A periodontist is a dentist who specializes in the treatment of gums and the bones of the face and jaw that support the teeth. At each San Diego Dentist Association member, you’ll find a team of dental professionals who can treat your teeth, gums and overall oral health with caring attention. From small pockets of irritation and infection to complex, severe gum disease cases, they’re ready to help.
There’s no one-size-fits-all solution to periodontal disease. SDDA dentists are trained and experienced in both surgical and nonsurgical methods of treating gum disease and bone loss, and no dentists have a broader array of tools and expertise available to serve you.
What A Periodontist Can Treat
A periodontist is a dentist who specializes in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of periodontal disease
A San Diego periodontist works to help dental patients in three primary ways:
- Gum disease prevention
- Gum disease treatment, including gingivitis and bone loss
- Dealing with any condition related to the gums and jawbone
Gum disease, officially called periodontitis, is the top cause of tooth loss in American adults, according to recent statistics, and if left untreated it only gets worse. A periodontal dentist diagnoses and provides treatment for gum issues, and the earlier any disease or condition of the gums is caught, the easier, less expensive and less painful the treatment will be. A periodontist also works with their patients on oral hygiene to prevent the disease from coming back once treated.
Specifically, a San Diego Dentist Association periodontist can help you with these conditions:
- A mild inflammation of the gums, gingivitis symptoms may include pain and bleeding when brushing.
- Categorized as mild or moderate, periodontitis involves infection that leaves behind pockets around gums of at least 4 mm.
- Advanced periodontitis. When labeled advanced periodontitis, this condition is characterized as having created pockets in the gums of at least 6 mm. At this stage, if untreated bone loss and teeth shifting are likely.
- Missing teeth. Once teeth are lost because of gum disease, a periodontal dentist can replace them with dental implants, bridges or dentures that look good and function well.
Periodontal Procedures You May Need
Each San Diego Dentist Association member that you may choose can perform many different types of procedures to restore the look and function of your teeth and improve your gum health. Here are some periodontal procedures that may be necessary for treating and preventing gum disease and replacing teeth already lost:
- Dental implants. Involving a metal tooth root capped in much the same way as a natural tooth that requires a crown, implants look like natural teeth and are placed into bone for amazing stability.
- Hard tissue recontouring. Called osteoplasty, this process involves the reshaping of bone so that your teeth look and function better than before.
- Soft tissue recontouring. Called gingivoplasty, this process is the reshaping of a gum line to eliminate a gummy smile or straighten a gumline that appears uneven.
- Bone grafting. This process involves adding or growing bone in a location where more is needed for denture stability or most often for the placement of dental implants.
- Deep pocket cleaning. Gum disease progression can make it difficult for you to adequately clean inside deep pockets around teeth. Deep pocket cleaning can include root planing and scaling.
- Crown lengthening. Often done for aesthetic purposes, gum tissue can be removed by the dentist to make teeth look longer and more appealing.
Your chosen San Diego Dentist Association member can do these and other services for you. Reach out now to learn more or make an appointment.