Q: Dear Dr. Linden,
First of all I want to thank you for taking the time to answer so many people’s questions! I have found your site to be very informative. I am 32 years old and at my most recent cleaning visit the hygienist informed me that I have several 4mm pockets and one 5mm with some bone loss around the tooth with the 5mm pocket. I also had some cavities that needed to be filled. Needless to say I am a little scared about my dental health, so I started doing some research on periodontal disease and came across the LANAP procedure as well as other procedures for treating periodontal pockets. When I went back for my fillings I expressed my concerns to my dentist and asked if he would suggest that I seek further treatment. I was a little surprised when he told me I just needed to floss more often and that we should re-evaluate my condition at my next six month cleaning appointment. I have also noticed that after having my teeth cleaned I have a space between two of my lower incisors that was not there before. I know that you cannot possibly provide a diagnosis without doing an exam on a patient, but I just want to know if I should get another opinion on my situation. I have been seeing this dentist for a number of years and do trust him, but I just am very concerned with my oral health. I am afraid of the possibility of losing my teeth at an early age and want to be as proactive as I possibly can be. I have found a few dentists in my area that offer the LANAP procedure, and am wondering if this procedure could possibly be beneficial for treating/reversing early gum disease.
Thank you very much for your time,
Emily
A: Dear Emily,
I would recommend seeing an experienced periodontal specialist in your area to evaluate your condition. It is always better to be safe rather than sorry later on.
It would be desirable if the periodontist has been trained in the LANAP procedure and has had experience using the ND/YAG laser for a few years.
Best of Luck
Dr. Linden
