To prevent decay and swelling of the gums, good oral health should be maintained. They play a very major role in tooth health, are supporting structures that provide stability, and prevent long-term decay. Now comes the role of the periodontist, who practises diagnosing and treating dental gum-related issues. 

What Is A Periodontist?

The periodontists help you manage your gum recession treatment, advanced gum reconstruction procedures, and also implants for regenerative gum surgery. It is the periodontists who help in cleaning, the regenerative process, and offer customised gum treatments that protect your tooth from further damage.

What Are the Specialisations of Periodontists?

  1. The periodontists specialise in the diagnosis and treatment of gum diseases
  2. They perform periodontics procedures according to individual needs, including scaling and implants
  3. They give personalised care for gum recession treatment
  4. Treat peri-implant diseases, including peri-implantitis & grafting
  5. Preventive gum healthcare provider
  6. Complement dentists for treating personalised gum conditions

Treatments Particularly Performed by Periodontists

The periodontal specialists help in scaling and root planning, including deep cleaning to remove the plaque from below the gumline, which helps in smoothing the tooth roots and prevents advancing bacterial degeneration. These perio specialists also cater to flap surgery that is used for advanced gum disease, involving gum lifting and repositioning tissues for improved gum health. With a guided regenerative technique, they rebuild lost bone and also provide gum grafting. This helps treat the gum recession by covering the exposed roots or donor material from the palate. Besides, the dental implants periodontist places implants with high precision, which is not a specialisation of a dentist. Hence, consulting a periodontist is helpful for gum and tooth bone stability affected by periodontitis.

Why Gum Disease Requires a Periodontist’s Care?

Gum recession is a very common problem that results from almost all kinds of conditions, such as hormonal changes, ageing, dietary habits, and nutritional deficiency. Many times, people underestimate it, though it may drastically change their entire oral health, including tooth loss. It also leads to increased sensitivity, exposure of the tooth root, and increased risk of pyorrhoea, which can result in permanent structural damage. Because of their special qualification and training, dental implant periodontists can provide advanced dental implants with gum disease treatment. They restore the health and appearance of teeth with corrective procedures that dentists cannot offer.

How Is a Periodontist Different from a Dentist?

A dentist is someone specialising in oral care, particularly teeth health. It includes moderate gum disease treatment and limited management of gum recession. However, a periodontal specialist especially treats gum and bone problems, including gum surgery, implants, regenerative intervention, and grafting. There are also paediatric periodontists, particularly intervening with gum diseases of children, involving extensive specialised care of bacterial infections, gingivitis, gum injuries, and often work closely with a paediatric dentist.

To Sum Up

Besides periodontic procedures, the gum specialist periodontist also ensures systematic resolution of chronic inflammation of the gums, including the recession of the gums. They can also ensure advanced gum care in teeth affected by complications of diabetes and hormonal issues. The dental implant periodontist thus plays an invaluable role in targeting the disease at its source, improving the overall gum health.

FAQ’s

No, general dentistry is meant to handle common problems with teeth, routine gum care, and checkups. It includes putting crowns, fillings, and cavities. You should consult a periodontist for implant placement and to manage the health of your gums in case you have advanced periodontitis to avoid further damage.

It all depends on the gum disease. While moderate to early gum diseases can be treated with professional periodontal and deep cleaning, severe cases require surgery and regenerative intervention, which can only be handled by periodontists.

A dentist treats general dental problems that involve overall oral care. At the same time, a periodontist specialises in advanced gum disease treatment, like gum surgery and regenerative tissue and bone procedures.

No, periodontitis is effectively manageable at an early stage. You may lose a bone and tissues in severe cases, but they can be regenerated by implants and donor material. You should consider visiting a periodontist near you if you are experiencing problems with your gums.

Common early signs of periodontal diseases are inflammation of the gum, sensitivity to sweet, sour, and cold. You may also see bleeding while brushing, bad breath, and occasional headaches associated with a toothache. Most gum diseases are completely treatable if diagnosed by a specialist. So, check for a periodontist if you suspect any gum disease.

Periodontists treat gum recession with medication, reconstruction, and gum grafting, depending on the extent of the gum disease.

If you notice frequent bleeding while brushing, gum recession, exposed gums, loose teeth, and bad breath, consult a periodontal specialist.

They diagnose the gum disease with advanced technology and tools, including CT scans, X-rays, and clinical examination. They perform deep cleaning, surgeries, and also regenerate the lost bone and gum with tissue grafting.

A paediatric periodontist helps with gum diseases in children, young people, and adolescents. They address genetic gum deformities and gum conditions of children, such as injury, decay, and bacterial infections.