FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions
About Periodantal Disease

What's so bad about periodontal disease, anyway?

Periodontal disease is a serious, host mediated bacterial infection that can cause gum, bone and tooth loss. Unfortunately, because it is a chronic, painless condition, you may not even know that you have it until it is in an advanced stage!

Many recent studies have suggested that the periodontal bacterial infection circulates throughout your body and may contribute to other health problems such as diabetes, heart and lung disease, stroke, Alzheimer's, rheumatoid arthritis, gut permeability, cancer, and even premature births.

Why RPE - Regenerative Periodontal Endoscopy - may be a good alternative over traditional surgery and/or root planing?

There are several reasons why RPE - Regenerative Periodontal Endoscopy - may be a better alternative for you:

  • Effectiveness - using the dental endoscope, skilled clinicians are able to see below the gum line to find and treat areas of plaque and calculus that would go undetected in traditional treatment methods. RPE - Regenerative Periodontal Endoscopy - is a unique and very specific protocol aimed at arresting disease and regenerating lost bone around the teeth.
  • Freedom from pain - because the instruments are so tiny and so accurate, RPE treatments are almost completely painless.
  • Long Term Results - because RPE addresses all aspects of the periodontal disease process, and not just merely the removal of the calculus trapped under the gums, we observe long term periodontal health.
  • Cost - RPE costs much less than the cost of periodontal surgery - and the additional savings is in prevention of tooth loss and the enormous costs associated with tooth replacement.  It is important to know however, that RPE is not covered by insurance.  There are no insurance codes since this is considered alternative care instead of standard or traditional care.
  • Cosmetics - RPE treatments do not cause the gum disfigurement that sometimes results from osseous periodontal surgery.
  • Prevention - undiagnosed dental problems-such as decay or failing restorations-can be detected early with RPE, preventing larger problems.

How many appointments will RPE take?

RPE - Regenerative Periodontal Endoscopy - can be completed in just one appointment, or two shorter appointments lasting one to four hours, depending on severity and number of teeth treated. There is no down time following this procedure as with periodontal surgery, and no need for direct follow up appointments by PerioPeak Innovations. A comprehensive consultation is completed before RPE treatment, and communications with your dentist or periodontist are established.