Hi Pravs,

Thank you for sharing the additional information. I will re post your questions and reply to them in bold type

<<1. Some of my gum area has receded in lower jaw indicating Periodontal issues. Dentist has suggested Periodontal scaling and root planing(scheduled next Thursday). She also recommended laser bacterial decontamination after that. I am not sure if the laser part is helpful. Will you be able to advise?>>

PERIODONTAL DISEASE IS AN INCURABLE INFLAMMATORY AND BACTERIAL INFECTION THAT IS USUALLY FOUND BELOW THE GUM LINE OF THE TEETH. IT AFFECTS THE TEETH, THE BONE AND THE GUM TISSUE. IT IS ALSO A SYSTEMIC INFECTION, MEANING THE BACTERIA AND INFLAMMATORY CELLS TRAVEL THROUGH THE BLOOD STREAM.

REGARDING THE ORAL INFECTION, SCRAPING AND ROOT PLANING THE TEETH BELOW THE GUM LINE IS HELPFUL IN REMOVING THE HARD CALCIUM DEPOSITS THAT FORM ON THE ROOTS OF THE TEETH CONTRIBUTING TO THE DISEASE. THE LASER USED AFTER THE ROOT PLANING IS EFFECTIVE AT KILLING INFECTIOUS BACTERIA WITHOUT HARMING THE BENEFICIAL BACTERIA. IT ACTUALLY STIMULATES YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM TO SEND HEALTHY HEALING CELLS TO THE AFFECTED AREAS.

PERIODONTAL DISEASE IS NOT CURABLE BUT IT IS MANAGEABLE AND CAN BE BROUGHT UNDER CONTROL.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT NONE OF THAT DENTAL TREATMENT WILL HAVE A POSITIVE LONG TERM AFFECT UNLESS YOU DO YOUR PART TO KEEP THE BACTERIA LEVEL UNDER CONTROL. THAT IS SIMPLY DONE BY THOROUGH TOOTH BRUSHING (AN ELECTRIC TOOTH BRUSH IS IDEAL), THOROUGH FLOSSING AND GENTLY SCRAPING THE TONGUE OF DEBRIS EVERY SINGLE DAY WITHOUT FAIL. YOU MAY ALSO HAVE TO USE SOME DENTAL PROXI BRUSHES TO CLEAN IN BETWEEN THE TEETH IN ADDITION TO THE OTHER ORAL CARE. IF YOU DO NOT ADHERE TO A STRICT ORAL CARE REGIMEN, THE INFECTIOUS BACTERIA WILL BUILD UP AGAIN VERY QUICKLY AND THE PROBLEM USUALLY COMES BACK MORE SEVERE AND TENACIOUS.

THERE ARE SOME HERBAL HOME REMEDIES THAT ARE HELPFUL AT LOWERING THE INFECTIOUS BACTERIA AFTER THE SCALING AND ROOT PLANING THAT CAN BE INCORPORATED WITH YOUR DAILY ORAL CARE. I CAN GIVE YOU SOME SUGGESTIONS ABOUT THAT IF YOU ARE INTERESTED.

<<2. I have 3 wisdom teeth which the dentist has asked to remove. Due to the cases I hear about sinus or eyesight issues after teeth removal, I am trying to avoid it. One of the wisdom tooth has some calcium deposit and other issues. So probably that will need to go.>>

MOST WISDOM TEETH EXTRACTIONS HAVE NO LONG TERM POST OP COMPLICATIONS. EVERY CASE IS A BIT DIFFERENT AND EVERY SURGEON IS DIFFERENT. SO YOUR PARTICULAR CASE, YOUR OVERALL HEALTH, YOUR PERSONAL POST OP CARE AND THE SKILL OF THE ORAL SURGEON WILL DETERMINE THE POST OP OUTCOME. I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT YOU ONLY SEE AN ORAL SURGEON FOR THE REMOVAL OF THE WISDOM TEETH UNLESS YOUR DENTIST HAS EXTENSIVE AND DAILY EXPERIENCE IN EXTRACTING THEM.

THE CALCIUM DEPOSIT IS WHAT I REFERRED TO ABOUT THE PERIODONTAL DISEASE. YOU MOST LIKELY ALSO HAVE THIS IN OTHER AREAS AS WELL.

WISDOM TEETH THAT ARE DISEASED FROM INFECTION OR DECAY... HAVE CYSTIC ACTIVITY ..... ARE CAUSING PROBLEMS WITH THE ADJACENT TEETH ... OR ARE IMPOSSIBLE TO CLEAN ..... ARE THE ONES THAT MOST OFTEN NEED TO BE REMOVED.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO DISCUSS THE LOCATION OF THE WISDOM TEETH WITH THE ORAL SURGEON REGARDING THEIR PROXIMITY TO THE SINUS (UPPER ONES) AND THE PROXIMITY OF THE LOWER ONE TO THE MANDIBULAR CANAL. THIS WAY YOU WILL BE WELL INFORMED OF POSSIBLE POST OP COMPLICATIONS WITH THE SINUS OR THE MANDIBULAR CANAL. NEITHER OF WHICH DEFINITIVELY MEANS THE COMPLICATIONS WILL BE PERMANENT.

<<3. I mentioned in the last post about the sensitivity. As you suggested, it was due to the neighboring teeth roots getting exposed. But the dentist also found some big cavities there and she is suggesting onlay's on the affected tooth(3 surface onlay with resin based restoration). As it is costly(around 800 bucks) and my insurance is not so keen on compensating it, I may decide to go for crown.>>

IT SOUNDS LIKE SHE IS TRYING TO BE CONSERVATIVE WITH HER RESTORATIONS ON THOSE TEETH. THERE COULD BE A FEW REASONS FOR THIS. SHE MAY NOT FEEL THE TEETH WARRANT A FULL COVERAGE CROWN... THE TEETH MAY BE IN A GUARDED CONDITION WITH A LIMITED LONGEVITY EVEN POST OP THE PERIO TREATMENT ..... PREPARING THE TEETH FOR FULL COVERAGE CROWNS MEANS REDUCING THE TOOTH STRUCTURE SIGNIFICANTLY WHICH COULD RESULT IN NERVE DAMAGE OF THE TOOTH ESPECIALLY ON TEETH THAT ARE ALREADY COMPROMISED ..... ETC. SO ASK HER WHY SHE TREATMENT PLANNED THE WAY SHE DID.

YOUR INSURANCE WILL ALLOW A PERCENTAGE TOWARDS THE RESTORATIONS. BE MINDFUL OF THE FACT THAT IT MAY NOT BEHOOVE YOU TO HAVE MORE AGGRESSIVE DENTISTRY JUST BECAUSE THE INSURANCE MAY PAY A BIT MORE FOR IT. ALSO, YOU MOST LIKELY HAVE A MANDATED YEARLY MAXIMUM OF INSURANCE BENEFITS WHICH YOU WILL UTILIZE VERY QUICKLY WITH YOUR DENTAL TREATMENT.

Hope this info is helpful...
Bryanna