A periodontist is a specialist dentist who treats gum disease and degeneration. They can perform nonsurgical and surgical treatments, including dental implants. Periodontal disease is common and can cause tooth loss, but early diagnosis and treatment can prevent this. However, periodontal services may not always be covered by dental insurance.
A periodontist is a dentist who specializes in gum disease and degeneration. The periodontist is considered a specialist because he trains for another two to three years after completing dental school, especially in the recognition and treatment of gum disease. Because gum disease is common, especially as we age, many people see a periodontist if gum disease is found.
Approximately 75% of tooth loss is due to periodontal disease, bacterial plaque formations that infect and begin to cause gum deterioration, loose teeth, receding gums, red or swollen gums, frequent bleeding gums, and gaps between teeth. During regular checkups with a family dentist, periodontal disease is usually noted. If you notice these symptoms between dental checkups, you can usually see your dentist and ask for a referral to a periodontist.
If periodontal disease has been diagnosed early, there are many nonsurgical ways to treat it. Most commonly a periodontist may employ dental ablation and root planing during early onset periodontal disease. This involves removing plaque from the roots of the teeth and smoothing out the tooth roots to prevent further growth of bacteria.
When the periodontal disease is more advanced, the periodontist is trained in different surgical techniques, which can help restore the teeth. These include bone grafting to replace bone lost due to a severe bacterial infection, crown lengthening, which can help restructure a tooth so that it better supports a crown, and tooth and gum contouring, which can help reshape teeth and gums affected by gum disease.
The periodontist is also skilled in performing dental implants, the new standard in the event of a tooth loss. In this procedure, a replacement for a lost tooth is surgically attached to the jaw and crowned with a crown. While this procedure is more expensive than bridges or dentures, it tends to last longer and provide more comfort. Also, there is no need to use adhesives as the tooth is permanently fixed in the mouth.
Because the periodontist is a specialist, his or her services may not always be covered by dental insurance to the same extent that more standard procedures are covered. In fact, some periodontal services are simply not covered, and some periodontist will not accept payment over time. Yet many periodontist recognize that gum disease is best treated as early as possible and would prefer to accept payment from a patient so they can be treated sooner. If you are concerned about costs, you may want to contact a few periodontists in your community to discuss payment options.
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