What Procedures Does a Periodontist Perform?

Periodontics dentistry is a dental field that focuses on the health of your gums and other tissues (periodontium) that support your teeth. If you have advanced gum disease or periodontitis, your dentist can refer you to a periodontist.

A periodontist is a dental specialist with training and expertise in diagnosing, preventing, and treating periodontal diseases. After dental school, a periodontist completes three additional years of training and education.

While our general dentist can perform some periodontal treatments and procedures, sometimes they might refer you to a periodontist for specialized care. Among other procedures.

A periodontist has the training and expertise to perform the following functions

Non-surgical periodontal treatments

When diagnosed early, you can treat and reverse periodontal or gum disease with non-surgical treatments like excellent oral hygiene and routine dental exam and cleanings. These treatments help minimize plaque and tartar buildup in the mouth, helping your gums to heal faster and better. The periodontist may give you antibiotics or antimicrobials to prevent or fight infection.

Deep cleaning or scaling and root planing

If plaque and tartar have developed below the gum line or your gums are receding, the periodontist can recommend a deep cleaning to remove these deposits and restore the health of your gums.

In scaling, our periodontist in Dover, NH, uses special tools to scrap off plaque and calculus on teeth and below and above the gum line. They also smoothen the roots to remove debris and make it difficult for plaque to develop in these areas.

Removing these bacterial deposits on teeth and deep in the gum pockets helps eliminate the periodontal infection and allows the gums to re-attach to the teeth snugly. Maintenance therapy may be necessary to sustain good gum health.

Periodontal tray delivery system

Instead of multiple teeth cleaning and maintaining therapies, the periodontist can recommend tray delivery periodontal treatments. The treatment uses a custom-made tray to deliver liquid medications deep into the periodontal pockets. It’s less invasive and efficient at controlling periodontal infections than other non-surgical treatments. Since you use the treatment daily, it consistently fights off bacterial infections, greatly reducing the chance of recolonization. It can also help brighten your teeth and prevent other oral problems like decay.

Laser treatments

Gum laser treatment is a less invasive but highly effective way to treat gum disease. The laser treatment uses different wavelengths and power levels to safely destroy periodontal bacteria without harming healthy tissues.

Flap surgery

For more advanced stages of gum disease, you may require surgery. Flap surgery involves cutting and lifting a gum flap to remove plaque and calculus under the gum line. The periodontist will also smoothen the gums and underlying bone. Then, the gums are placed back snugly around the tooth. This treats gum recession and also reduces the chance of bacteria recolonization.

Bone and soft tissue grafts

Advanced gum disease or tooth loss can cause bone loss. The periodontist can perform a bone graft to repair and rebuild your bone to make teeth stable and support a dental implant. The graft materials can come from your body, a human donor, or synthetic bone. Soft tissue grafting can help repair damaged gums and other tooth-supporting tissues.

Dental implants

If you’ve lost your natural tooth or teeth, dental implants are an ideal restoration procedure to close teeth gaps to restore your smile and bite function. Placing an implant involves attaching an artificial root (implant post) to the jawbone.

The jawbone heals and connects with the implant in the process of osseointegration. Lastly, a dental crown is placed over the implant to act like an artificial tooth. It gives the implant the feel, size, and color of natural teeth.

Gingivectomy

Also known as crown lengthening or gingival sculpting, gingivectomy is a periodontal surgery that involves removing or re-shaping extra gum tissues to expose the natural tooth. It can improve a gummy smile.

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Are you looking for the best periodontist near you? Contact Belknap Dental Associates for more information.