FAQs From Our Periodontal Patients in Phoenix, AZ

No. You can call Arizona Periodontal Group at (602) 995-5045 or request an appointment online, with or without a referral from your dentist. Many patients are referred by their general dentist. Many others come in on their own because they noticed bleeding or receding gums or a loose tooth, or were told they may need an implant.

If you do have a referral, bring your dentist’s notes and any recent x-rays so we don’t have to repeat images you’ve already had taken. Seeing a periodontist doesn’t replace your regular dentist. We keep your dentist informed about your treatment, and you continue your routine checkups with them.

Cost depends on what your gums and bone actually need, so we don’t quote a price until Dr. Trujillo has examined you. After your exam, you’ll receive a written treatment plan before any treatment begins. It shows each recommended procedure, what we expect your insurance to cover, and your estimated out-of-pocket cost.

The biggest factors are:

• how many teeth or areas need care
• how advanced the disease is
• whether bone or gum grafting is needed
• whether you choose IV sedation

Dental insurance often covers part of periodontal treatment, such as scaling and root planing. Coverage for dental implants varies widely from plan to plan. Our team checks your benefits and helps file your claims. For the remaining balance, we offer monthly payment options through Cherry and CareCredit, subject to approval.

Your first visit is a consultation and comprehensive periodontal exam. Dr. Trujillo reviews your medical history and takes any x-rays needed. He measures the pockets around each tooth and checks for gum recession, bone loss, and loose teeth. Then he explains what he found and walks you through your treatment options before anything is scheduled.

Please bring:

• your insurance card
• a list of your medications, especially blood thinners and diabetes medications, which affect gum health and healing
• any recent x-rays from your dentist

If you’re anxious about treatment, mention it when you call so we can plan for it. Se habla español.

Gingivitis, the earliest stage, is reversible. With a professional cleaning and good home care, inflamed gums usually return to health. Periodontitis is the stage where infection has damaged the bone that holds your teeth. It can’t be cured permanently, but it can be stopped and kept under control, and in some cases lost support can be partially rebuilt.

About 4 in 10 U.S. adults over 30 have periodontitis, and most don’t know it because it’s usually painless until it’s advanced. Treatment depends on the stage of your gum disease:

• scaling and root planing, a deep cleaning below the gumline
• LANAP laser therapy or pocket reduction surgery for deeper pockets

After treatment, periodontal maintenance visits keep the disease from returning. These are usually every three months. Smoking and poorly controlled diabetes make gum disease harder to control, so we’ll talk with you about both.

For many patients with moderate to advanced gum disease, yes. LANAP uses a specialized dental laser to remove infected tissue and bacteria from deep pockets without cutting and stitching the gums. Compared with traditional flap surgery, patients typically have less discomfort, less bleeding, less gum shrinkage afterward, and a faster recovery.

Most patients return to normal activities the next day and follow a soft diet for a short time while the gums heal.

LANAP isn’t right for every case. Several things factor in:

• the number of teeth involved
• how deep the pockets are
• the pattern of bone loss
• your medical history

Some situations are still better treated with traditional pocket reduction surgery. Dr. Trujillo will tell you which approach fits your mouth and why. Learn more on our LANAP: Am I a Candidate? page.

Often, yes. The Pinhole Surgical Technique repositions your existing gum tissue through a tiny opening. It doesn’t require a graft from the roof of your mouth or stitches. Several teeth can often be treated in one visit, and most patients see the difference right away.

Not everyone is a candidate. Pinhole works best when there’s enough healthy gum tissue and bone to work with. If your gums are very thin or the recession is severe, a gum graft may give a stronger, longer-lasting result.

Recession also has a cause, such as brushing too hard, grinding your teeth, a misaligned bite, or gum disease. Treating the gums without addressing that cause lets it come back. After your exam, Dr. Trujillo will explain which option makes sense for you.

In many cases, yes. When a tooth has been missing for a while or was lost to gum disease, the jawbone in that area often shrinks. Bone grafting can rebuild it so an implant has a solid foundation. Depending on the site, the graft may be placed at the same appointment as the implant or a few months before.

Whether you need a graft, and what kind, depends on how much bone remains and where the implant needs to go. Dr. Trujillo evaluates this with x-rays before recommending anything. For patients missing most or all of their teeth, All-On-4 implants are designed to make efficient use of existing bone and can sometimes avoid grafting.

Implants typically need a few months to fuse with the bone before the final tooth is attached. Dr. Trujillo has been placing dental implants since 1998.

Most patients are surprised by how comfortable treatment is. The area is thoroughly numbed before any procedure. For patients who are anxious or need more extensive work, Dr. Trujillo offers IV sedation, also called twilight sedation. You’ll be deeply relaxed, and many patients remember little of the visit.

With IV sedation, treatment can often be completed in one visit instead of several. You’ll receive instructions ahead of time about eating and drinking before your appointment, and you’ll need someone to drive you home.

Afterward, most patients manage soreness with over-the-counter pain relievers for a few days, and you’ll go home with written care instructions. If you’re nervous, tell us when you call. Our team, including Spanish-speaking staff, will walk you through exactly what to expect.