People who are seeking healthy gums but are dealing with challenges with gingivitis can see an expert periodontist, a dental professional who has studied the structures that support the teeth. These include the gums, the jawbone itself, and the ligaments that help hold the teeth in place.
Periodontists are trained dentists who focus their attention on periodontal problems. This means they can offer services not always found in a general dentist’s office. Patients who are predisposed to certain issues or need specific periodontal treatments may see a periodontist in addition to their regular dentist.
An expert periodontist can offer a wide range of services. In general, though, the most common things that they do for patients include the following.
Regular dentists clean teeth, but sometimes, decay and bacterial overgrowth extend below the gumline toward the roots of the teeth. If this is the case, a periodontist can perform scaling and root planing. This treatment temporarily lifts the gums away from the teeth so the periodontist can access the roots. They will smooth the roots' surfaces and thoroughly clean the area so bacteria cannot easily cling to the teeth below the gumline. Then, they return the gums to normal.
For some patients, whether due to gum disease, genetic factors, or another cause, the tissue of the jawbone becomes weak or thin. This can impact the function of the teeth, causing them to be loose, and it may prevent patients from seeking other treatments, such as dental implants.
Fortunately, a periodontist can perform bone grafting, which relocates bone from elsewhere into the jawbone to support the area. The periodontist typically takes bone from elsewhere in the mouth, but they can use hip bone or even donor bone tissue if necessary.
Like with bone grafting, periodontists can perform gum grafting to help support teeth that are affected by gum recession. The patient should expect to eat liquid or soft foods after a gum graft while the new tissue attaches. Gum tissue is often taken from the roof of the mouth, but the person’s general oral health will influence the best donor sites.
A dental implant effectively replaces a missing tooth because the dentist installs a metal rod into the jawbone that serves as a new tooth root. Since this process involves various supportive functions, such as jawbone strength and stimulation and gum support, it is a common part of a periodontist’s toolkit.
A big benefit of a dental implant is that it stimulates the jawbone so it does not atrophy after the loss of a tooth. However, patients may need a bone graft to prepare for an implant. Fortunately, these are both tasks that a periodontist can help with.
Not everyone needs to see a periodontist, but if you do, you can rest assured that they will do everything that they can to support healthy gums and a beautiful smile. Contact our periodontist to schedule an appointment and explore the many ways that we can keep your mouth in good condition.
Request an appointment here: https://www.summitperioimplants.com or call Summit Periodontics & Dental Implants at (908) 219-6664 for an appointment in our Summit office.
Check out what others are saying about our dental services on Yelp: Periodontics in Summit, NJ.
Gingivectomy is one of the most popular treatment methods for periodontal disease. There are only a handful of treatment methods that can reverse the effects of periodontal disease. This procedure is one of them. It can bring the smile back to your face, making you more confident than ever before. Anyone facing the possibility of…
Many people have difficulty deciding whether they want a periodontist or oral surgeon to do dental implants. It all depends on what your regular dentist says. If your dentist referred you to a periodontist, that is where you should go. A periodontist received special training outside dental school. Periodontists know more about teeth, gums, and…
You have probably heard a lot about gum disease and the effects it can have on your oral health. Dentists emphasize the importance of preventing it much like they do avoiding cavities. Gum problems can be gradual and at first not appear or feel so serious. Early on, gum disease is known as gingivitis. If…
Receding gums is a condition that exposes more of the teeth or the root of the teeth. When this happens, gaps are formed between the teeth and the gumline. Bacteria can quickly build up there and lead to several periodontal diseases. Therefore, it would be best to visit a periodontist immediately when you notice the…
If you think that getting dental Botox will help you, understand that it is a…
Like a full set of dentures, these removable tooth replacements sit on top of the…
Chronic bad breath and a foul taste in the mouth could be symptoms associated with…
Recovery after All-on-4 depends on the treatments necessary to complete the process.
To perform a bone graft, the dentist will collect bone tissue from somewhere else in…
The most common procedure that a periodontist performs is removing plaque and tartar from their…
