The Work of a Periodontist

If your family dentist has never referred you to a periodontist then that means that you have never showed any signs of gum problems. If you do develop gum issues in the future then this is the type of dental specialist that you will go to for treatment.

A periodontist is a special kind of dentist who treats problems that affect the gums. The gums after all are the foundation for teeth and they need to be kept in healthy condition if they are to properly support the teeth and the jawbone. Besides attending dental school those who choose to specialize in this area of dentistry most often undergo an extra three years of residential training in order to become educated about how to keep the gums of their future patients’ healthy and to learn everything they need to about gum disease and how to treat it effectively. These dental providers perform a selection of both surgical as well as nonsurgical procedures on their patients.

Periodontists are able to perform specific surgeries that can improve problems that affect the gums that cannot be helped through nonsurgical means. Some of the periodontal surgeries conducted by these dental providers have a cosmetic element to them and can enhance and beautify the smiles of the people who have the work done. Let us take a look at some of the surgical treatments that are available to those who go to see a gum specialist.

One type of procedure that these specialists perform on a regular basis is known as pocket reduction. When gum disease sets in it can result in pockets of tissue forming around the affected teeth. The larger the pockets become the more space that is then left vulnerable for bacteria to grow in. Once the bacteria starts to develop in these areas it can destroy not only the gum tissue but also the bone which in turn can lead to the loss of teeth. Pocket reduction is done in order to decrease the size of the pockets. What this does is it helps to keep both the bone and the tissue intact and well preserved.

A periodontist also has the training and skill to do regenerative procedures. This is a form of dental surgery that is required if bone and gum tissue have been destroyed due to the presence of bacteria. The surgery will regenerate both. The bacteria first must be taken away and then either bone grafts or tissue stimulating proteins are introduced into the tissue to begin the regeneration process.

Another type of surgery that is routinely performed in the offices of periodontists' all of the time is crown lengthening. This is a periodontal operation that is cosmetic and will improve the look of a person who has what is thought of as a gummy smile. In other words, the person has more gum showing when they smile than nature intended. Small portions of gum tissue (and sometimes excess bone as well) are removed in order to make the teeth look longer and to make it such that less gum tissue is obvious when a person smiles. In some cases this operation is also performed as a preparation for other restorative or cosmetic operations.