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.montgomerycountyperio.com or call Montgomery County Periodontal Associates at (281) 404-7548 for an appointment in our The Woodlands office.
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