A periodontist is a fully trained dentist who specializes in treating periodontal disease (advanced gum disease) and the placement of dental implants. To put it more simply, you can think of a periodontist as a dentist who specializes in caring for your gums.

After completing dental school and earning their dental degree, a dentist must complete an additional three years of specialized training in order to become a periodontist. During this training the dentist becomes an expert in the gums and their underlying bone structures, the placement of dental implants and both the surgical and non-surgical treatments for gum disease.

The conditions that periodontists most commonly treat are gingivitis, periodontal disease (gum disease) and tooth loss. These conditions can also be thought of as a progression. Left unattended, gingivitis develops into periodontal disease, which can lead to tooth loss. The role of the periodontist is to intervene at whichever stage the patient is at and try to create the best possible outcome for their oral health.

The treatment that periodontists may be best known for is a deep cleaning, also called a scaling and root planing. This is a procedure specific to the treatment of periodontitis which involves removing debris and infection-causing bacteria from the pockets that develop between inflamed gums and the teeth. Repeated deep cleanings are essential to keeping periodontal disease from advancing to the point of tooth loss.

A periodontist’s specific knowledge of the gums and jawbone structures makes them the ideal specialists for replacing teeth with dental implants. Dental implants are artificial tooth roots that are inserted into the bone and gums. Periodontists also perform related procedures, such as bone grafting. In a patient with bone loss due to missing teeth or periodontal disease, bone grafting can be used to reinforce or “grow” more bone so that a dental implant can be placed securely.

Periodontists also perform some cosmetic treatments that involve the soft tissues of the mouth. Gum re-contouring can fix gums that have receded due to gum disease, giving the smile a healthier look. Crown lengthening can expose more of the hard tooth structure, giving teeth a longer appearance or fixing a “gummy” smile.

While all dentists are trained to care for your gums, periodontists offer care for advanced or complex cases, including those where additional health complications may be involved. That’s why it’s very important to see your periodontist regularly if your general dentist has referred you to one. The periodontist and your dentists will work together to ensure you are getting all the treatment you need to keep your smile as healthy and functional as possible.

You’re used to going to the dentist & just seeing the doctor, the hygienist & maybe a dental assistant. But now you’ve been told you need to see a periodontist too. Now you’re thinking, “Perio-what?”

If you’ve never heard the word periodontist, don’t worry. To put it plainly, a periodontist is a dentist who specializes in caring for your gums & the other supporting tissues of your mouth. “Peri-” means “around” & “odont” means “tooth”. Periodontal means having to do with the tissues around your teeth & periodontitis means infection of the tissues around your teeth.

Dentist usually refer patients to a periodontist because they have periodontal disease, also known as gum disease. While general dentists are also qualified to treat periodontal disease, periodontists can offer more specialized care and attention, just like an orthodontist can offer more specialized braces options that most general dentists.

Dentists may also refer you to a periodontist if you have health factors that put you at higher risk of periodontal disease & it’s complications. Examples of such risk factors are pregnancy, diabetes, heart disease, chronic respiratory disease or having recently undergone cancer treatment or organ replacement surgery.

While a dentist may choose to treat your periodontal disease at their own practice at first, they may choose to refer you to a periodontist if they feel a specialist will be able to offer you a more successful outcome. By the way, when we say a more successful outcome when it comes to periodontal disease, we generally mean you’ll end up keeping most of your teeth.

As you may have realized from the explanation about terminology above, periodontal disease is a disease of the tissues around your mouth. Specifically this means your gums & the bone of your jaws, which are what hold your teeth in your mouth. If these both become diseased & weakened, your teeth can fall out. Having periodontal treatment (often called periodontal maintenance) from either a periodontist or your general dentist reduces the chance you will lose a tooth.

We know that some periodontal patients view going to see a periodontist for their treatment as an inconvenience, so we will do our best to pair you with a specialist who’s hours fit your busy schedule. However, if you find that you just can’t make the time to go to the periodontist, we’d much rather you see us for your periodontal maintenance rather than not doing it at all.

If you have any questions about your referral to a periodontist or your diagnosis of periodontal disease, please contact us!