What Is a Periodontist?
Periodontal disease plagues millions of Americans from Maine to here in Fremont, California. Even with all we know about oral health, the CDC reported that almost half of the US population over 30 has gum disease.
The best way to avoid it is to brush and floss your teeth at least twice daily. However, if you already have gum disease, you should see a periodontist.
But what exactly is a periodontist? The short answer: they are a dentist specially trained to fight gum disease. Learn more about exactly what a periodontist is and how they work to treat gum disease.
What Is a Periodontist?
Periodontists are experts on periodontal disease and have extensive training in specialized surgeries. Their job is to identify, treat, and prevent gum infections while repairing the damage caused by gum disease.
Periodontists are gum experts, so they can also perform cosmetic procedures to increase the aesthetics of your smile.
How Do Periodontists Treat Gum Disease?
Treatment for periodontal disease is not one-size-fits-all. Periodontists will treat your gum disease differently based on the severity of the damage your gum disease has inflicted.
There are several procedures periodontists can use to fight gum disease. If caught early, non-surgical methods can be used. However, if periodontal disease is allowed to progress, they will have no choice but to fight the infection surgically.
Non-surgical
Reserved for mild cases of gum disease, a non-surgical approach is simple and can usually be accomplished in one visit.
Non-surgical treatment options for periodontal disease include:
Scaling and Root Planing
Periodontal scaling and root planing consist of scraping the plaque and tartar from beneath your gums. Afterward, a tool is used to smooth out the underside of your gums. This promotes reattachment of your gums to your teeth and discourages bacteria growth.
Pocket Irrigation
Pocket irrigation involves using a specialized syringe or machine to break up and remove built-up bacteria from beneath your gum line. It typically isn’t used as a treatment by itself but in conjunction with scaling and root planing as a rinse.
Surgical
Surgical procedures are usually needed if gum disease has progressed past the first stage. Depending on the extent of the damage caused by the infection, surgical treatments could take several visits.
Laser Treatment
Treating periodontal disease using laser technology is becoming increasingly popular because it doesn’t require incisions or stitches. One laser treatment option, LANAP®, uses different frequencies to only target the infected tissue.
LANAP® laser treatment is proven to promote periodontal regeneration, and it causes less pain and has a quicker healing time than other methods like pocket reduction surgery.
Pocket Reduction Surgery
Pocket reduction surgery is a common procedure periodontists use to treat gum disease. It involves removing part of your gums to reduce the depth of your gum pockets. It limits how deep bacteria can go below your gums and allows for more effective cleaning.
Bone Grafts
Bone grafts are necessary when periodontal disease has had a chance to begin deteriorating your jaw bone. To effectively replace a tooth and prevent further damage, a periodontist must supplement the lost bone.
Gum Grafting
Periodontal disease is detrimental to your gums. The infection eats away gum tissue and it won’t grow back naturally. Because of this, you will need a gum graft. A periodontist will use skin from somewhere else in your mouth or a synthetic biomaterial to supplement missing tissue.
Dental Implants
Periodontists are experts in placing dental implants. The procedure involves drilling a cavity for the implant to go into. Then the implant is installed for one or more artificial teeth to be attached.
Tooth Extraction
Periodontists often have to extract teeth in the later stages of periodontal disease when they can’t be saved. You will get a local anesthetic and the periodontist will remove the tooth using dental pliers.
Periodontists and Cosmetic Surgeries
Periodontists can also perform cosmetic procedures such as crown lengthening and gum shaping.
Crown lengthening involves removing a portion of your gums to expose more of the tooth. This is done to fix gummy smiles.
Gum shaping can involve gum grafting or removal so that your gums are uniform throughout your mouth.
Reasons to See A Periodontist
There are several ways to know when you should see a periodontist, and not all of them are necessarily related to gum disease.
If You Have Signs of Periodontal Disease
If you exhibit any of the following symptoms of periodontal disease, you should see a periodontist:
Swollen Gums
Gum Discoloration
Sore or Tender Gums
Gums Easily Bleeding (especially when brushing)
Bad Breath
Pus in Gums or Between Teeth
Loose Teeth or Tooth Loss
New Spaces Between Teeth
Receding Gums
Discomfort When Brushing
To Enhance the Aesthetics of Your Smile
You can also see a periodontist to resolve gum abnormalities, such as:
Gummy smile
Uneven gums
Long teeth
To Replace Missing Teeth
A missing tooth is a perfect reason to see a periodontist — they are experts in placing dental implants.
The longer you wait to replace a tooth, the more damage it will cause. A missing tooth puts the teeth on either side of the gap at a higher risk of damage. Also, the bone below where the tooth was will begin to decay quickly. This is why you should seek out expert treatment from a periodontist.
What Education and Training Are Needed to Become a Periodontist?
Like most specialties in the dentistry field, becoming a periodontist takes around ten years. If this seems like a long time, it is. But it’s that dedication to learning the craft that allows patients to trust their doctor.
To become a periodontist, a person must:
Obtain a bachelor’s degree
Graduate from an accredited dental school
Complete three years of residency in periodontics
Pass a written and oral exam to become board-certified
What Is the Difference Between a Dentist and a Periodontist?
The main difference between a regular dentist and a periodontist is that a periodontist specializes in gum disease treatment.
They switch their focus to this aspect of dentistry during a three-year residency following dental school. This means that they are experts in treating gum disease and restoring their patients’ mouths from the damage it caused.
On the other hand, a general dentist does everything from filling cavities to performing gum grafts.
By definition, a periodontist is technically a dentist. However, not all dentists are periodontists because of the additional training required to become a certified periodontist.
Periodontal Treatment in Fremont, CA
We can treat gum disease at our dental office in Fremont, CA. Whether you're suffering from early symptoms or already know you need treatment, we can help!
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