What is a Periodontist?

A periodontist is a dentist who specializes in the soft tissues of the mouth and the underlying jawbone which supports the teeth.  A dentist must first graduate from an accredited dental school before undertaking an additional three years of study within a periodontology residency training program, in order to qualify as a periodontist.

The primary focus of this residency training is on both surgical and non surgical management of periodontal disease and the placement of dental implants.

Periodontal Conditions Treated by a Periodontist

The periodontist is mainly concerned with preventing the onset of gum disease (periodontal disease), diagnosing conditions affecting the gums and jawbone, and treating gingivitis, periodontitis and bone loss.  Periodontal disease is a progressive condition and the leading cause of tooth loss among adults in the developed world.

The periodontist is able to treat mild, moderate and advanced gum disease by first addressing the bacterial infection at the root of the problem, providing periodontal treatment, then providing information and education on good oral hygiene and the effective cleaning of the teeth.

The most common conditions treated by the periodontist are:

• Gingivitis – This is the mild inflammation of the gums which may or may not be signified by pain and bleeding.
  
  
• Mild to moderate periodontitis – When the pockets between the teeth and the soft tissues are measured to be between 4-6mm it is classified as moderate periodontitis (gum disease).
  
  
• Advanced periodontitis – When the pockets between the teeth and the soft tissues in general exceed 6mm in depth, significant bone loss may occur; causing shifting or loss of teeth.

Other Treatments Performed by a Periodontist

The periodontist is able to perform a wide range of treatments to halt the progression of gum disease, replace missing teeth and make the appearance of the smile more asthetically pleasing.

Here are some of the treatments commonly performed by the periodontist:

• Implant placement – When a tooth or several teeth are missing, the periodontist is able to create a natural-looking replacement by anchoring a prosthetic tooth to the jawbone.
  
  
• Soft tissue grafting - When a tooth root becomes exposed due to gum recession, sometimes soft tissue grafting can be performed to replace the missing tissue and improve esthetics and your smile.  
• Soft tissue recontouring - When the gum lines on the front teeth are uneven or the gum around the teeth are puffy due to medication, procedures can be done to thin and straighten the gum line to make the teeth look more even and esthetic.


• Bone grafting – Dental implants can only be positioned if there is sufficient bone to attach the prosthetic tooth to.  If bone loss has occurred, bone grafting is an excellent way to add or “grow” bone so that an implant may be properly secured.
  
  
• Crown lengthening – If significant decay or tooth fracture leaves very little tooth structure showing, this procedure can expose more of the natural tooth so you can get a crown. 
• The periodontist is a highly skilled dental health professional who is able to diagnose and treat commonly occurring soft tissue and bone problems in the oral cavity.  The periodontist is the plastic surgeon of the mouth!

Be sure to ask your periodontist if you have any questions or concerns.