I have periodontal disease, but no insurance. i have had it for a while, how much do procedures cost. i think it progressed a lot i just want to know if it is possible to save my teeth. i'm only 42. i have no insurance and only work part time so finances

Treatment : Treatment of periodontal disease depends on the type and severity of the disease. It is impossible to answer this question without knowing many more details about your case and situation. Sometimes teeth are untreatable and require extraction and other times conservative treatment is all that is necessary to bring the disease under control. A discussion with a qualified professional who knows the particulars of your case, is what will help you determine your treatment course.

You : You should see a dentist for a comprehensive dental exam and radiographs to determine the severity of your periodontal disease. Minimal treatment for periodontal disease consists of 4 quadrants of scaling and root planing, which on average will run you around 800 to 1000 dollars. In cases of mild to moderate periodontitis, this is usually sufficient as long as your home care is excellent. In severe cases, surgical intervention is often necessary. These procedures can be much more costly, especially if bone grafting is performed. If finances are very tight, you can do a quadrant at a time and break the treatment sessions up over an extended period of time. Regardless of the treatment rendered, you have to take responsibility for your home care and be diligent about brushing and flossing daily. Additionally, if you smoke tobacco, this is adding insult to injury and smoking cessation should be implemented. Visit perio.Org, the american academy of periodontology's website. It has a good amount of valuable information for patients.

Healthy : Healthy teeth and gums are some of your most valuable assets, and you can not afford to let them fail. The damage to your gums particularly can even shorten your life. Generally speaking patients who have neglected their teeth for any length of time not only need gum treatments, but also have ares of decay where teeth need repair. For the time being i will just focus on the periodontal condition. You should have your mouth examined and your teeth x-rayed immediately and start in with an initial gross scaling. This will be followed by four deep scaling appointments. You should budget about $1000 to have this done properly. Best of luck, dr. Neil mcleod dds dentistry that lasts - quality that counts.

Oral-systemic link: The prior answers are very thorough. It is very important that you address these problems asap. Latest info shows a link between many medical conditions and periodontal disease. You may lose teeth and your oral hygiene will have to be the best to have improvement. See your dentist for a thorough evaluation.

Diagnosis/payments: You first need a specific diagnosis of your gum disease before a cost can be applied to the treatment. You also need to recognize that the failure to treat gum disease will lead to tooth lose and some type of replacement. That to has a cost. Your own teeth almost always are better than "store bought teeth". So see if your dentist can create a treatment&payment schedule that is realistic for you!