Dr. Kiarash or Dr. Behmanesh will conduct a thorough examination and consultation. All appropriate treatment options, risks, and benefits will be discussed. The office is committed to help our patients have a good understanding of the issues so that they can make an informed consent to treatment. 

Please arrive 15 minutes early to assist us at the time of your initial visit to the office by providing the following information:

•    Advise us about your specific treatment concerns and request that any current x-rays are sent from your referring dentist.
•    Please provide a current list of all medications you are currently taking.
•    If you have dental insurance, please bring any forms or insurance cards with you to the appointment.

Please Note: All patients under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at the consultation appointment.

Please notify our office if you have any medical conditions or concerns. Certain medical conditions can alter the way that you are specifically managed during your initial visit or prior to surgery (e.g. artificial heart valves or joints, heart murmurs requiring pre-medication, severe diabetes, or hypertension).

We will complete an in-depth medical and dental health history with you, and complete a thorough examination to measure for bone loss, loose teeth, bite changes, oral cancer screening, TMJ, and other signs of periodontal and oral disease states.

We will schedule your appointment as promptly as possible. Please allow approximately 60-120 minutes for your initial visit. If you are in pain or an emergency situation, every attempt will be made to see you that day.

We reserve your time just for you. We try to stay on schedule to minimize waiting at the time of your appointment. Referral of emergency patients can cause delays to the schedule, and your understanding and patience are very much appreciated.

We will need current x-rays in order to detect disease not otherwise visible. If your referring dentist has taken current x-rays, you may request that they be forwarded to us. Based on the clinical findings additional 3D x-rays may be helpful in diagnosing your condition.

Surgical intervention is frequently our last step in management and correction of periodontal problems. If treated early, gum disease can be controlled without surgery. We will make recommendations based on your individual situation. Our philosophy of practice is to treat you as conservatively as possible to attain your treatment goals.

We will perform an extensive examination and help you understand what your risks and susceptibilities are to periodontal disease and potential tooth loss. Recent advances in periodontal treatment allow us to successfully treat and retain most teeth.

Periodontal disease is a progressive and frequently painless infection. Early diagnosis and treatment are keys to your success. Delay in care may lead to further bone loss and more treatment time and expense. If your teeth are lost, dentures rarely provide satisfactory short-term, much less long-term comfort, function and esthetics.

Infections in the mouth can also play havoc elsewhere in the body. There is an association between periodontal diseases and other chronic inflammatory conditions, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, stroke, and Alzheimer’s disease. Therefore, treating inflammation may not only help manage periodontal diseases but may also help with the management of other chronic inflammatory conditions.

As with muscle or any other tissue in the human body, bone tissue needs to be used to maintain its shape and overall health. Muscle tissue is maintained by exercise; bone tissue is maintained by putting physiologic stress or "load" on it.

Natural teeth are embedded in the jawbone and attached via a root structure. Activities such as biting and chewing stimulate the root structure, which in turn stimulates the bone that the tooth root is attached to.

When teeth are missing, the alveolar bone – the portion of the jaw bone that anchors the teeth in the mouth – no longer receives this physical stimulation and starts to resorb, or break down, leaving a space or defect. When teeth are lost, the body no longer “needs” this bone, and it subsequently goes away. If you choose to replace a lost tooth with a dental implant or other dental restoration device, you may need a procedure to preserve or rebuild the bone that has been lost.

Dentures and bridgework may appear to correct the problem of missing teeth, at least in terms of appearance and function, but most are not designed to mimic a natural tooth's ability to stimulate bone in the jaw.

Some dentures are supported and held in place by implants, which provide sufficient stimulation for preserving bone health. With a bridge, the anchoring teeth on each side of the appliance undergo added stress from biting but also continue to stimulate the underlying bone; however, the bone structure under the portion of the bridge that spans the gap where teeth are missing receives no direct stimulation, and tends to disappear.

Unanchored dentures rest on top of the gums and provide no direct stimulation into the alveolar bone and will frequently increase the amount of bone loss due to the pressures they exert onto the gums as opposed to the underlying bone. This type of denture depends on support from the gums and, especially, the underlying bone structure to keep it in place. As bone resorption progresses, patients often report that their dentures become progressively looser and do not fit as well as they did when they first started wearing them. After several years, bone and gum tissue will shrink to a point where new (or relined) dentures and even denture adhesives cannot provide adequate retention.

Since all patients and their presenting conditions are different, we must complete your examination before establishing your treatment plan and the necessary fees for your care. The fees for periodontal treatment and implant placement can vary considerably depending on the type of problems and complexity of your condition and the treatment approach that has been agreed upon. On occasion, initial treatment and further diagnostics may need to be completed before the final treatment plan can be established.

We use extensive sterilization procedures. All instruments are sterilized and sealed for each individual patient with the Hu Friedy IMS Instrument Management System. This assures the safest and most up to date instrument sterilization and storage system for both staff and patients. We use disposable masks and gloves, and barrier techniques that are changed for every patient. Our equipment is wiped-down with antimicrobial solution prior to every treatment procedure. Water lines and evacuation hoses are cleaned with the proper disinfectant between each patient. You can be assured that our staff has been trained on sterilization procedures and their importance.