• A periodontist is a dentist specialized in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of gum diseases. He is also an expert in gingival grafts, correction of gingival disharmonies as well as replacing missing teeth with dental implants.
• To become a periodontist, one has to complete a specialty training of three additional years after dental school.

If you have been referred to a periodontist, it is because your dentist has detected a gum problem that needs further evaluation. During the consultation appointment, varying between 30 minutes to an hour, your periodontist will examine the condition of your gums with gingival probing and radiographs in order to come up with a diagnosis. Following this evaluation, you will be informed about:

• Your condition and the consequences of the disease.
• The nature of the required treatments.
• The sequence of treatments, the time required for each step as well as the associated fees.

You will have the opportunity to ask all the questions you may have.
A detailed report summarizing our observations and recommendations will be sent to your dentist.

Make sure to have the following information with you at the consultation appointment:

• The referral form completed by your dentist.
• The complete information about your medical history (past surgeries, systemic diseases, cardiac problems, diabetes, orthopedic prostheses, osteoporosis, etc.,). Please inform us if your physician has instructed you to take prophylactic antibiotics prior to dental procedures.
• The updated list of your medications and the injections you receive. Your pharmacist can provide you such a list.
• Your dental insurance information. This will allow us to complete the insurance claims. Please take note that dental specialists cannot communicate electronically with insurance companies. Your insurance company will inform you directly of your coverage.

Once your appointment is booked, we will contact your dentist to obtain your latest radiographs. In case they are not sufficient for our purpose, we would take additional ones.

• Our fees are based on the fee guide established by the Federation of Dental Specialists of Quebec. This fee guide is different from the one of general dentists, which insurance companies often base their coverage on.
• At the end of the consultation appointment, you will be provided with a treatment plan detailing the fees associated with each procedure and a pre-authorization form for your insurance. Your insurance company will subsequently inform you about your coverage. Once a treatment is carried out, you will be given a new form so that you can receive reimbursement directly from your insurance company. Note that insurance companies do not communicate with dental specialist offices.
• The patient is responsible for the fees associated with his/her treatment. Our office accepts cash, Visa and MasterCard. We do not accept American Express nor personal cheques.

• A time slot is reserved in our schedule for your appointment. If you are unable to attend, please notify us as soon as possible.
• A minimum of 48 hours’ notice is required.

• Have a good meal before your appointment.
• Take your medications as prescribed by your doctor unless told otherwise.
• Take your preoperative medications as prescribed.
• If you have been prescribed a sedative, you should take it one hour before the appointment. It is important to be accompanied and not to drive for the day.
• You can bring your headphones to listen to your own music.
• Have ice packs or a bag of frozen peas ready at home to apply cold compresses to the skin, opposite the surgical site.
• Liquid meal replacements such as “Ensure” and soft foods such as soup, purees, Jell-O, rice, pasta, fish, ground meat, etc. are recommended for the first few days.
• You will need to schedule a 20-minute appointment two weeks after the procedure to verify the healing and remove the stitches.
• Do not hesitate to contact us if you have any last-minute questions

Oral hygiene
Avoid any oral hygiene measures of the treated site for the first 14 days. The non-treated areas of the mouth should be brushed and cleaned normally. After the first 14 days, you should start brushing with an extra soft manual toothbrush as well floss and use interproximal toothbrushes. You may experience some mild bleeding during the first days of reinstituted oral hygiene.

Mouthwash
You should rinse with the prescribed mouthwash morning and night for 30 seconds to one minute until told otherwise. Avoid rinsing with water afterwards.

Food intake
Avoid chewing on the treated side during the first two weeks. Avoid eating or drinking anything hot as well as drinking through a straw during the first 48 hours. Soft or semi-soft food is recommended such as soup, rice, pasta, puree, fish, ground meet etc. Stay away from hard food such as nuts, raw vegetables etc. during the first two weeks.

Smoking
Smoking interferes with the healing process. We recommend to avoid smoking for a minimum of two weeks.

Rest
Avoid physical activities that increase the heart rate and avoid lifting heavy weights or heavy objects during the first 5 days.

Dressing
In certain cases, we cover the surgical site with a dressing. Early loss of the dressing will not compromise healing. However, if you were more comfortable with the dressing in place you can contact us so we can reapply a new one.

Appearance of the gingiva
During the healing stage, the gums can look whitish, reddish or purplish. Avoid touching the site or pulling on the lips to look as you can tear the sutures by doing so.

Specific to sinus lifts
Avoid blowing your nose for the next 3-4 weeks. If you are congested take a decongestant such as “Sudafed”.

POSSIBLE POST-OP SYMPTOMS

Pain
It is normal to experience some pain during the first 4-5 days following the procedure. You should take the prescribed painkillers during the first 2 days or until you are pain-free. You should contact us if the pain persists or increases after the first 5 days.

Swelling
It is normal to experience some swelling following a surgery. We recommend applying ice for the first 24 hours, at least 30 minutes per hour, on the face next to the surgical site. Contact us if the swelling becomes more pronounced after the first 3-4 days.

Bleeding
It is normal to have some light bleeding of the surgical site during the first 24-48 hours. If the bleeding increases, stay calm, keep the head upright and apply a firm pressure with a moist teabag for 10 minutes. You should contact us if you experience persistent bleeding.

Sensitivity to cold
Teeth in the surgical field may become sensitive to cold for couple of weeks. These symptoms should slowly subside. Desensitizing toothpastes such as “Colgate Pro-Relief” or “Prevident Sensitive” can help reduce these symptoms.