FREE DOWNLOAD Considering Gum Treatment? The Questions You Should Ask Before You Decide
If you have been told that you have gum disease, or your dentist has recommended that you see a gum specialist, you may be wondering what happens next.
Do I really need treatment? How serious is my gum disease? Can my teeth be saved? What will treatment involve? And how do I know I am getting the right advice?
For most patients, periodontal treatment is unfamiliar territory. You aren’t expected to know how your gums should be assessed, what different treatments are available, or what questions you should ask before deciding how to proceed.
That’s exactly why we’ve created our Gum Treatment Checklist
It’s about understanding your gum health
At Perio & Implants, we believe that understanding what is happening in your mouth is an important part of making decisions about your care.
Our checklist isn’t designed to tell you where you should have your treatment.
It’s designed to help you understand what a thorough gum assessment should involve and the questions you should feel comfortable asking — wherever you ultimately decide to have treatment.
For example:
- Have you been told what type of gum disease you have and how advanced it is?
- Have your gums been thoroughly assessed and measured?
- Have you been shown where the problems are?
- Have the possible causes and risk factors been discussed with you?
- Do you understand which teeth may be at risk?
- Have your treatment options — including what may happen without treatment — been clearly explained?
- If something hasn’t been assessed, discussed or explained, ask why.
Gum treatment isn’t simply about having your teeth cleaned
One of the most important things to understand is that treating gum disease is about much more than cleaning your teeth.
Good periodontal care starts with a detailed assessment and diagnosis.
Your clinician needs to understand the health of the gums and supporting bone around your teeth, identify areas of disease and consider factors that could affect both your treatment and its long-term success.
Only then can an appropriate treatment plan be recommended.
For some patients, treatment may be relatively straightforward. For others, particularly where gum disease is more advanced, specialist periodontal treatment may be appropriate.
The important thing is that your treatment should be based on your individual diagnosis — not simply a standard approach.
Ask about the long term
Periodontal treatment isn’t only about treating the problem that exists today.
It’s about helping you keep your natural teeth healthy for as long as possible.
That means your treatment plan should also consider what happens afterwards.
How will your gum health be monitored?
Will you need ongoing periodontal maintenance?
How often should you see your dentist or hygienist?
What can you do at home to help protect your gums?
And how will your specialist, dentist and hygienist work together to look after you over the years ahead?
At Perio & Implants, we believe this long-term plan is an important part of periodontal care.
Don’t be afraid to ask questions
Being told you have gum disease can be worrying, particularly if you have been told that some of your teeth may be at risk.
You don’t need to become an expert in periodontics.
You simply need to understand what is happening, what your options are and why a particular treatment is being recommended for you.
A good clinician should be happy to explain this clearly and give you the opportunity to ask questions.
That’s why we’ve put together our Gum Treatment Checklist for you to download, keep and take with you when discussing your care.
Go through the questions.
And if something hasn’t been assessed, discussed or explained, ask why.
Download Our Gum Treatment Checklist
Important questions to ask when considering treatment for gum disease.
Whether you have been referred by your dentist or are looking for advice yourself, our aim is simple: to help you understand your gum health, know your options and feel confident about the next step.
Download your free Gum Treatment Checklist
Not ready to book yet?
That’s absolutely fine. Download our checklist and use it to help you understand more about your gum health, the questions to ask and what you should expect from periodontal care.
When you’re ready to talk, speak to Nicole about the next step.
Download our Perio Treatment Checklist
Wherever you ultimately choose to have treatment, our aim is simple: to help you make that decision feeling informed, comfortable and confident.
