A periodontist is a professional in the field of dentistry who specializes in the diagnosis, prevention, and treatments of dental infections and diseases that affect the gums and surrounding tissue. They take four years to learning and mastering the profession at a dental school.
After that, they take another three years of specialized training to learn and understand the variously advanced diagnosis, prevention, and treatment techniques for dealing with the periodontal disease. They also handle the placement of dental implants.
Periodontists have the necessary skills of doing different cosmetic products and procedures that help to restore a patient’s lost smile.
Periodontal diseases or periodontitis is characterized by soar, inflamed, sensitive, or bleeding gums. It is cause they the formation of plaque on the teeth that starts attacking the soft tissue surrounding the teeth. The tissue is called gingival hence the name of the dental condition. It is triggered by toxins in the plaque that attack the gingival tissue leading to bacterial infection. The infection slowly burrows into the soft tissue as it progresses causing the tissue to be sensitive and inflamed.
The body will respond to the infection by destroying the infected tissue, and this leads to the receding of the gums. The result of that is the creation of pockets between the teeth. The disease can progress until it reaches the jawbone and this can lead to tooth loss. All these things can be prevented, and the disease and its impacts reversed if treatment provides.
Know The Signs And Symptoms
In the event that a dentist finds the presence of periodontitis during a routine dental checkup, the dentist will recommend a consultation with a periodontist for further diagnosis and treatment. However, it is possible to keep things from get to such a point by knowing the sign and symptoms of periodontal disease and scheduling a dental appointment as early as possible.
Bleeding Gums
If you notice that you are bleeding when you bite a fruit or brush your teeth, you most likely may have a periodontal infection in its early stages.
Bad Breath
Issues of bad breath (halitosis) even if you strictly observe oral hygiene, then it could be a sign of periodontitis. And if not, then it should be an issue with a different gum infection.
Gum Recession And Tooth Loss
If the gums line around the teeth recedes making the teeth look longer than they should, the recession may be due to periodontitis. The progression of the disease will reach the jawbone that hold the teeth in place weakening them and leading to the loss of teeth.
Gangrene In The Tissues
While it may not be easy to self-diagnose gangrene, this will not be a tough thing for the dentist or the periodontist when conducting a dental check. The infections is often present in the gingival tissue, periodontal ligament and the alveolar bone.
Related Health Conditions
Issues of osteoporosis, osteopenia, heart disease, and diabetes are closely linked with issues of periodontitis, and this is largely because the bacterial infection is likely to spread to other parts of the body through the bloodstream.
Diagnosis & Treatment
The periodontist will conduct a thorough examination of the condition of the teeth, gums, and jawbone to determine the extent of the infection and the best treatment approach. The treatment may involve some surgical and non-surgical procedures that will address the underlying issues associated with the infection to stop the tissue recession. It may also include other procedures such as dental restructuring or the placement of implants.
Periodontitis/Mild Periodontal Disease
Scaling and root planning will be required if the periodontist notes that the gum pockets are more than 4mm in depth. The process removes debris from the pockets thus stopping the infections and facilitating healing. The periodontist will also advise about the most suitable dental cleaning and care regime.
Moderate Periodontal Disease
For pockets that are more than 4mm in depth, the periodontist will use a more invasive approach with the scaling and root planning that ensures the gums and teeth are thoroughly cleaning and the infection halted.
Advanced Periodontal Disease
Issues of tooth and bone loss are attributed to gum recession which is often characterized by gum pockets that are more than 6mm in depth. Treatment will start with non-surgical treatment options, and then surgical treatments follow to help correct the gum recession.
Tooth Loss
For tooth loss, the periodontist will recommend dental implants. The treatment may involve the reinforcement of that jawbone so that it provides adequate anchorage for the tooth implant. Bone grafts may be necessary for severely eroded bone.
You should hold lengthy consultations with your periodontist to have a full understanding of periodontitis and the best treatment options.
