Scared gal,

Glad to hear that you had a positive dental experience! It sounds to me like this dentist was trying to inform you of your dental issues in spite of you being frightened because legally he has to tell you what he has found clinically.

I am not in favor of a dentist telling a patient that he guarantees any procedure to "save a tooth" because he really cannot guarantee such a thing. I think he was trying to reassure you more so than guarantee anything. Although I think that was a poor (misleading) choice of words. But I do feel he was genuine in his approach with you.

It is not surprising that you have periodontal disease since you have not had your teeth cleaned in many, many years. I believe I mentioned this in a previous reply to you. Periodontal disease is not just about removing the calculus or hard tartar from the roots of the teeth. Doing that is just the beginning of a process that requires your utmost compliance with proper oral hygiene at home every day. Removing the gum tissue is not the answer to removing these deposits as it will only accumulate again if your home care is not thorough enough. The sticky plaque that accumulates along the gum line from improper brushing is what turns to hard calculus and tartar. The gum tissue becomes inflamed and irritated and opens up allowing the plaque to slide down in between the tooth and gum adhering to the root surfaces.

Surgery to remove the hard deposits that include removal of gum tissue is extremely unpleasant. Once the gums are cut back, they cannot be replaced. The root surfaces become exposed and temperature sensitivity can be extreme. Root surfaces also easily become decayed. So opting for osseous (gum removal) surgery should not be the first choice to bring your disease under control.

There are other procedures much less invasive. Root planing and gingival curettage can be helpful as well as laser therapy. By any chance does he do the LANAP laser procedure? The results of the laser are remarkable and the post op healing from it is not very uncomfortable.

If this dentist is a sedation dentist then he can accomplish a lot of dentistry in one sitting. Did he speak to you about that?

By any chance have you read any of my other replies to you about trying to reduce your fear?? You say that you want to move forward and get things taken care of... which is great!! But are you interested in being less fearful or do you just want to grin and bear it? It also seems like you pass out a lot ... perhaps you should see your physician about that ??

Bryanna