When Should You See a Periodontist?

Periodontists are dentists who specialize in caring for the supporting structures that hold the teeth in place. Like general dentists, periodontists hold DMD or DDS degrees, but after graduating from dental school, periodontists go on to receive additional training and education that gives them advanced knowledge in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of periodontal disease and related issues. Here are some situations in which you should choose to see a periodontist for specialized care.

Gum Disease

The earliest stages of gum disease can often be treated by a general or family dentist, but when periodontitis progresses, it’s important to schedule an appointment with a periodontist. Your periodontist will work closely with your dentist to collaborate on a treatment plan tailored to your needs.

Periodontists are the experts when it comes to treating gum disease, which makes them the best choice for complex cases, advanced cases, or gum disease that is not responding to treatment. We also have state-of-the-art tools and technologies to make your treatment more comfortable and effective.

While gum disease begins with mild symptoms like red, swollen gums and bad breath, it can quickly progress and cause irreversible damage to your gums and teeth. Over time, your gums will begin to recede and periodontal pockets will form; these pockets collect plaque and tartar that attack the roots of the teeth. Eventually, your teeth may start to loosen, shift, and even fall out. With prompt treatment, we have the best chance of reversing gum disease before these serious symptoms occur.

Dental Implant Placement

These days, it’s uncommon to find a dental professional who doesn’t offer dental implants! Why should you choose a periodontist for implant surgery over other dentists and specialists? It’s simple—one of the focuses of our advanced training is implantology.

Many dental implant patients need supplemental procedures like bone grafting or ridge preservation to rebuild the jawbone prior to implant placement. Seeing a periodontist for dental implants streamlines the process because we also perform these supplemental procedures. This means there’s no need to find another specialist or coordinate care between a number of different dentists—you’ll work with us for your implants and your general dentist for the restorations that attach to them.

Gum Grafting

If you’ve suffered from gum recession, there are many reasons to restore gum tissue you’ve lost. You’re probably unhappy with the way your smile looks if your gum recession is severe. The newly exposed root structure can be painfully sensitive and prone to decay. Periodontists have the advanced technology and expertise to replace your lost gum tissue to improve your oral health and your smile.

We offer traditional gum grafting, which takes a small soft tissue graft from elsewhere in your mouth and grafts it to the area of recession, and the Chao Pinhole Surgical Technique, which is less invasive. These procedures require in-depth knowledge and experience, which is why they should only be performed by qualified periodontists.