What Conditions Can Be Treated by a Periodontist?

While most are probably aware of what a general dentist does, many people still don’t know who a periodontist is and what role they play. Visiting a general dentist once or twice a year is so common, and they usually examine your oral condition to see if there is a risk of serious dental problems or not. These regular visits with general dentists make them completely known in society, which isn’t true about periodontists. Periodontists are specialists who are trained and educated in the field of periodontal disease and severe problems related to your gums. As a professional dentist in Ancaster explains, many serious dental conditions are required to be treated by a periodontist to prevent further oral problems. Furthermore, if needed, many general dentists refer their patients to a professional periodontist so they can receive more specialized and advanced treatments. Here, we explain how periodontists can treat dental problems and what you need to know about them.

Who is a periodontist?

A periodontist is an oral health professional educated for three additional years at dental school compared to a general dentist. All periodontists have adequate knowledge about periodontal disease, also known as gum disease, with severe complications like damage to your jawbone and gum tissues. Furthermore, most periodontists specialize in the placement of dental implants with advanced dentistry techniques.

Conditions that a periodontist can treat

• Gum recession: your gums can be recessed for different reasons like poor oral hygiene, gum infection, aging, etc. Gum recession is a severe oral problem that can lead to further issues, including exposed tooth roots. A periodontist is able to perform gum graft surgery to help your gums regrow and prevent tooth loss and severe dental infections.
• Periodontitis: the most considerable condition a periodontist can treat is periodontitis. Periodontitis is a disease that can significantly damage your supportive teeth, gums, and underlying bone, which have consequences like bone loss, gum loss, and even tooth loss if left untreated. A professional periodontist is thoroughly trained and qualified to care for your periodontal disease with several procedures, including bone grafts, root planing, LANAP laser surgery, and flap surgery.
• Missing teeth: one of the most common consequences of periodontal disease is losing one or more teeth which can be a nightmare. Fortunately, an experienced periodontist can place dental implants to replace your missing teeth after treating your periodontal problems. Dental implants will perfectly restore stimulation and strength to your jawbone, allowing it to maintain its shape.
• Bone loss: according to observations of periodontists, patients with missing teeth usually suffer from bone loss as well. If you are identified with a considerable amount of lost bone, it’s important to have bone graft surgery as soon as possible to regrowth your jawbone. All periodontists are knowledgeable enough to perform bone graft surgery to restore your oral health.
• Cosmetic gum surgery: if you’ve always been uncomfortable with your gummy smile, a periodontist can help you achieve your dream smile! An experienced periodontist can perform a crown lengthening procedure to expose more of your teeth and make your smile more brilliant.

Contact a reliable, skilled periodontist if you have one of the above-mentioned problems or any other concerns!