Frequently Asked Questions

The following are answers to frequently asked questions dealing with tooth decay and the CariFree system.

Q: Why do I get cavities?
A: Cavities are caused my multiple factors in the mouth including diet, hygiene, and the type and concentration of bacteria in the mouth. Excessive amounts of cavity-causing bacteria can cause cavities even if a patient has good dental hygiene and diet. The CariFree system is designed to treat the cavity-causing bacteria.

Q: I brush and floss regularly, doesn’t that prevent cavities?
A: Brushing and flossing are essential to maintaining oral health. But these activities may not completely prevent dental decay. A cavity-causing bacterial infection in the mouth must be treated with prescription anti-microbials like the CariFree Treatment rinse in order to restore oral health.

Q: If I have a moderate to high CariScreen score should I suggest that the rest of my family be tested?
A: Yes. Due to similarities in diet, oral hygiene, and the potential to transmit the cavity-causing bacteria within a household, it is suggested that everyone in the household be screened.

Q: Is the CariFree test and treatment expensive?
A: No, in fact it’s very inexpensive. The CariScreen test usually only takes a minute or two to perform and is very affordable. If you have a moderate to high risk of getting a dental cavity, the cost of the whole test and treatment program together is usually less than one small filling.

Q: Is the CariScreen test hard and is it painful?
A: The CariScreen test only takes about one minute to perform. It is not painful. The dentist only rubs two teeth with a cotton swab, places the swab in a meter, and reads the results. That’s all there is to it.

Q: Is the CariFree treatment program difficult to use?
A: No, the CariFree treatment program is very easy to use. The CariFree Treatment rinse is an anti-microbial rinse prescribed once a day for one minute until the entire product is used. The Maintenance rinse is used once or twice a day as prescribed by your dentist and is essential to maintaining a healthy oral environment.

Here are some questions we sometimes hear concerning Laser Periodontal Therapy using the PerioLase:

Q: What about recovery - will I be in pain or need to follow a special routine?
A: The sense of recovery is immediate, due to the laser’s ability to seal blood vessels, lymphatics and nerve endings. It is VERY rare that anyone would need anything more than Ibuprofen after LPT^TM.  Of course, your tissue needs time to recover, regenerate and heal over the course of time, but after LPT^TM, you can drive your car, go back to work, or do anything else you like. 

Q: My Dentist says he has a different laser that will provide the same results as the Periolase.
   What’s the difference? 
A: There are many different types of lasers available today, including Erbium, Diode, and CO₂ lasers.  In fact, we also have an Erbium laser in our practice (the Waterlase MD).  While it is conceivable that similar results may be possible using these other wavelengths, there is NO scientific research to prove they work for this purpose.  The FDA has granted approval to only ONE surgical laser procedure to treat moderate to severe periodontal disease, and that is the LANAP protocol using the Periolase MVP-7 laser.  It is the only laser periodontal therapy with proven results in a university setting.  The reality is that those doctors who assert they have the ability to achieve similar results just “think” they can do it.  They don’t have any proof yet.

Q: If I have a moderate to periodontal disease should I suggest that my spouse (or significant other) be tested?
A: Yes. Due to similarities in diet, oral hygiene, and the potential to transmit the periodontal disease-causing bacteria within a household, it is suggested that spouses and significant others be screened.

Q: Since periodontal disease can be transmitted through intimate contact, what happens if one spouse (or significant other) is treated with LPT^TM and the other is not?
A: Once the infection is cleared up with LPT^TM , it hurts your chances for long term success if you are being inoculated with new bacterial pathogens after your surgery.  The bottom line is that if both individuals have periodontal disease, they both need to receive treatment together so long term healing won't be compromised.

Q: I can see how good LPT^TM is - but is it very expensive and will my insurance cover it?
A: The good news is, LPT^TM is actually less expensive -- by about 20% -- than traditional periodontal surgery.  There is no special code for our therapy, so if your insurance company will reimburse for conventional surgery, they will reimburse for LASER PERIODONTAL THERAPY^TM.