Everything You Want to Know about Dental Periodontics

Periodontics is a department of dentistry focusing on the structures supporting and surrounding the teeth. Periodontists are dentists specializing in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of periodontal disease.

Dentists practicing periodontics are knowledgeable in treating oral inflammation and dental implant placements. To become a licensed periodontist, dentists must receive training in the specialty mentioned above after completing graduation from dental school by receiving an additional three years of education beyond conventional dentistry.

Dental and periodontal services also include cosmetic periodontal procedures and restorative therapies to ensure the form and functionality of the teeth. They are the optimal professionals for dealing with gingivitis and periodontal disease.

What Periodontists Do?

Periodontists are responsible for various dental, and periodontal treatments, the primary among them being root planning and scaling. They are professionals knowledgeable at finding cures for periodontitis depending on the severity of the condition. As a patient, you can call them to clean the surface of the infected tooth’s root and remove any plaque accumulated in the area. Besides the above, periodontists are also experienced in the following:

• Debridement:

  Periodontists generally perform surface debridement to remove damaged or diseased coral tissue to ensure the body heals those areas with healthy tissue replacements. The tooth is incapable of recovering its former health until all plaque and affected tissues are removed.

• Surgery:

  Performing oral surgery is another skill that periodontists acquire during their training. They are the professionals you can depend on if you require dental implant placement, maintenance, or repairs rather than a dental Surgeon. They are also experts in soft tissue and bone grafts, flap surgery, and bite adjustments.

• Advanced Gum Disease:

  Gingivitis is the mildest form of gum infection easily reversible with regular brushing, flossing, and mouthwash. However, advanced and complicated conditions of the periodontal disease require help from periodontists. Periodontists receive training to provide dental, and periodontal treatment by diagnosing the underlying issues of the situation to offer the appropriate therapeutic procedures and treatments.

Who Should Consider Visiting Periodontists?

General dentists can resolve some periodontal issues. However, patients with severe cases require attention from a periodontal specialist. It is particularly beneficial to acquire periodontal dental benefits by visiting a periodontist because research links untreated, periodontal disease to many chronic conditions such as diabetes, osteoporosis, heart disease, respiratory diseases, and some types of cancer.

Research is available to prove nearly 70 percent of American adults over 30 years are affected by some form of gum disease, although it isn’t clear why the condition prevails among adults. However, it implies that periodontal diagnosis and treatment require help from an expert such as a trained periodontist. Patients with moderate or severe gum disease must bear in mind the expertise of a periodontist because they receive proper treatment from the professional with the assistance of the family dentist.

Expectations during Periodontal Appointments

During a periodontist appointment, the specialist reviews the patient’s entire medical and dental history. The periodontist does not operate on patients right away or diagnose what’s wrong with them. Instead, the specialist assesses the medical history initially.

The periodontist inquires whether the patient is taking any medications or is under treatment for other health issues like diabetes or heart disease. These health issues can impact the patient’s periodontal care because they are pre-existing conditions.

Pregnant women must inform the periodontist about their condition. Research confirms women with periodontal disease are prone to risks of bad outcomes during pregnancy, including premature birth and low birth weight.

After the periodontist reviews the patient’s medical history, they will provide a thorough assessment to correctly diagnose how mild or severe the periodontal issue affects the patient. At the same time, they also offer advice and recommendations on how best to deal with the condition if it aggravates.

Types of Periodontal Infections

Approximately 70 percent of the US population has periodontal disease. Gingivitis is the earliest phase of the infection that can worsen and progress all the way to periodontitis if left untreated for a long. If gingivitis is left untreated and progresses to advanced periodontitis, the patient’s dental care shifts from preventive to therapeutic to indicate the patient must bear the expenses of the treatment from the periodontist.

Gingivitis or gum disease is an entirely preventable condition merely by brushing and flossing and visiting dentists near you for six-monthly routine cleanings and exams. However, allowing the infection to progress to periodontitis requires help from a specialized professional besides considerable expenditure to maintain the condition instead of treating it.