A periodontist is a dentist that can help you with gum disease and related conditions of the soft tissue and bone of the mouth and jaw. You need to see a periodontist or a periodontal dentist when you have tenderness, pain, bleeding or one of the other symptoms explained below. San Diego Dentist Association members are caring professionals ready to serve your periodontal and total mouth health needs.
Most people turn to periodontal treatment because of gum disease, which is at least partly caused by neglect. Periodontal or gum disease usually starts when food and debris left on teeth becomes plaque and causes pockets that harbor bacteria. These bacteria attack the soft tissues around your teeth. Once the infection begins, it goes deeper and deeper unless treated, eventually getting down to the underlying bone and destroying it. As gum disease progressed, deep pockets form around teeth, and bone is lost, threatening the stability and health of teeth.
When To See A Periodontist Or Periodontal Dentist
When a dental professional finds gum disease symptoms or you believe you may have symptoms of periodontal problems, it’s time to start a treatment program. Here are some of the symptoms that mean a periodontist or periodontal dentist may be necessary for you:
- Bleeding when eating or brushing. Bleeding is never normal, and it’s often the first and most common sign of gum disease.
- Bad breath. Called halitosis, bad breath is evidence of infection and is caused by all that bacteria present in pockets around teeth that brushing doesn’t clean away.
- Gum recession. If you notice gums pulling away from teeth, this is a sign of gum recession that can lead to tooth loss. It’s also a sign that gum disease has been present for a while and is progressing.
- Particularly difficult to diagnose yourself, gangrene is serious because it is the localized death and decomposition of soft tissue. In the case of gums, the tissue won’t heal or grow back by itself.
- Other health problems. The same bacteria that result in gum disease can travel throughout your body via your bloodstream and cause or worsen diabetes, heart disease, osteopenia, osteoporosis and many other conditions.
Periodontal Diagnosis And Treatment
The right dentist or periodontist is a San Diego Dentist Association member. Our dental professionals can examine your gums as well as your teeth and jawbone to diagnose your gum disease or whatever other oral health concerns may be troubling you. Once diagnosed, your dentist and their team can talk you through the treatment options available in your situation, which may include both surgical and nonsurgical treatment. Here are some of the possible treatments:
- If you have only gingivitis or mild gum disease… When pockets reach 4 mm or larger, the recommendation may be to perform root scaling and planing to remove debris and bacteria from the pockets and allow for healing. You will also be given instructions on home oral care.
- If you already have moderate gum disease… When gum pockets reach 6 mm or larger, your dentist may recommend applying a local anesthetic and performing deep root planing and scaling. Healing takes a bit longer, but results are often very good.
- If you have symptoms of advanced gum disease… When gum pockets are well over the 6 mm size and you also show other signs of gum recession and bone loss, deep root planing and scaling are still recommended, and your dentist may also suggest pocket reduction surgery to reduce the size and number of places in your mouth where bacteria can accumulate and grow.
- If you have experienced tooth loss… We know that untreated periodontal disease and other oral health concerns can cause tooth loss and well as loss of gum tissue and bone. In many cases, safe, effective dental implants are recommended, but only in cases where bone is sufficient. If there are bone issues, a bone graft can help provide a stable base for dental implants.
If you’re concerned about periodontal disease, how and when to treat it and the options that are available for treatment, including dental implants, please reach out to an SDDA dentist now. Delay only makes things worse. Our dentists are here for you now, and each want to become the San Diego dental office you trust for periodontal care and so much more.