Periodontist

What is a periodontist?

A periodontist specializes in diagnosing and treating gum disease. They’re also trained in placing dental implants, replacement tooth roots that go directly into your gum. Periodontists receive additional training beyond standard dental school.

Not all cases of gum disease require treatment from a periodontist. If your dentist discovers early signs of gum disease, you can often improve your gum health by practicing better at-home dental hygiene. The purpose of specialized periodontic care is to treat advanced cases of gum disease.

You benefit from seeing Ramona Family Dentistry’s on-staff periodontist if you have one or more of the following symptoms:

• Swollen, tender, or bleeding gums
• Receding gums
• Loose teeth
• Pain while chewing
• Persistent bad breath or a bad taste in mouth

Treatment can save you from serious complications, including tooth loss.

What causes gum disease?

Like tooth decay, the underlying cause of gum disease is built-up plaque, which is full of bacteria. Plaque constantly forms on your teeth, but you can keep it under control with proper brushing, flossing, and regular cleanings at Ramona Family Dentistry. If plaque stays on your teeth for too long, it hardens into tartar.

Tartar can cause gingivitis, the early stage of gum disease, which causes inflammation and swelling of the gums. Gingivitis is reversible through good oral hygiene.

If you don’t treat gingivitis, it eventually advances to periodontitis, the more advanced, serious form of gum disease. Periodontitis is an infection that destroys gum tissue and jaw bone. It can cause your teeth to loosen and fall out.

The key to preventing gingivitis from developing into periodontitis is early treatment. The longer gum disease goes untreated, the more it progresses.

How does a periodontist treat gum disease? 

Your periodontist diagnoses gum disease by examining your gums for inflammation, bleeding, loose teeth, and bone loss. If you have gingivitis, you may just need to improve your dental hygiene. In addition to at-home care, you may need to come in for cleanings more often than the standard six months, so your periodontist can remove plaque from your gumline. 

Periodontitis requires more advanced treatment to restore your gum health and protect your teeth. Ramona Family Dentistry offers periodontal laser therapy, which involves using a dental laser to remove infected gum tissue and clean out built-up plaque and tartar.

Your dentist may also recommend a procedure called a gum tissue graft, which uses healthy gum tissue to build up gums that have receded. This can prevent tooth loss.

To schedule an appointment with Ramona Family Dentistry’s periodontist, call or use the online booking tool today.

Read more about our Periodontist - Dr. Takai