A periodontist is a dentist who specializes in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of periodontal disease, a chronic inflammatory disease that affects the gums and the bone supporting the teeth, and in the placement of dental implants.
While some general dentists treat less severe periodontal cases, many will refer their patients to periodontists for more difficult cases. Likewise, while some general dentists perform dental implant procedures, many will also refer their patients to periodontists for more complex implant cases. Let’s take a closer look at what periodontics is all about.
Periodontics for the treatment of periodontal diseases
If you have periodontal disease, you are not alone. In fact, many adults over the age of 30 suffer from some form of periodontal disease. Here are some possible reasons why your general dentist might refer you to a periodontist for more advanced dental work:
You have a moderate or severe level of periodontal disease, with symptoms such as:
– Bleeding
– Swelling
– receding gums
– Dents lousses
– A change in your bite
– Pain or discomfort in, around or under your gums.
– You have a personal or family history of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, respiratory disease, osteoporosis or cancer.
Periodontics for placing dental implants
Periodontists are experts in the placement of dental implants. There are two important reasons why your dental clinic refers you to a periodontist:
– Within the dental profession, periodontists are recognized as the masters of hard tissues (teeth and bones) and soft tissues (gums, cheeks, etc.). Placing a successful dental implant requires in-depth knowledge of both types of tissue.
– Placing a dental implant is a surgical procedure, and the additional three years of training that this expert undergoes includes extensive surgical training that most general dentists do not receive.
Here are some possible reasons why a periodontist might be required to place your dental implants:
– You need multiple implants, which is a more complex procedure with multiple approaches to consider.
– You have limited bone structure into which the implant can be inserted.
– Your implant will be placed in the upper jaw of the back near the sinus, which requires creating adequate space between the implant and the sinus.
Finally, as specialists in periodontal disease, they master the latest techniques in the diagnosis and treatment of periodontal disease. They are also trained in cosmetic periodontal procedures. Periodontists therefore treat, among other things, cases ranging from mild gingivitis to more severe periodontitis. Periodontists offer a wide range of treatments, such as scaling and root planing (the cleaning of infected root surfaces), root surface debridement (the removal of damaged tissue), and regeneration procedures (the reversal of bone and tissue loss). If necessary, periodontists can also perform surgical procedures for patients with severe gum disease.