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Uzm. Dt. Emre Karakaya — Periodontoloji & İmplant Cerrahisi

Frequently Asked Questions

Informative answers to common questions about periodontology, implant surgery and clinical processes. Treatment-specific questions are answered on the relevant treatment pages. The information here is general; a personal assessment requires an examination.

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General

Periodontology is the dental speciality concerned with the health of the gums and the bone and connective tissue supporting the teeth. Diagnosis and treatment of conditions such as gingivitis and periodontitis, dental scaling, gum treatment, implant surgery and hard and soft tissue surgery are its main areas. Specialist training is a separate programme completed after dental school.

No, you can book an appointment directly. Bleeding gums, recession, sensitivity or loose teeth are reason enough to seek an assessment. Being referred by your general dentist is also possible; in either case the process begins with an examination and, where needed, radiographic imaging. For symptoms and possible causes, see the article on the symptoms of gum disease.

Gum treatment, dental scaling, implant surgery, impacted wisdom tooth extraction, cyst operations and smile design are among the periodontology and oral surgery treatments addressed here. The full list is on the treatments page. The approach suitable for you is determined after an examination.

At the first visit you are asked about your complaint, your medical history and the medications you take. The gums and teeth are then examined clinically, pocket depths are measured with a periodontal probe and, where needed, radiographs are taken to assess the level of supporting bone. The findings are explained to you together with the options and how the process will proceed. A treatment plan is then drawn up individually.

The general recommendation is a check-up every six months. People who have had gum disease, who smoke, who have diabetes or who have implants may be advised a shorter interval. The purpose of check-ups is to notice changes before they produce symptoms; gum disease often progresses without pain, which is why regular follow-up matters. The appropriate interval varies from person to person and is decided at examination.

Anxiety is a common reason for postponing dental care, and saying so makes the visit easier to manage. Telling your dentist at the start of the appointment, having each step explained in advance and knowing that you can ask for a pause helps many people. Procedures are carried out under local anaesthesia, so the aim is that no pain is felt. For higher levels of anxiety, additional approaches can be discussed together during the examination.

Instruments go through washing, packaging and autoclave sterilisation after every patient, and the sterilisation process is checked regularly. Single-use materials are preferred and working surfaces are disinfected between patients. The aim is a safe and hygienic clinical environment for every patient.

Our clinic works on treatments within periodontology (gum diseases) and oral surgery, together with gum aesthetics, referred to as pink aesthetics. Applications such as zirconia crowns, laminate veneers, fillings and whitening belong to the field of prosthetic and restorative dentistry; patients are referred to the relevant clinician for these. That said, gum health is often the first step in planning such work: resolving inflammation, assessing the gum line and tissue stability are addressed before the aesthetic stage. See the smile aesthetics page.

Health Conditions & Medications

In most cases yes, but your dentist needs to know beforehand. Aspirin, warfarin and newer anticoagulants can affect bleeding time, so the procedure is planned accordingly. Do not stop your medication on your own; any change must be discussed with the doctor who prescribed it. Bringing a list of your medications to the appointment makes the assessment easier.

Yes, and the relationship works both ways. When blood glucose is not well controlled, gum disease can progress more quickly, and inflamed gums can in turn make glucose control more difficult. Regular periodontal follow-up is therefore recommended for people with diabetes. For more detail, see the article on diabetes and gum health.

Bleeding and swollen gums are common in pregnancy because of hormonal changes, so gum care should not be neglected during this period. Routine scaling and gum treatment can generally be carried out; timing is planned according to the stage of pregnancy, and non-urgent surgical procedures may be left until after the birth. Always tell your dentist that you are pregnant and mention any particular circumstances. For more detail, see pregnancy and gum health.

Smoking reduces blood flow in the gum tissue and can therefore mask the signs of disease; bleeding may be limited even when bone loss underneath has progressed. It can also affect healing after surgery and the health of the tissues around implants. Reducing or stopping smoking before and after treatment supports the process. For more detail, see smoking and gum health.

Yes, you should report every medication you take and any condition you have. Some blood pressure medicines can cause gum overgrowth, and bisphosphonate-type drugs used for osteoporosis can change how procedures involving the jawbone are planned. Conditions such as heart valve disease may call for additional precautions before treatment. This information is needed so that treatment can be planned safely.

The local anaesthetics used in dentistry numb only the area where they are applied and have been in widespread use for many years. Numbness lasting a few hours after the procedure is normal. If you have previously reacted to an anaesthetic agent, have a known allergy or are pregnant, tell your dentist before the procedure so that it can be planned accordingly.

Treatment Process

Gum disease needs monitoring after treatment as well. At follow-up visits pocket depths are measured again, signs of bleeding and inflammation are assessed and supportive cleaning is carried out where needed. The aim is to maintain the health gained through treatment and to notice any recurrence early. The interval is set according to the initial severity of the disease and your risk factors.

Brushing technique and interdental cleaning directly affect how long the results last. Brushing twice a day with a soft brush, including the gum margin, and cleaning between the teeth with floss or an interdental brush is recommended. Your dentist may give you a different routine depending on your situation. For practical detail, see correct tooth brushing and flossing and interdental cleaning.

Yes, gum inflammation and bacterial plaque on the tooth surface are among the common causes of bad breath. Calculus, food debris left between the teeth and deposits on the back of the tongue can also contribute. Once the causes inside the mouth are addressed the complaint often decreases; causes related to digestion or the airways may require a separate assessment. For more detail, see bad breath (halitosis).

Regular brushing and interdental cleaning reduce plaque build-up and slow the formation of calculus, but calculus that has already formed cannot be removed at home. Hardened deposits are removed in the clinic. Home care and professional dental scaling are therefore two separate processes that complement each other.

It can. The most common picture in children and adolescents is gum inflammation caused by plaque build-up, which is reversible with appropriate oral care. Hormonal changes during adolescence can increase gum bleeding. Some rare early-onset periodontal conditions need early diagnosis; if your child has persistent bleeding or swelling of the gums, an assessment is advisable.

Mouth rinses do not replace mechanical cleaning; gum inflammation rests on accumulated plaque and calculus, and these are not removed by rinsing. Warm salt water usually comes up after the first days following a surgical procedure, on your clinician's advice; it is not a daily treatment method for gum disease. Antiseptic rinses require defined and time-limited use. The main drawback of home-made mixtures is that they may mask symptoms and delay assessment. See mouthwash and home care for gum inflammation.

These devices may remove part of the deposit on the visible tooth surface; however, the deposit that matters most periodontally sits below the gum margin, inside the pocket, and cannot be judged by eye. Home devices are not designed to reach that area in a controlled way. With uncontrolled scraping using metal tips, scratching can be seen on enamel or exposed root surfaces, and trauma at the gum margin. See at-home tartar removal devices and dental scaling.

In some gum procedures a laser can be used as an assisting tool alongside options such as a scalpel or electrosurgery, for example when reshaping the gum margin or removing excess tissue. A laser is not the name of a treatment in itself: what determines the outcome is an accurate diagnosis and a suitable treatment plan, and the same procedure can be carried out with other instruments. Which approach is suitable is decided at an examination; see the gum treatment page.

Implants

Peri-implantitis is inflammation of the gum and bone tissue surrounding an implant. Plaque build-up, smoking and irregular check-ups are the main risk factors. In the early stage, when only the gum is involved (peri-implant mucositis), it can be reversed with treatment, whereas more advanced situations involving bone require a more comprehensive approach. This is why regular follow-up after an implant matters. For more detail, see peri-implantitis.

When bone volume is insufficient an implant may not be placed directly; preparatory procedures such as bone grafting or raising the sinus floor in the upper posterior jaw (sinus lifting) may come into consideration. These can be planned in the same session as the implant or as a separate stage. Suitability is determined after examination and three-dimensional imaging. For more detail, see bone grafting and sinus lifting.

The principle is the same, but the tissues around an implant are more sensitive to plaque build-up, so interdental cleaning carries more weight. Interdental brushes, floss suitable for implants or other aids recommended by your dentist can be used. Regular clinical check-ups allow inflammation around the implant to be noticed early. For more detail, see care after an implant.

When no teeth remain in a jaw, a fixed superstructure supported by several implants and not removed by the patient can be planned. The number of implants needed is decided by assessing the condition of the jaw, bone volume, the planned superstructure design and the opposing jaw together; no fixed number is given in advance. Whether the palate can be left open in the upper jaw is a frequent question and is evaluated according to the design. See the article on full-arch implant-supported fixed prosthesis for details.

Yes, an implant can be removed where this is considered necessary. The decision rests not on a single finding but on clinical examination interpreted together with radiographic assessment. Situations in the early period where integration with bone has not occurred differ from those in the later period where advanced loss is seen in the supporting tissues. After removal, healing of the area is awaited, bone volume is reassessed and grafting may be planned when needed; whether a new implant can be considered is discussed after that assessment. See complications in implant treatment and removal of an implant.

In the first days after the procedure, sensitivity, swelling and at times bruising can be seen, and these findings usually tend to subside. The duration is expected to vary from person to person; the scope of the procedure, whether grafting or a sinus floor application was carried out, and smoking can affect the course. Pain that increases when it would be expected to settle, growing swelling, fever, discharge from the area, a bad taste in the mouth or prolonged numbness are findings that should be assessed without delay. See pain after implant surgery.

In suitable cases, a temporary prosthesis providing a transition in function and appearance during healing can be planned; this may not be possible in every situation, and the decision follows examination and imaging. A temporary prosthesis does not take the place of the final one: an impression is taken once the tissues have stabilised, and the final superstructure is then prepared. See implant prosthesis and the healing abutment for the stages involved.

The healing abutment is a temporary component that guides the shape the gum takes around the implant. Sensitivity may be felt around it in the first days; gentle cleaning of the area as described by your clinician is advised. Once the gum has been shaped around this component, the impression stage follows and the visible superstructure is prepared. If you notice loosening, rotation or discomfort, it is appropriate to inform your clinician without delay. See implant prosthesis and the healing abutment.

Surgical Procedures

Hard tissue surgery covers procedures involving bone, while soft tissue surgery covers tissues such as the gums and mucosa. Bone preparation before an implant, adjustment of gum levels, root coverage and frenectomy are among the procedures considered under this heading. Which procedure is appropriate is planned individually according to the condition of the tissues and the aim of treatment.

The first 24 hours are the most decisive for healing. It is advisable not to disturb the area with your tongue or fingers, to avoid vigorous rinsing and spitting, and to prefer lukewarm, soft food rather than hot food and drink. Staying away from smoking and alcohol supports healing. Slight oozing and swelling are normal; follow the medication and care instructions given by your dentist. For more detail, see healing after a tooth extraction.

It depends on the type of suture used. Self-dissolving sutures are not removed separately and break down over time. Non-dissolving sutures are usually removed about a week after the procedure, at the appointment where healing is checked. That appointment is also important for assessing the area; the timing is decided by your dentist according to the procedure and the rate of healing.

This is not advised. When an abscess drains on its own, a reduction in pain can be felt; however, as long as the source of the inflammation remains, the picture can recur, so relief does not mean healing. Trying to open the area with needle-like objects or squeezing it by hand can spread the inflammation to surrounding tissues and cause additional trauma. Controlled drainage, when required, is carried out under suitable conditions together with treatment directed at the source. If there is swelling, fever or difficulty swallowing, do not wait. See gum abscess.

Contact & Appointments

You can call the clinic, send a message on WhatsApp or use the form on the contact page. Your name, a number where you can be reached and a short note about your complaint are enough. You will then be contacted about a suitable day and time.

Your identification, any previous radiographs or CT scans and a list of the medications you take regularly all make the assessment easier. Please also mention any chronic illness, previous operation or known allergy. If you have been treated by another dentist, information about that treatment helps with planning.

Yes. As well as Denizli, patients travelling from Muğla, Aydın, Burdur, Uşak, Afyonkarahisar and Kütahya are seen. If you are coming from out of town, mentioning this when you book makes it easier to arrange the examination and any imaging on the same day. How many sessions will be needed depends on the type of treatment and is explained to you after the initial assessment.

Yes. An English-language dental tourism section explains how to plan a visit to Denizli: typical stay lengths for each treatment, travel routes and area guides for Pamukkale and Karahayıt. Send your preferred dates by WhatsApp or e-mail; the definitive treatment plan is made at an in-person examination.

Yes, you can send your questions and request an appointment through WhatsApp. Information given in writing is general and does not replace an examination; a diagnosis and treatment plan can only be made after clinical assessment. Please bear this in mind when sharing personal health information.

The clinic is open Monday to Saturday and closed on Sunday. For current hours, the address and directions, see the contact page. You can also send your appointment request by phone or WhatsApp.

Because the treatment plan differs from person to person, reliable information can only be given after an examination. The number of missing teeth, the condition of the jawbone, gum health and the planned restoration directly determine the scope of treatment, and these are established through clinical examination and radiographic assessment. Assessments made from photographs or messages can be misleading, so we recommend arranging an examination appointment first.

This content is for informational purposes only and does not replace an examination by a dentist. The process and results vary from person to person.

Write to us with your questions

You can get in touch via WhatsApp, phone or email for information about treatments and the process.