You aren’t alone if you have never heard of a periodontist. Unless you work in the dental field, one dentist may seem like any other dentist near you, but periodontists specialize in treatments that impact your gums and other supporting structures in your mouth. If you require gum disease treatment, tooth replacement, or tissue grafts, you may require periodontal treatment in West Edmonton.
In this blog post, our team at Lessard Dental explains what a periodontist does and how they can help you maintain a healthy, radiant smile through their services.
What is a Periodontist?
A periodontist is a dentist who has completed additional years of advanced training after dental school focusing on periodontics. Many people believe that periodontics is a fancy way of saying gum disease treatment, but periodontists do much more than this.
Periodontists have advanced training in the supportive structures surrounding the teeth and the diseases affecting these tissues.
What Treatments Do Periodontists Offer?
There are many forms of periodontal treatment near you, such as:
- Periodontal surgery- this is performed to remove diseased or damaged gum tissues or to graft additional tissues.
- Dental implant placement- if your dentist in West Edmonton suggests getting dental implants, they may refer you to a periodontist to have them placed. A periodontist can precisely place the implants for the best results.
- Non-surgical periodontal therapy- these treatments involve deep dental cleanings, such as root planing and scaling, antibiotic treatments, and other non-surgical therapies to improve your oral health following a bout of gum disease.
- Surgical tooth extraction- sometimes, one may need to get a tooth removed due to damage or decay or an impacted wisdom tooth causing problems with the rest of the mouth. A periodontist can perform this procedure and ensure that your oral health remains in excellent shape.
What Happens During a Visit with a Periodontist?
Your periodontist will review your dental and medical history during your first visit. They will ask you questions about current medications or medical conditions to understand your oral health status fully.
Your periodontist will also examine your cheeks and gums to determine if you are dealing with gum recession and assess how your teeth fit together when biting down. They will also measure your gum pockets to determine the extent of your periodontal disease. They may also take X-rays to understand your oral health better.
Once they have completed their assessment, your periodontist will provide you with a personalized treatment plan to address any oral health conditions you may have.
What Do Periodontists Recommend?
Periodontists recommend that periodontal disease is completely preventable by maintaining an excellent oral hygiene routine of brushing and flossing daily and visiting your dentist at least once every six months for a dental cleaning and checkup. In their early stages, periodontal conditions can be easily identified and treated.
The Bottom Line
Understanding the risks of developing periodontal diseases, such as age, genetics, smoking, and diet and maintaining a good oral hygiene routine is the best way to stay on top of your oral health. If you are concerned about gum disease or other oral health conditions that a periodontist can help with, please do not hesitate to contact our team at Lessard Dental to book your appointment today.