Well, more than one trip.
Actually, quite a long story. And a boring story. But it’s bothering me so I’m writing about it anyway!
About a year ago, my dentist recommended I see a periodontist due to receding gums. She thought I might possibly need a frenectomy to stop the recession. This would involve trimming some of the little flaps of skin that connect the inside of my cheek to my gums.
The idea of this crazy surgery was not something I was running towards … so I put it off. The periodontist she referred me to was out of my plan, so six months later at my next appointment the hygienist recommended another.
Also not in my plan.
I finally just picked a periodontist, and saw him a few weeks ago.
He determined the frenum were not the cause, rather, my bite. I have caught myself clenching while awake, and am pretty sure I clench (if not grind) my teeth in my sleep. The doctor confirmed that as I bite and/or grind, I’m essentially wiggling my teeth.
Great.
He was quick to suggest I need a gum graft which sounds highly painful and unpleasant. Also probably very expensive, and probably not covered by insurance.
He said he’d make me a night guard to wear to prevent further damage from whatever it is I’m doing in my sleep.
Before I left, they set me up with a surgery date and a pre-surgery appointment (which was today).
This is even more freaky than the first surgery option.
After the appointment, I did a little searching. Most examples of this surgery I found were performed on recession far more advanced than my own. On this periodontist’s Web site, he lists gum grafts as cosmetic surgery.
Huh. The recession doesn’t bother me at all. It isn’t visible when I smile. I don’t have any sensitivity issues.
Still, I decided to keep the appointment since I do still need to do something to prevent further damage. (I am sure this surgery has a time and place!)
However, once I told the periodontist I did not want to do the surgery unless it was medically necessary (will my teeth fall out?), that was it. He told me to go back to my regular dentist for a mouth guard.
Yet he would have fit me if I went through with the procedure.
Actually, shouldn’t we address the problem first, anyway, before any surgical repair? Won’t I start immediately causing damage again?
Something just feels scummy about this. Was I not worth his time if I was not going to be handing over wads of cash?
I’m not sure if I want to go back to my dentist for this, since she misdiagnosed me in the first place …
I’m getting another opinion. And I’m not going back to this guy!
