Perio increases cavities at gumline

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nwsteve

Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
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Looking for some perspective from the esteem members of the Forum.
We moved about a year ago and so had to start all over with docs and dentists.
Lo and behold, new dentist identifies a number of cavities at gum line attributes them to my previous perio treatment. Currently, all my gums are healthy with acceptable to good 'pocket" measurements--none over 5, mostly 3's.
According to him, no matter how good the perio treatment, tooth surfaces previously covered by gum are newly exposed. These surfaces supposedly have softer surface.
Two questions:
1. Has anyone else received or heard of my new dentist's assessment of perio impacting cavity risk at gum line?
2. New dentist also says the gum line cavities restorations are high risk for failure and root canals are better long term repairs.

Thanks for any help
 
REWahoo said:
Sigh. It's discouraging when the opening line of a new thread says the poster doesn't want to hear my opinion. :cool:
Click to expand...

Well, I hold you you in high esteem REW, although I have been told my taste is questionable.
 
REWahoo said:
Sigh. It's discouraging when the opening line of a new thread says the poster doesn't want to hear my opinion. :cool:
Click to expand...

That went over well....oops, got it backwards....well over someone's head.
 
nwsteve said:
Looking for some perspective from the esteem members of the Forum.
We moved about a year ago and so had to start all over with docs and dentists.
Lo and behold, new dentist identifies a number of cavities at gum line attributes them to my previous perio treatment. Currently, all my gums are healthy with acceptable to good 'pocket" measurements--none over 5, mostly 3's.
According to him, no matter how good the perio treatment, tooth surfaces previously covered by gum are newly exposed. These surfaces supposedly have softer surface.
Two questions:
1. Has anyone else received or heard of my new dentist's assessment of perio impacting cavity risk at gum line?
2. New dentist also says the gum line cavities restorations are high risk for failure and root canals are better long term repairs.

Thanks for any help
Click to expand...

I am a retired dentist. to answer your two questions:
1. If you have any periodontal recession where the root surface of the tooth is now exposed to the oral environment then you are at greater risk of decay. the root surface does not have any enamel covering it and decay will occur easier and faster than the crown of the tooth
2. restorations on the root surface of the tooth are not as well bonded to the tooth as restorations on enamel. this being said ,restorations can nevertheless be successful long-term with good oral hygiene. if the decay gets too deep into the tooth and encroaches on the pulp then you are looking at a root canal. decay on the root surface will penetrate the tooth much faster because the root surface is softer than enamel plus it is closer to the pulp to begin with. therefore any decay on the root surface must be treated promptly.

I hope i have answered your questions.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
nwsteve said:
Not sure what I said to give that impression but I do want to hear
Click to expand...

You have been a member for 16 years. That is the REW clever humor. lol:)
 
Nemo2 said:
That went over well....oops, got it backwards....well over someone's head.
Click to expand...

I missed it first time I read REW’s post. Even after a reread I still had doubts. :)
 
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MichaelB said:
I missed it first time I read REW’s post. Even after a reread I still had doubts. :)
Click to expand...

Haha - I had no doubt Nemo2 would get the comment in 2 seconds.
 
It was immediately clear to me where REW was going with it.

If dentist A didnt' say anything, then not long after, dentist B is running around with his hair on fire, I think I'd go for a dentist C and see what happens (while not mentioning A, B, or anything A or B said).
 
I tend to agree with sengsational. There are some dentists who will create problems to generate business. I had a coworker who changed dentists and suddenly 100% of his fillings had to be replaces with crowns. I asked if he had any tooth pain and how old the fillings were... most were newish, and no tooth pain. He went ahead with it because the crowns were more attractive than the fillings - and went ahead with whitening treatments as well as a few other 'extra' treatments.

That new dentist saw $$ when my coworker walked in.
 
REWahoo said:
Sigh. It's discouraging when the opening line of a new thread says the poster doesn't want to hear my opinion. :cool:
Click to expand...

Didn't want mine either apparently.
:: Sigh ::

To the OP: my newish dentist has wanted to do restorations at same spot due to mild gum recision. It sounds like this is to protect the tooth, not due to actual cavities. I have resisted so far.
 
sengsational said:
It was immediately clear to me where REW was going with it.
If dentist A didn't say anything, then not long after, dentist B is running around with his hair on fire, I think I'd go for a dentist C and see what happens (while not mentioning A, B, or anything A or B said).
Click to expand...

That happened to me. New in town. Saw a nationally advertised brand of dental office. All of a sudden I have cavities. And she was frantic telling me how important it was to fill them immediately.

In 55 years I had had a grand total of ONE cavity and my previous dentist said everything was groovy. So, I hit a dentist shop that had just opened closer to my house. Like every dentist I have ever had he said my teeth were remarkable. Don't see a set of teeth like that every day. Still waiting for a cavity.
 
Dtail said:
You have been a member for 16 years. That is the REW clever humor. lol:)
Click to expand...
You are so ever correct--I was so very focused on the question which has caused some personal concern and COMPLETELY missed REW possibly suggesting he was not a member of the "esteemed " category.
Apologies to REW but if not "esteemed" what category would you be?? Cranky old man? ;-)
 
I had a dentist that said my exposed root part of the tooth was in danger of rotting since it was not as strong as the enamel. So I agreed to him putting some white filling on it.
It's been fine now for 10 years.

If a new dentist is suddenly seeing work, I'd see another opinion.
 
razztazz said:
That happened to me. New in town. Saw a nationally advertised brand of dental office. All of a sudden I have cavities. And she was frantic telling me how important it was to fill them immediately.

In 55 years I had had a grand total of ONE cavity and my previous dentist said everything was groovy. So, I hit a dentist shop that had just opened closer to my house. Like every dentist I have ever had he said my teeth were remarkable. Don't see a set of teeth like that every day. Still waiting for a cavity.
Click to expand...

That's very shocking.
 
Be very careful. I had a cap come loose once. Went to the closest dentist to have it glued back on since I was out of town. While there, he indicated I really needed scaling and planing. Just so happened, a couple of doors down there was a specialist that could do that for me. What a coincidence!

I told him to just cement the cap back on for that day and I'd be back. Went back to my family dentist to see what was up. She was really upset. Told me there was nothing wrong with my gums. She warned me there were mercenary dentists out there, and to be careful.
 
I recently moved and found a new dentist. When I went for routine cleaning he made it clear that the first visit will be xrays and an inspection. His findings I had 3 cavities and needed perio cleaning. His office had paper work for me to sign agreeing to do the work and $1900 charge. I walk out. I think too many dentist are becoming overly aggressive in treatments. I have an appointment at a hygienist school for a cleaning and I'll see what their findings are.
 
audreyh1 said:
That's very shocking.
Click to expand...



In 52 years and I’ve never had a cavity and resisted dentist for the first 40 years. I didn’t practice good dental hygiene as a child and don’t remember going to a dentist and I have perfectly aligned teeth. Now I go for the ocasional cleaning. One dentist said my saliva made me resistant to cavities. I thought I was lucky but met some people like that.
 
happ said:
I recently moved and found a new dentist. When I went for routine cleaning he made it clear that the first visit will be xrays and an inspection. His findings I had 3 cavities and needed perio cleaning. His office had paper work for me to sign agreeing to do the work and $1900 charge. I walk out. I think too many dentist are becoming overly aggressive in treatments. I have an appointment at a hygienist school for a cleaning and I'll see what their findings are.
Click to expand...

be sure to have your x-rays transferred to the hygiene school before you go there.
 
Another scam dentists seem to like to pull is telling you you need a filling when you actually don't, killing the root, and making a root canal necessary. Happened to my wife, it's b.s. That same dentist (the first or second time I went to him) told me I supposedly needed multiple fillings replaced because they were going to come out. Complete nonsense. That was many years ago and my fillings have been fine in the interim. (I go to an honest dentist now.)

I believe dentists pulling these kinds of scams is FAR more widespread than generally believed. Talk to enough people about dental work they've had and you will likely hear MANY more similar stores that can't just be so frequent due to statistical happenstance.

OP, I would def. find another dentist to check you out before having any work done at all.
 
Letj said:
In 52 years and I’ve never had a cavity and resisted dentist for the first 40 years. I didn’t practice good dental hygiene as a child and don’t remember going to a dentist and I have perfectly aligned teeth. Now I go for the ocasional cleaning. One dentist said my saliva made me resistant to cavities. I thought I was lucky but met some people like that.
Click to expand...

You are lucky.

I had 24 cavities in my baby teeth, and lots early in young years. Finally I got off well water and got city water with Fluoride, plus fluoride treatments at school.
I was never a big candy eater, and always brushed my teeth, I truly believe the Fluoride was the critical factor to fix my soft teeth.
 
rodi said:
I tend to agree with sengsational. There are some dentists who will create problems to generate business. I had a coworker who changed dentists and suddenly 100% of his fillings had to be replaces with crowns. I asked if he had any tooth pain and how old the fillings were... most were newish, and no tooth pain. He went ahead with it because the crowns were more attractive than the fillings - and went ahead with whitening treatments as well as a few other 'extra' treatments.

That new dentist saw $$ when my coworker walked in.
Click to expand...

Where I used to live, every time I went to the dentist my teeth were in tough shape. Needed perio treatments, flouride treatments, Sonicare toothbrush, etc.

Moved to a new state, got a new dentist. Funny - they say my teeth are in good shape and to keep doing exactly what I'm doing. No perio treatment reccomended.

Came to the conclusion my old dentist was creating revenue.
 
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