What is Periodontics?

A periodontist is a dentist who specializes in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of gum diseases, the repair of cosmetic problems related to the gums and in the placement of dental implants. Periodontists are also experts in the treatment of oral inflammation. Periodontists receive extensive training in these areas by completing a residency that takes an additional three years to finish after four years of dental school. Your gums are the connection between your teeth and your body. Even subtle changes in the health of your gums can impact other areas in your body. A periodontist is an expert in the latest techniques for diagnosing and treating periodontal disease, in performing cosmetic periodontal procedures and, when necessary, replacing teeth with dental implants.

Periodontics is a dental specialty that involves prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the supporting and surrounding tissues of the teeth or their substitutes and the maintenance of the health, function and esthetics of these structures and tissues. If you want to keep your teeth for life — a completely reasonable goal in this day and age — you need to make sure the tissues that surround them are also healthy. Should gum problems arise, you may need periodontal therapy to restore diseased tissues to health. Learn more about Periodontal Disease & Therapy.

Why Do A Periodontist?

The interface between the tooth and gums is called periodontal (“around the tooth”) tissue. It is a dark, moist environment where approximately 700 different kinds of bacteria live. This gives bacteria an entry way into your body. These bacteria want to get in between the tooth and gum and when they do, an infection results. This infection is called periodontal disease. Once the bacteria get in to the space between your tooth and gum, they invade and live in the gum tissue and get in to the bloodstream. This continuous exposure to mouth bacteria in your blood stream can create many problems in other parts of your body. Heart disease, stroke, diabetes, respiratory infections, premature birth, and many other health problems are made worse by untreated periodontal disease.

When to See a Periodontist?

Anytime is a good time to be seen by a periodontist for evaluation. A periodontist is a dentist who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of problems that affect the gums and other supporting tissues of the teeth, and in the placement of dental implants. Typically, a periodontist has had three years of additional training in diagnosing and treating gum disease and its associated problems. Periodontists are familiar with the latest techniques for diagnosing and treating periodontal disease. Moreover, periodontists can perform cosmetic periodontal procedures to improve your smile. Dentists often refer their patients to a periodontist when their periodontal disease is advanced.

Often, the only way to detect periodontal disease is through a periodontal evaluation. A periodontal evaluation may be especially important if:

You notice any symptoms of periodontal disease, such as bad breath, bleeding gums or loose teeth.
You are not satisfied with your current tooth replacement option, such as a bridge or dentures, and may be interested in dental implants.
You are thinking of becoming pregnant. Pregnant women who have periodontal disease may be seven times more likely to have a baby born too early and too small. In addition, about half of women experience "pregnancy gingivitis”. However, women who have good oral hygiene and have no gingivitis before pregnancy are very unlikely to experience this condition.
You feel that your teeth are too short or that your smile is too "gummy”.
You are missing one or more of your teeth and are interested in a long-lasting replacement option.
If your parents lost their teeth to periodontal disease, you are at a greater risk for developing periodontal disease as well.
You have heart disease, diabetes, or respiratory disease. Ongoing research is showing that periodontal disease may be linked to these conditions. The bacteria associated with periodontal disease can travel into the blood stream and pose a threat to other parts of the body. Healthy gums may lead to a healthier body.