WHAT IS A PERIODONTIST

Periodontists perform a wide range of treatments to prevent the progression of gum disease, replace missing teeth, and improve the aesthetic appearance of the smile.

Periodontists commonly perform the following treatments:

• Implant placement –
  By anchoring a prosthetic tooth to the jawbone, the periodontist is able to create a natural-looking replacement for missing teeth.
• Grafting of bone –
  It is important to note that dental implants can only be placed when there is sufficient bone on which to attach the prosthetic tooth.  In the case of bone loss, bone grafting is an excellent way to add or “grow” bone to secure an implant.
• Osteoplasty (hard tissue recontouring) –
  A periodontist can recontour the hard tissue after treating periodontitis to create a natural-looking and aesthetically pleasing smile.
• Gingivoplasty (soft tissue recontouring) –
  When the gums recede due to periodontitis, the teeth may appear longer, resulting in a “toothy” smile.  In order to make the teeth look more even, a periodontist may be able to remove tissues or straighten the gum line.
• Crown lengthening –
  A periodontist can remove some of the gingival tissue around the tooth in order to expose more of the natural tooth.
• Cleaning of deep pockets –
  The pockets between the soft tissues and the teeth become more difficult to clean as gingivitis and periodontitis progress.  In order to remove debris and bacteria that can cause infection, the periodontist can scale and root plane the teeth (sometimes under local anesthetic).

Periodontists are dental health professionals who are highly skilled in diagnosing and treating soft tissue and bone disorders in the mouth.

In case of questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact your periodontist.