Our Staff Medical Dentistry Treatment Process Assessment Treatment Expense Technologies and Concepts Modern Clinical Services Administrative Policy Getting Started More Information Home Page		(207) 947-8686    Robert M. Kassa, DMD    Fax (207) 945-6972 Info@BEYONDTEETH.com The Process: Treatment Progression and Goals Now we are ready to begin treating the problems. First -> Get the environment healthy.     If it has been several years since you last visited a dentist, or you have very aggressive infections, or extensive existing damage, initial clean-up may take 2 or more thorough "cleaning" appointments. This will likely include antimicrobial irrigation and laser enhanced procedures. (We find the power and effectiveness of these modern tools to be unparalleled by any conventional methods.) Depending upon the severity of your situation, a re-evaluation may take place in a few weeks or months.     At this point, if defects persist, we will discuss definitive "repair" options: laser/microcellular therapy is an extremely interesting alternative to conventional gum surgery. You may elect to try incremental therapy in conjunction with regularly scheduled maintenance appointments, and re-evaluate the definitive options at a later date. Things to consider when choosing the incremental therapy option:    The pattern of germ colony development in most adults, with reasonable at-home care, will become dangerously infective and destructive in about 3 months. This is science, not opinion. Some can go longer if they are meticulous and have non-aggressive bacteria; some need our help more often. Everyone must be treated based upon their individual patterns. What we do know is that "Scrapeodontics" alone, once or twice a year, is almost totally ineffective. Considering that these infections may cause loss of teeth and loss of facial bone structure is bad enough. But whether or not this damage noticeably occurs, the infection process itself is leaking germs into your bloodstream constantly, over years (chronic bacteremia), whenever you brush, chew or floss, in an unclean, unhealthy, ulcerated (bleeding gums) environment. Adults with chronic, active gum infections are: 4 times more likely to have a stroke (blood clots) or heart attack 5+ times more likely to have pregnancy complications (pre-term, low birth weight babies) several times more likely to have cardiovascular disease (atherosclerosis) diabetics are much more likely to suffer unstable insulin metabolism, the primary cause of blood vessel corrosion, circulatory failure, inability to heal, blindness, etc… The NIH believes that if gum infections were specifically treated, Medicare would save $60 billion/year.

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