Periodontal health is a crucial aspect of your oral health and overall well-being. While your general dentist is critical in helping you stay on top of your dental and oral health, sometimes specialized care is necessary. That is where the services of a periodontist become critical.
A periodontist is an expert who specializes mainly in diagnosing, preventing, and treating oral and dental health issues affecting your jawbone, gums, and the structures of your teeth. Unfortunately, many people do not know when to schedule an appointment with a periodontist or general dentist. While these two professionals play a critical role in dentistry, they offer different services.
By the end of this article, you will understand what services periodontists offer and what to expect when you schedule an appointment with our reliable periodontists at Agoura Hills Advanced Dentistry.
A Look at What Periodontics is
Periodontics is a branch of dentistry that involves the diagnosis, study, treatment, and prevention of gum-related disease, which affects the supporting structures of your teeth, including the following:
- Alveolar
- Periodontal membrane
- Cementum
- Gingiva
- Periodontal ligament
Since periodontics is a dental specialty, only dentists with special training in this field should practice it. A dentist who practices periodontics is known as a periodontist. A periodontist is a dentist who has completed extra years of education and specialized training in periodontology after receiving his/her dental degree.
The additional education and training usually focus on non-surgical and surgical treatments for periodontal disease and the placement of dental implants when necessary to restore a missing tooth. Also commonly known as gum disease, periodontal disease is a progressive oral health condition affecting your gums, bone, and ligaments that help anchor your teeth in place.
It is worth noting that this condition can affect anyone, regardless of age. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 47.2 percent of adults aged thirty years and above have some type of periodontal disease. Interestingly, men are more likely to develop the condition than women. Fortunately, periodontics offers an effective remedy to this condition.
An Overview of What Periodontists Do
If your general dentist recommends seeing a periodontist for your condition, you do not have to fret that you will undergo complex treatments. Here is an overview of what these specialists do:
Dental Health Examination
After scheduling an appointment, a periodontist will thoroughly examine and evaluate your gums and oral health. During the evaluation, the dentist may use X-rays and other digital imaging techniques, like MRI, to clearly see your gum condition and underlying bone structures. He/she could also measure the depth of your periodontal pockets using a dental probe.
Periodontal pockets are spaces between teeth and gums caused by gum recession, a sign of gum disease.
Diagnosis of Gum Disease
Your periodontist will determine your gum health status after this thorough oral examination. From gingivitis to severe periodontitis, a periodontist is qualified and knowledgeable to recognize the different stages of gum disease.
Treatment Planning and Implementation
Following a gum disease diagnosis, your periodontist will create a treatment plan tailored to your unique situation. The specific periodontal treatment your periodontist will recommend will depend on the severity of your unique condition and could include surgical and non-surgical treatments. The main goals of these treatments are to repair your gums and stop more problems.
Dental Implant Placement
A dental implant could be necessary for severe conditions to restore dental health and smile aesthetics. Periodontists are highly skilled and precise in their dental implant procedures. The periodontist will carefully examine the density and structure of your jawbone to see if it can support the restoration before implanting a dental implant.
By acting as a root for an artificial tooth, a dental implant procedure not only improves the appearance of your smile but also promotes tissue growth and restores the normal functions of your teeth.
Recommendation of Appropriate Cosmetic Procedures
A periodontist could also recommend a cosmetic dental procedure to help improve your smile’s appearance. For example, periodontists can improve the appearance of your smile by using gum grafting to treat gum recession, which causes some of your teeth to appear longer than others.
Recommendation of the Best Preventive Care Practices
Finally, a reliable periodontist will also emphasize the importance of preventive care. Like any other health issue, prevention is better than a cure, which could be costly in the long run. Some of the preventative measures your periodontist could recommend include routine dental appointments, teeth brushing, and flossing at least twice daily
Oral Health Conditions That Periodontics Can Address
Periodontists are specialists in diagnosing, preventing, and treating a wide range of disorders that impact your gums, jawbone, and general well-being, including gingivitis, bone loss, and periodontitis. Without prompt intervention, gum disease could cause the loss of your teeth. Fortunately, a periodontist can help address this condition in different categories, including mild and advanced.
To effectively treat this bothersome condition, the periodontist must focus on the root cause of the issue. Your periodontist can achieve this by recommending appropriate treatment for your gum disease, including thorough teeth cleaning and education on proper oral hygiene. For example, he/she could recommend routine periodontal cleanings, which should occur at least four (4) times annually.
Here is an overview of five common conditions that a periodontist can address:
Gingivitis
Gingivitis is one of the most common reasons people schedule an appointment with a periodontist. Gingivitis is the earliest and mildest form of gum disease. Common signs of this condition include bleeding, swollen, tender, and red gums. The American Academy of Periodontology estimates that periodontal disease, including gingivitis, affects 47.2% of the nation’s adult population.
Fortunately, it is a reversible condition, especially when it is detected early. When left unchecked or untreated, gingivitis can worsen and progress to more severe forms of gum disease, like periodontitis, which can lead to tooth loss.
To reverse gingivitis, your dentist could recommend deep teeth cleaning, which is also known as scaling and root planing, to remove the tartar and plaque buildup on the surface of your teeth and below your gumline. Frequent dental appointments with your dentist can also help keep this issue at bay.
Mild Periodontal Disease
Also known as moderate periodontitis, mild periodontal disease is the second phase of gum disease, which happens when you leave gingivitis untreated. “Mild” means not many bacteria, but they still impact your gum health and the underlying bones. If you have mild periodontal disease, the pockets between your gums and teeth will measure between 4 and 6 millimeters (mm).
At this phase, you can only manage your condition but not reverse it, because by this time, the bacteria are more aggressive, leading to bone loss.
Moderate Periodontal Disease
If you leave a mild periodontitis unchecked, the condition will deteriorate, leading to all forms of unpleasant symptoms like pain around the affected tooth, bleeding, and bad breath. As this infection progresses, it can cause severe bone loss, loose teeth, and an inflammatory reaction throughout the body.
Advanced Periodontal Disease
Also known as periodontitis, advanced periodontal disease could lead to severe consequences, including tooth loss because of the weakening of the supporting structures and severe bone loss. If you have an advanced periodontal disease, you could experience the following symptoms:
- Pain when chewing
- An unpleasant taste in your mouth
- Bad breath (halitosis)
Missing Teeth
In addition to affecting your smile aesthetics, a missing tooth or set of teeth could affect your ability to perform regular teeth functions like food chewing. Fortunately, a periodontist can also address this issue through dental implants. A dental implant is a prosthetic tooth that a periodontist anchors to your jawbone to act as a tooth root for holding an artificial tooth or crown in place.
Signs That You Should Schedule an Appointment With a Dentist
If you have any of the above oral and dental health issues, you can refer to a periodontist or receive a directive from your general dentist. Below are signs and symptoms that can tell you it is time to see a periodontist:
Bleeding Gums
Build-up of dental plaque on the surface of your teeth and below the gum line can cause bleeding gums, a common symptom of gingivitis. If your gums bleed, especially when flossing or brushing your teeth, it could be a sign of gum infection.
Halitosis
Also known as bad breath, halitosis is another sign of gum disease. While you could experience bad breath occasionally after eating smelly foods like onions and ginger, persistent bad breath that does not subside even after brushing and flossing your teeth could be a sign of periodontitis, meaning you should see a periodontist.
Loose Gums and Teeth
While loose tooth issues are common for children, for an adult, a loose tooth could be a sign of severe gum disease. If you have a loose tooth or gum, consult a periodontist as soon as possible because this issue puts you at risk of severe gum recession and bone loss. When left untreated, this issue will progress, leading to tooth loss.
Gangrene
While identifying gangrene alone can be challenging, your general dentist can do so during routine appointments and refer you to a periodontist. Gangrene occurs when tissues in your body die due to a lack of sufficient blood flow.
Swollen Gums
While it could be due to other health issues like hormonal changes and vitamin deficiencies, swollen gums could be a sign of gum disease, mainly triggered by gum inflammation. Swollen gums usually have a purplish or reddish hue because of the increased blood flow.
Painful Gums
If you experience pain in your gums, especially when chewing, it could be because your gums are irritated and inflamed from the infection.
Abscessed Gums
A severe gum disease, especially periodontitis, could cause the oozing of pus from your gumline. Ensure you consult a periodontist as soon as possible for appropriate treatment if you have abscessed gums.
Periodontal Disease Diagnosis
Your dentist will usually diagnose periodontal disease during your regular biannual appointments. However, when your dentist refers you to a periodontist, he/she will perform another diagnosis to determine the precise cause of your gum disease and its severity for appropriate treatment. During this diagnosis, your periodontist will do the following:
- Ask you questions regarding your smoking history, symptoms, and medical history
- Examine your gums’ health for any signs of swelling and inflammation
- Take a dental X-ray to determine whether you have bone loss and the severity of the issue
- Use a periodontal probe, which looks like a tiny ruler, to measure the periodontal pockets around your teeth
After this diagnosis, your periodontist will know the stage of your gum disease and recommend appropriate treatment.
Common Treatments Your Periodontist Could Recommend for the Gum Disease
Generally speaking, the specific treatment your periodontist could recommend if you have a gum disease or any other periodontal problem will depend on its severity. However, common treatments could include:
Non-Surgical Treatments
If your gum disease is in its early stages, like gingivitis, and there is no apparent damage to your gums, the periodontist will recommend non-surgical treatments such as:
- Scaling and Root Planing
Also known as deep teeth cleaning, scaling, and root planing are helpful treatments for gingivitis. During the scaling procedure, the periodontist will use specialized dental tools to thoroughly clean your teeth to remove calculus and plaque buildup on their surfaces and below the gumline or periodontal pockets.
On the other hand, root planing involves using specialized tools like a dental file to smooth your tooth roots after the scaling procedure to keep harmful bacteria at bay. Root planing is vital because it helps your gums heal properly and reattach to your teeth for a cleaner and healthier root surface.
- Perio Tray Therapy
If you are looking for a non-invasive treatment for gum disease, your dentist could recommend Perio Protect systems. Perioprotect is a treatment remedy that uses tailor-made trays to deliver medications beneath your gums, keeping infections at bay. To create your custom-made tray, your periodontist will take a mold of your mouth and send it to his/her lab technician to customize your trays.
It is easy to use and effective if you fill it with the recommended medicine and wear it for a few minutes daily. In other words, a perio tray is a device that looks like a mouth guard and can fit between your gums and teeth to deliver medicine to the affected part of your gums where dental floss or a toothbrush cannot reach.
Daily application of the recommended medicine using a perio tray helps prevent bacterial infections and promotes rebuilding of your gum tissues. In most cases, your periodontist will recommend two to three applications daily for at least fifteen minutes to achieve the desired results.
However, how frequently you need to wear your trays to deliver the medicine to your gums could vary depending on the severity of your infection.
- Antibiotics
Your periodontist could recommend oral antibiotics for non-severe gum disease to help fight and combat the infection. Placing topical antibiotics underneath your gums could also help fight bacteria around the affected area, accelerating your healing process.
- Oral and Dental Hygiene Guidelines
Your home-based oral and dental hygiene habits could also contribute to gum disease. If your periodontist determines that your oral care routine is poor, he/she could give instructions on how to do it perfectly and optimally to keep dental and gum health issues at bay.
Surgical Procedures
If your gum disease is severe or the above treatments are not helpful, your periodontist could recommend surgical treatment options to treat your issue. Common surgical treatment procedures for severe gum disease or periodontitis include:
- Osseous Surgery
During this treatment, your periodontist will cut along your gumline and temporarily lift the affected part of your gums to access and see your tooth roots and clean them. Then he/she will smooth the affected jawbone to stabilize your periodontal disease.
- Dental Bone Grafts
If your periodontitis has caused severe bone loss, your dentist could recommend dental bone grafts. The dental bone graft procedure helps replace the lost bone density in your jawbone and stimulates your body to repair it. In other words, a dental bone graft is like a scaffold on which new bone tissue can grow and regenerate. Common types of bone grafts your periodontist could recommend include:
- Xenograft
- Alloplast
- Autogenous
- Allograft
- Gum Grafts
Gum grafts are an effective remedy for severe gum recession. During this surgical procedure, your periodontist will add tissues or grafts extracted from other areas of your mouth or purchased from a tissue bank to the affected region of your gums to help restore their health.
- Guided Tissue Regeneration
During this procedure, your periodontist will place a biocompatible or tissue-friendly membrane between your teeth and the jawbone to help keep unwanted tissues from growing in that area and promote bone regeneration.
Consulting a seasoned and reputable periodontist is key to the best treatment for gum disease, regardless of the severity.
Find a Reliable Periodontist Near Me
Gum disease is reversible, especially when it is detected during its onset. However, regardless of the severity of your issue, your periodontist will have a treatment remedy to help restore your oral health and smile aesthetics. We invite you to call our profound periodontists at Agoura Hills Advanced Dentistry at 818-878-7300 if you or a loved one needs periodontal services to restore his/her oral health.