It pays to know who is a periodontist and what does he do before an appointment

We all know what a dentist is and we know what they do. Dentists play an important part in maintaining our health and oral hygiene. You may have undergone some routine procedures like wisdom teeth removal, dental implants, or scaling. Would you be surprised if we said that some of these and other treatments were performed by a periodontist who is a more skilled professional than an ordinary dentist? Yes, there is a difference between the two, which we will illustrate below.

How Is A Periodontist Different From A Dentist?

A periodontist is a type of dentist that specializes in treating periodontal diseases through periodontal surgery. They mainly deal with working on the gums and the bone supporting the teeth.

On the other hand, a dentist can help fix several dental issues regarding the teeth and surrounding features of the oral cavity. They are not trained to work on gums or bones as it is complex and requires more skill and practice.

What Does A Periodontist Do?

Periodontists primarily help prevent, diagnose and treat gum disease. This disease causes inflammation in the gums and damage to the bones around the teeth. Apart from this, there are several other services they offer:

Scaling and Root Planing

  • Scaling and root planing are two deep cleaning treatments that periodontists use to clean the gums and bones under the gumline. This is done to treat gum disease and prevent more diseases in the future.

Root Surface Debridement

  • This procedure involves carefully removing plaque and calculus from the surface of the root. This is done when gum disease attacks the root and it needs to be cleaned and disinfected.

Gum Grafting

  • Periodontists use the procedure of gum grafting to tackle receding gums and other diseases where gums may detach from the teeth. They take a graft from the roof of your oral cavity and use it as grafts for the new gums to grow.

Dental Implants

  • Dental implants are false or fake roots that periodontists put in place to secure permanent or temporary false teeth. It may sometimes even require bone grafting as well.

Dental Crown Lengthening

  • Periodontists remove gum and bone from the top of the teeth to lengthen their appearance, create perfect smiles, and treat diseases. This is known as dental crown lengthening.

Laser Treatment

  • who is a periodontistLaser treatment is also known as laser dentistry. Periodontists use it to treat several diseases, most of which are gum disease, hypersensitivity, tooth decay, and discoloration.

Periodontal Pocket Reduction

  • Another treatment to get bacteria out of the roots of teeth is periodontal pocket reduction. The periodontist peels back the gums and removes the bacteria. They then stitch it back up and let the gum reattach as it heals.

Major Signs of When You Need To See A Periodontist

Seeing a periodontist is very important for dental hygiene and gum care. If you are experiencing any of the following symptoms, it is advised that you seek an appointment with a periodontist.

The most common symptoms to look out for are:

  • Bleeding from the gums
  • Severe discoloration of the gums and teeth
  • Receding gums
  • Losing teeth more often
  • Constant bad breath
  • Flappy gums that detach from the teeth
  • Pain in the bone of the jaw after dental surgery

At Icon Dental Center, we aim to give you the best dental care services so that you can keep your oral hygiene in check. We offer a range of periodontal services to help you fix any dental issue you may be facing. Book a consultation or appointment as soon as you notice any symptoms. Our services are offered in the cities of Everett and Seattle. For Seattle, call us at 206-225-2882 and for Everett, call us at 425-337-2400.

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