be a one cure fits all situation.
Bill. Are you a dentist ? I’m assuming you are. So am I. You gave me some great recs for the big 5. Thx
yeah, Earl. Retired 8 years
Thanks some 5-6s but there were one or 2 8-9s. Front teeth are good and it's all mainly in the back. I'm 40 yrs old and (knock wood) no loose teeth
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there were no regenerative techniques so all that was available was reducing pocket depth by subtraction of both gum and bone tissue. Almost always, to get to the best result, you had to sacrifice some good bone along the way. And if the pockets were deep you end up with long, ugly teeth and sensitive roots. I don't have a lot of experience with lasers, but I know they're good for some soft tissue removal instead of a scalpel, disinfecting shallow to moderate pockets and cleaning calculus off teeth. I could be wrong, but I don't think they're that useful for deep pockets, probably the 4mm range and more. Do you have knowledge of your pocket charting? What about mobility, loose teeth? These days there's a lot more bone formation techniques being used. Sometimes, if the pockets are severe only around 1-2 teeth in a quadrant, it could be better to get an extraction, bone graft and implant.
Thanks some 5-6s but there were one or 2 8-9s. Front teeth are good and it's all mainly in the back. I'm 40 yrs old and (knock wood) no loose teeth
Hopefully, someone can back me up, but in my experience you're not going to fix 8-9 mm defects with pocket elimination therapy. I would get those teeth out and look at bone grafts and implants. 5-6's are borderline, but if you do surgery for pocket reduction, you need to take some bone off the good adjacent teeth to level the plane, and I don't know if that's the way to go. And I don't see that you can fix anything above 5mm with lasers. If it was me, I'd consult another periodontist. I wouldn't be comfortable with the options you've been given. All that said, if you're homecare is good and you're having this kind of problem at 40, I've gotta think there's a genetic component that you're battling