In the field of dentistry, a periodontist is a specialist who possesses advanced expertise in the structures supporting your teeth. To ensure they provide the highest level of care, periodontists receive highly focused education, training and experience after graduating from dental school.
Your general dentist, in contrast, may focus on the general health of the teeth. Periodontists are more interested in complex issues that include gum tissue, the underlying bone, and microscopic connecting fibers. The services they provide include:
1. Specialized Tooth Removals
Most general dentists can perform a tooth extraction. However, some of these procedures can damage bone and cause avoidable pain and discomfort. The easiest way to avoid this is to work with a periodontist. Depending on the nature of the procedure, it may require further surgical intervention to repair or regenerate the bone.
2. Bone Loss Repair
Too many people ignore root and tooth infections. This can cause bone loss, and further degeneration can happen over time. If left untreated, these conditions will thin your jaw bone and noticeably impact the facial contours. Periodontists are trained to perform bone grafts to prevent this from happening.
3. Gum Tissue Sculpting and Grafting
Gums are designed to protect your teeth from decay, bone loss and sensitivity. Untreated gum issues can cause tooth loss, gum recession and the erosion of your gum tissue. Talk to a periodontist today about treating these issues so your risk of tooth loss does not increase. Periodontists can graft and sculpt your gums while repositioning your gum tissues to protect the root of the tooth.
4. Dental Implants
Implants can help restore tooth function while maintaining a natural appearance. The goal is to restore the function of your natural teeth as much as possible. For patients who need to replace their teeth, implant dentistry is becoming an increasingly popular option. When placed by an experienced periodontist, your dental implants could restore your dental function for decades to come. Talk to our dental team about the benefits of implants.
5. Targeted Gum Disease Treatment
Over 40% of our adult population suffers from gingivitis or more advanced gum disease. Children and teens can also suffer from these infections, though not as frequently as adults. Without professional treatment, gum disease is nearly impossible to control. Thankfully, gum disease symptoms are common and easy to detect.
Final Words
Do not delay seeing a periodontist if you are showing the symptoms listed above. Early diagnosis can prevent gum disease from progressing. Treatment will stop it from getting worse and becoming more complicated and expensive to treat. If you are impacted by any of the issues addressed in this article, contact one of our team today to make an appointment.
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