My teeth, the ones left anyway, are in very good shape with the exception
of one upper wisdom tooth and the adjoining molar. They both have mild
periodontal disease. If memory serves the numbers mentioned were 3 to 5
mm. The hygienist said my plaque control above the gum line was excellent.

My dentist wanted me to buy: a $100 Rotadent, get a $30 prescription
antibiotic / fluoride rinse to use at home, then come back for a deep
cleaning plus pay for a $30 numbing treatment and $300 antibiotic
(Arestin) (both to be applied during the deep cleaning) and except for the
cleaning none of which is coved by my Delta Dental (although my
prescription coverage would probably pick up the $30 antibiotic rinse).

The whole thing was going to be $400 out of pocket for two teeth with a
mild periodontal problem. This all seems a bit much, to me. So a few
questions:

How much do dentists make from the sale of a Rotadent, and the brush
refills? Given the mild state of my gum problem, might a $30 water pic
work just as well?

Plus, when I hit the ceiling for $300 worth of not covered by insurance
antibiotic, he readily reduced it to 5 surfaces which came to $84.

Would it be reckless to try a water pic, perhaps filled with Listerine,
and extra diligent brushing and flossing of those two hard to reach teeth,
then a follow up  surface cleaning (covered 100% by my insurance) late
this year to see if the periodontal problem was in retreat?

Years ago I had a wide spread periodontal problem, bleeding gums and the
like. But a lifestyle change got rid of that - now I brush, floss and
gargle like a madman. Would it be too much to expect to lick the remaining
two problem teeth without spending $400?