Typical Perio Procedures

[Beatles0467]

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[charlestweed]

The referring GPs do most of the scaling and root planning before they refer the patients to the periodontists….this is known as “intial therapy”. When the initial therapy fails to reduce the deep pockets, the periodontists have to do the open flap sugeries and do more scaling and root planning to remove the calculus that the GPs fail to remove. Many periodontists hire in-house hygienists but my wife usually refers the patients back to the GPs for periodic cleanings.

When my wife first took over an existing perio practice10 years ago, she did mostly osseous (pocket reduction) surgeries, free gingival grafts and bone grafts etc…..less than 10 % of the procedures were implant placements. Now at her own practice and at the GP offices where she works as an in-house periodontist, the majority of the procedures (70-75%) are implant placements and implant-related bone grafts. She does, on the average, 2-3 canine exposures a month for the orthodontists.

 

[Beatles0467]

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[Beatles0467]

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[servitup]

Not many replies...here's a question that might incite more of a response:

What about applying to both perio and oral surgery programs? Assuming you don't apply to the same school's two programs...

If you decide to do that, you probably wouldn't finish an OMFS program.

 

[Beatles0467]

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[servitup]

I'm not sure what you mean...are you saying that if I would choose that path, then I'm not cut out to finish an OMFS program?

I can only think of a couple of reasons to apply to both:

1. You have very little chance of getting in to OMFS due to grades/scores or both. In that case, even an internship probably won't help. Therefore, you could always give it a whirl with OMFS knowing you probably will end up in perio.

2. You don't fully understand the difference between the specialties. In this case, you are likely underestimating what exactly OMFS and especially OMFS residency entails. Thus, you would likely be unhappy in an OMFS program and not likely to finish.

In your case, you just need to make sure you put in the time to fully investigate both specialties before getting ahead of yourself with the idea of applying to both. With time and experience, you will be able to more clearly define your goals. In most cases, one should only apply to the specialty he (or she) wants to do. #1 above is the only exception I can think of.

 

[Beatles0467]

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[drhobie7]

don't forget about periodontal plastic surgery.