My dentist did not actually insert probe?

[Moonchilde@2714]

I went to a new periodontist yesterday. He said he was going to measure my pockets which can be uncomfortable, and he had a probe, which he tapped some of my teeth with, however he did not actually insert the probe into my gums. He said all my pockets are 5 and 6. Can he really determine pocket depth just by looking ? I thought maybe he has so much experience, he can, but I find this unsettling.

 

[Moonchilde@2714]

Also, I asked him about a prior deep cleaning where the dentist used a laser, and he said that sounds like surgery. But I have now read that some dentists do cleanings with lasers. Is this periodontist uninformed as well as possibly careless?

 

[Dr M]

You can not guess probing depths just by looking at teeth. You will need to actually do the measurements.
It might be that your periodontist does not use a laser, but sticks to conventional methods. This does not mean he is uninformed if he chooses not to do deep cleanings with a laser.

 

[Moonchilde@2714]

And what do I do about the fact that he did not really do any measurements? I already agreed to a deep cleaning starting today, I know I need one anyhow, but now I don't trust him. If he didn't measure anything, he is going to have to in the future to see if my gums are doing well. How do I insist on that?

 

[Moonchilde@2714]

I know I need deep cleaning because a prior dentist measured last year and most of my teeth were 3, some were 5 and a few were 8. And the bleeding has gotten worse when I brush.

 

[Dr M]

I would ask for a copy of the periodontal chart that was completed during the initial exam. Tell the periodontist you just want to see the values, since you are a bit confused when no measuring with a periodontal probe took place. If you are unhappy with the treatment received by this specialist, you can seek a second opinion elsewhere.