I am a 50yr, male, with advanced bone loss and all the issues that go with that. Resently after a cleaning I developed periodontal abscess on two opposing molars(#1 & #13?the back upper molars). within ten days I had to get both extracted. Well my next cleaning is this week and i'm gun shy. I asked my doctor is there any change that the cleaning this time could be less agressive. He claims the timing between the cleaning and onset was coincidental and that two opposite molar would develop abscess at exactly the same time was coincidental. Well, I'm having a hard time swallowing that, if you'll excuse the pun. Any comments greatly appreciated. Thank you

He could be right - I mean it does seem unlikely it would happen again but I would be wary as well. Knowing what happened the last time though I am surprised he did not suggest you go on a short round of antitbiotics before your cleaning and use Peridex or some other medicinal rinse beforehand either. Is he a periodontist or a general dentist? I used to let my perio handle all my cleanings (every 3 months) and on a few occassions he treated some of the teeth with arrestin (sp?) to prevent an infection from developing or returning after the cleaning was completed.