F.A.Q.

Periodontitis is a bacterial disease. The manifestation however, depends on many factors such as the type of microbes, systemic health and the body’s defenses. Although studies show that microbes can be transferred among individuals within a family, there was no proof that it was contagious, since not all the affected members developed periodontitis

Studies in identical twins have shown that gum disease (periodontitis) has a hereditary component which may be responsible for up to 50% in the incidence disease in a person.

The treatment is performed under local anesthesia and only a few patients report a mild discomfort after the treatment, is treated with a light painkiller.

Gum disease (periodontitis) causes dispersion of germs and toxins via the blood stream throughout the body. This may even affect distant organs and systems and thus contribute to the level of systemic inflammation in a body. There are now many studies that show a relationship between periodontal disease and increased risk for cardiovascular disease. Patients with diabetes are more prone to  periodontitis, while the existence of periodontitis that is not under control creates problems in controlling blood sugar levels. Women with periodontitis that is not under control are at higher risk of premature birth and delivering low-birthweight children.

If you take antibiotics you will just reduce the bacterial count and symptoms of disease on a temporary basis. Antibiotics are not considered a treatment option for gum disease. There are cases though where antibiotics may be prescribed along the necessary mechanical treatment.

Studies show that both can clean your teeth very efficiently. The electric ones offer more strockes per minute though, enabling them to make more efficient toothbrushing an easier job. An added benefit is that most electric toothbrushes have in-built pressure sensors which slow down the rotation speed in case you apply excessive pressure in order to protect your gums and teeth from trauma and wear.

No toothbrush can clean effectively the triangle space created between the teeth(interdental space). Especially in periodontal patients where space is larger because of gingival recession, this becomes more difficult but even more important. Interdental brushes allow for effective cleaning of this area. Dental floss serves mainly to clean the contact points between the teeth.  Caution: One does not replace the other. For the best results both should be used daily

Now a frenectomy is a matter of minutes. With the use of Nd: YAG Laser can do the frenectomy / gingivectomy / gingival recontouring in a matter of minutese, without hassle with no bleeding,  and no stitches.

The fact that your gums have receded indicates that there is a loss of attachment and hence periodontal damage. This does not mean that you will lose your teeth. However you need to have a periodontal assessment, in order to determine the extent of attachment loss, to establish that you do not traumatise your gums with an improper brushing technique and of course to have proper periodontal treatment as indicated. In many cases a graft is necessary in order to restore normal tissue architecture and function.

Gingival hyperplasia is usually due to taking certain medications. Because of the hygiene problem these hyperplasias create, there is  severe inflammation and an issue of concern for many patients. The removal of hyper plastic tissue can be done now more easily and non-invasively with the use of a dental laser. Excellent oral hygiene prevents or significantly delays recurrence of hyperplasia.

The dental laser is an instrument / device that is used as an adjunctive in the treatment of periodontal disease. It is not used as the sole means of treatment. It is essential to the use of hand instruments and ultrasonic scalers for a a thorough debridement of the tooth and root surfaces. Laser therapy complements but does not replace classic manual instruments.

By using Piezosurgery extraction of wisdom teeth is a routine matter.  The piezosurgery device can “loosen” the tooth so that extraction is more atraumatic. even in cases where bone removal is necessary, the piezosurgery will remove bone without undue trauma in a fast and efficient manner. The discomfort disappears and edema (swelling) is minimized or eliminated altogether.

Data from the latest studies show a 98% rate of survival for a ten-year period. That means that a dental implant will stay in function for at least ten years. This is more that what the literature gives to conventional prosthesis such as  crown and bridge.

Of course not. There are different qualities of implants, at various prices. The prices reflect the quality of the material used, the research background of the production company, warranty and service offered. It is essential that the implant is made ​​out of titanium (Commercially pure Titanium Grade 4) and not from a titanium alloy. Also it is essential to offer support to the patient and the dental surgeon with extensive warranty and steady supply of parts and components. In this way we are sure that any problems that may arise can be dealt with immediately and effectively. For theses reasons the companies we work with need to meet these necessary conditions to ensure that our patients restorations will be in  good operation for many years. They have a solid research background, offer extensive support and have production lines certified by strict regulatory bodies. Remember, low cost upfront may result in a steep bill after a few years.

Implants have a success rate of almost 98% over a 10-year survival period. As with any surgical procedure, however, although extremely rare nowadays, osseointegration may not be successful. In this case the implant does not “bind” to the bone and fails. We can remove the failing implant after healing of the site we can place a new implant. All implant companies we use have extensive  warranties that cover the patient in case such an unfortunate incident.

You need to book an appointment to go over your medical history to answer this. A detailed medical and dental history along with a clinical examination would be the first step to address this. We will then need to contact your attending physicians in case we need to modify your medication temporarily for the implant placement. There is no need for concern though as the implant placement procedure is perfectly safe.

Of course you can. Implants are perfectly safe for MRI. There is no reason for concern. You can have any kind of Computed Tomography such as CT scan or CBCT, since it is not affected by metal objects such as implants.

In cases where the available bone is not sufficient for the placement of implants you can have suitable bone grafts in order to rebuild the missing bone and create the ideal conditions for a successful placement and function of implants.

Grafts used in modern dentistry are classified in three categories, completely artificial, animal derived and human derived. All categories have indications for their use and they are absolutely safe to use. All graft materials we use are certified by the FDA and have CE (c), while the companies that produce them have their production lines certified by ISO. If you need a graft  we will explain in detail the appropriate options available for you so you do not have any questions about the material,  its origin and mode of use.