My staff and I hope our web site will be helpful in introducing you to our practice. We are committed to providing you the highest level of personalized care, in a comfortable and compassionate atmosphere. We will:

R.CRAIG DIEDERICH, D.D.S., M.S., P.L.L.C. PERIODONTICS AND DENTAL IMPLANTS Oak Ridge Office Center 475 Columbia Ave East - Suite 7 Battle Creek,MI49014 Phone: (269) 964-3931 Fax: (269) 964-3699 Toll-free: 800-444-3931

General dentists are trained to diagnose and treat early periodontal disease. The fact that you have been referred means that your dentist feels you would benefit from the advanced training that a specialist receives. Feel fortunate that your dentist is able to make the diagnosis since periodontal disease usually causes no symptoms or discomfort.

Everyone at our office is committed to making your treatment as comfortable as possible. A numbing agent is used for all procedures so that dull pressure is the only sensation you are aware of. At no time will there be any pain associated with your treatment. There are also means by which any anxiety can be easily controlled with oral medication. This will be addressed at your first visit as well.

Laser periodontal therapy is a new and exciting addition to our practice. The laser targets and destroys disease-causing bacteria as well as diseased tissue. The result is similar to conventional periodontal survery but without incisions or sutures (stitches).

Traditional therapy involves scaling, or deep cleaning, followed by surgical treatment of pockets that haven't healed. This means relaxing the tissue back for access and completion ofcleaning the roots. A laser can now be used indeep pockets to accomplish the same effect but without cuttingor stitches. This form of therapy is most appropriate for advanced cases and is combined with bite related therapy as well.

During your first visit, your medical and dental history will be reviewed and then you will be given a thorough periodontal examination. Any additional x-rays will be taken, if needed, for an accurate diagnosis to be made. After the examination has been completed we will explain our findings and treatment recommendations. Our goal is to answer all questions that you may have before you leave the office that day, to help you understand your condition, its severity and what you can expect from your treatment. If more time is needed or further informaion required, a second visit will be scheduled.

The cost of your treatment will depend on the severity of your condition and extensiveness of your treatment. Each patient is evaluated and a treatment plan developed on an individual basis. Therefore, it is not possible to give an average cost. If you have dental insurance, it will definitely help cover some, possibly most, of the cost of your treatment. Your dental insurance benefit will be affected by the deductible, total amount of benefit available per year and how much of your benefit has already been used. My staff will be in contact with your dental insurance carrier to clarify your coverage and review this with you before your treatment begins. We will do our best to help you receive your maximum insurance benefit, but please realize it is your responsibility to know what procedures are included in, or excluded from, your plan. Benefit information can be obtained from your insurance company directly or the human resources department involved in your dental insurance plan.

Periodontal disease slowly destroys the gumline and jaw bone support for the teeth. While this rarely hurts initially, it eventually results in the teeth loosening and then being lost. The ongoing infection of periodontal disease has recently been linked to the other systemic medical conditions, including heart disease, heart attack, stroke and premature low birthweight infants.

Your general dentist is the most important member of your dental health care team. He/she is still in charge of your overall treatment. Your general dentist is made aware of our initial findings and treatment plan and is kept informed as to your progress through your treatment here. We will work closely together to ensure the best possible result for your treatment.

The most important phase of your periodontal therapy is the maintenance or recare phase. That means, how often and where you will need to have periodontal cleanings. Since periodontal disease cannot be cured, disease prevention is the key to long term success. Published studies of treated patients have taught us two important facts:

What this means is that after treatment, our patients usually alternate between seeing their general dentist and our office for their professional cleanings. You then have the benefit of both offices helping you stay healthy.

My staff and I are committed to continuing education so that you receive state of the art care in a comfortable and safe atmosphere. We upgrade our treatment and sterilization procedures on a regular basis.

A dental implant is an artificial tooth root. When used to support a crown, a dental implant prevents the reduction (grinding down) of adjacent teeth to make a fixed bridge and helps maintain the jaw bone that would otherwise be lost after an extraction. Dr. Diederich has had extensive training in the placement of dental implants. The first step in determining whether you are a candidate for dental implants would be to ask your general dentist.

Diabetics are known to be more susceptible to infection and are therefore more prone to the chronic infection involved in periodontal disease. Once the periodontal disease has beentreated, it is usually easier to keepdiabetes under control. Every diabetic needs tobe screened and monitored regularlyfor periodontal disease.

Dr. Diederich received his Bachelor of Science, Doctor of Dental Surgery and Master of Science degree in Periodontics from the University of Michigan. Before his specialty training, he spent three years in the U.S. Public Health Service as a general dentist and completed a general practice residency. After two years as a full time faculty instructor at U of M, he established a full time practice limited to periodontics in Battle Creek in 1984.

Since that time he has been a part time instructor at both Kellogg Community College and U of M, while also active in the local dental society (President 1991) and the Russell Bunting Periodontal Study Club (President 1996). Dr. Diederich is an active member of the Michigan and American Dental Associations, The American Academy of Periodontology, The International Congress of Oral Implantologists and The American Academy of Oral Implantology. He is a Diplomate of The American Board of Periodontology, a Fellow of the American College of Dentists and a past President of the Michigan Periodontal Association.