A periodontist is a specialist who solely focuses on problems that affect the gums. Gum disease, or periodontal disease, is when infected tissue leads to issues like loose teeth, pus at the base of the tooth, or receding gums.
This disease comes in two stages, periodontitis and gingivitis. Gingivitis is the first stage of gum disease and can often be reversed through proper oral hygiene and professional cleanings. Periodontitis is irreversible but can still be managed to treat the infection and minimize damage to the bones, teeth, and gums.
Depending on the severity of the disease, a periodontist can orchestrate a treatment plan best suited for your unique situation.
What a Periodontist Does for Gum Disease
Periodontists perform a variety of treatments to address the stages of gum disease. First, the periodontist will evaluate the severity of the condition and discuss dental and medical history. The patient’s history will help find indicating factors that contribute to the condition, and the exam allows for assessment of plaque build-up and soft tissue sensitivity.
The periodontist then uses a dental probe to measure the depths of the gum pockets. These are the groves between teeth and gum tissue just below the gum line. If the depth is deeper than five millimeters, then this indicates gum disease.
X-rays are also taken of the gum pockets to see if damage to the bone structure has occurred or will likely occur. Based on their findings, these treatment plans include:
Teeth cleanings – Regular professional cleaning help reverse gingivitis by removing tartar deposits on teeth. This is a preventative measure all patients need to take.
Antibiotics – To help manage gum disease, periodontists often prescribe antibiotics either in the form of a pill or mouth rinse.
Scaling and root planing – These are often called deep cleanings and involve removing plaque, bacteria, and tartar from the roots of teeth. Once harmful substances are removed, the roots are polished so that tartar is harder to build upon them.
Soft tissue grafts – These grafts include stitching tissue over the roots of teeth to protect them from bacteria and acid.
Surgical treatments – Depending on the severity of the disease, there are various surgical procedures to help manage the damage. These procedures range from replacing a lost tooth to deep cleanings.
Pocket reduction surgery – This is where incisions are made into the gums so that the roots of the teeth are exposed to be deep cleaned. In some scenarios, it also involves recontouring bone tissue that is damaged and reattaching to the gums.
The periodontists at Hudson Valley Periodontics and Implantology offer a variety of treatment options for gum disease. Taking treatment a step further, the team not only treats gum disease but they also take additional steps to keep your gums healthy long-term.
