There is no denying that seeing a general dentist is an excellent choice for your regular dental care. However, extra help from a specialist may be necessary when it comes to certain dental issues. Has your dentist mentioned something like dental implants or soft tissue grafts? Do you struggle with frequent gum disease bouts? These are just but a few dental problems that may necessitate visiting a periodontist. If you’re wondering whether or not seeing this dental expert is right for you, then you’re reading the right piece. This post takes a look at four main benefits of having a periodontist check the status of your oral health.
Who is a Periodontist?
First things first. Before delving into the gist of this post, it is important to understand who a periodontist is. While dentists and periodontists have a lot in common (education backgrounds, etc.), the latter pursue further education to acquire special knowledge about the gums, or gingiva. In other words, periodontal specialists focus on conditions, diseases, and other health issues affecting the gums. Besides earning a standard doctorate in dentistry, aspiring periodontists complete specialized training and receive an additional degree. Additionally, periodontists undergo continuous training to update their knowledge and remain relevant in their area of specialization.
Key Benefits of Visiting a Periodontist
Now that we know who a periodontist is, here are the four main reasons you may need to see a periodontist instead of sticking with your regular dentists when suffering from some tooth or gum infection.
Periodontists Can Help Prevent Unnecessary Tooth Loss
When your gum infection damages your gum pocket tissues beyond repair, losing your tooth becomes a reality. With a periodontist, however, you can potentially retain your tooth through a procedure known as root surface debridement. And while root plaining and scaling will leave your tooth clean, debridement is an invasive procedure that rids your gums of damaged tissues to promote healing and prevent the infection from spreading. This treatment can prevent root infection and save you from a possible root canal if sought in time.
A Periodontist Will Provide Specialized Dental Care
To keep your teeth and gums healthy, you need to floss and brush regularly. Regular dental cleanings are also important. However, these routines may not be effective if you have a gum infection. In infected gums, the pocket between your gums and teeth may swell, making it necessary to seek special help. That’s where a periodontist comes in. This expert can help with specialized deep teeth cleaning in the form of planing and scaling. This is typically done in stages to ensure your teeth are effectively cleaned beneath the gum line.
Replacement of Missing Teeth
Have you lost any of your teeth as a result of trauma, disease, or any other reason? The good news is that periodontists can help replace lost teeth with dental implants. Thanks to their proper understanding of the gum, jaw bone, and tooth structure, they make the best choice for dental implant surgery.
Handling Advanced Cases of Gum Disease
Due to its pervasive nature, periodontal disease, or gum disease, can cling to your gingival tissue. If this happens, your entire dental system can be damaged, resulting in tooth loss, chronic oral infections, and other oral health issues. Handling these rather complex gum disease cases is best done by a periodontist.
Bottom Line
If you’re struggling with signs that point to gum disease, you need to see a periodontist. Keep in mind that periodontists focus mainly on gums; hence, their services tend to be more precise and detailed than what general dental practitioners offer.
