I had my appt with the periodontist & he said that he could 'fix' the one problem quadrant (lower left) and hopefully save my molars and do a bone graft to build up where there is a deep pocket that is trapping food.
He's going to do laser surgery and a graft in 2 places.
($1450 after dental plan discount of $375).
I kinda felt that it was a rushed exam, but a thorough one,
and his practice is tightly timed.
I don't know if all periodontists are that tightly scheduled, but my wife says her dentist is always kinda rushed, too.
The general dentist that has been treating me isn't quite as hurried and is much more personable and friendly.
Hopefully after this perio has studied the x-rays (his asst. says he takes them home to have time to make notes), I'll have a better idea about the full mouth condition and the severity of the perio disease.
I'd have a lot more faith if this periodontist had a better 'chair-side manner' and been more personable, I might feel better about spending, what to me, is a sizable chunk of change.
Maybe the next visit will be more comprehensive,
but I'm scheduled for the surgery on the 25th.
If he says that a lot more needs to be done all over, I'm not so sure about throwing money down the tubes. I'd be better off saving it for a good set of full dentures.
At 65, saving teeth for a coupla years, only to loose them eventually- is an expense I cannot afford. I'll be dipping into my retirement fund for any and all of this dental work. I can't afford to retire, after the banking bust- gotta keep working to make ends meet ... and hopefully add to my retirement fund, not have to dip deep into it..