FAQs
- What is a periodontist?
- How are periodontists different from general dentists?
- What do you do to relax “white-knuckle” patients?
- Will my procedure hurt?
- What kind of payment plans do you offer and do you accept insurance?
A periodontist is a dentist who specializes in gum disease and its treatment. Periodontists also do dental implants, oral surgery and cosmetic dentistry. To become a periodontist requires a significant educational commitment. In addition to four years of dental school, periodontists complete three years of specialty training in diagnosing, preventing and treating gum disease. Some periodontists also achieve Diplomate status from the American Academy of Periodontology, which requires extensive additional study and testing.
Periodontists are specialists in diagnosing and treating gum disease, which has been linked to a number of serious health problems including heart attack, stroke and cancer. They have all the training your general dentist has plus three years of specialty training in treating diseases of the gums and the other structures that surround the teeth to keep them stable in your mouth.
We understand that dental procedures are scary for some people. That’s why we offer conscious sedation for procedures like extractions and implants. While under conscious sedation, most patients can speak, they can communicate any discomfort they may feel and they can respond to questions or requests. The mixture of pain relievers and sedatives minimizes any pain or discomfort. Most patients experience a brief period of amnesia that erases any memory of the actual procedure.
We do everything we can in our office to minimize any pain you may experience. We do this through a variety of approaches, from the traditional shot of anesthetic to conscious sedation. Different patients have very different levels of pain tolerance. I encourage patients to tell me about their experience, their pain tolerance and their concerns. My staff and I will work closely with you to make your experience in our office as pain free as possible.
We are seeing patients while taking many precautions to ensure that care is delivered in a sanitary, safe environment.
Infection Control and Concerns Regarding COVID-19 - Click Here To Learn More
Infection Control and Concerns Regarding the Corona Virus Crisis
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As of Monday, June 1, the "Stay Home, Stay Safe" order has been lifted for the State of Michigan.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO SEE PATIENTS WHO ARE EXPERIENCING PAIN or DENTAL/SURGICAL EMERGENCY. WE WILL BE AVAILABLE TO SCHEDULE EMERGENCY APPOINTMENTS IN OUR TRAVERSE CITY OFFICE ON A LIMITED BASIS.
Our staff is working tirelessly to cancel/reschedule pending appointments.
Please call with any questions/concerns, or to schedule an emergency appointment.
Please stay healthy, observe social distancing. Thanks for your understanding.
- Dr. John Hall
Infection control procedures are actions taken in health care settings to prevent the spread of disease. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommendations for dental office infection control. Your dentist cares about your safety and works hard to prevent the spread of infection. Before you enter the examining room, all surfaces, such as the dental chair, dental light, drawer handles and countertops, have been cleaned and disinfected. Offices may cover some equipment with protective covers, which are replaced after each patient.
Non-disposable items like the dental tools are cleaned and sterilized between patients. Disposable dental tools and needles are never reused. Infection control precautions also require all dental staff involved in patient care to use appropriate protective equipment such as gloves, masks, gowns and eyewear when needed. After each patient, disposable gloves and masks are thrown away. Before seeing the next patient, everyone on the treatment team washes their hands and put on a new pair of gloves.
Your well-being is important to your dentist and dental staff. That’s why infection control procedures are in place at your dental office. What about the new coronavirus?
It is very understandable to be concerned about the new coronavirus that causes COVID-19. Please know that the precautions your dentist already takes every day to prevent the spread of infection in his or her practice also helps prevent the spread of COVID-19.
If you are ill with flu-like symptoms, you should reschedule your appointment.
If you or someone you are in close contact with have recently traveled to one of the countries with large outbreaks of COVID-19 (China, Italy, Iran, South Korea) or if you have been exposed to someone else who was diagnosed with COVID-19 or who was quarantined as a precaution, wait 14 days until you see your dentist to make sure you have not caught the coronavirus.
If you are healthy, there’s no need to cancel your regularly scheduled dental appointment.
It’s important to know that the majority of people infected with the coronavirus experience flu-like symptoms and then recover. Most people do not develop serious respiratory complications.
Those most at risk of becoming seriously ill are elderly people and those with underlying medical conditions such as diabetes and kidney disease, among others. Children, thus far, have been largely unaffected.
Here are a few things you can do on your own to help keep yourself and those around you healthy:
- Wash your hands frequently, or use a hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent ethyl alcohol.
- Avoid touching your face, eyes or nose to reduce the spread of germs.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with your elbow. Infections like the coronavirus spread through the tiny droplets in coughs and sneezes.
- Stay home if you feel sick. If you have flu-like symptoms or otherwise feel unwell, stay home and rest. Call your dentist to reschedule your appointment for a later date. This will reduce the risk of spreading your illness.
Visit the CDC’s website for the latest information on COVID-19
