Hopefully, you’re conscientious about your oral health and visit your dentist twice a year for an examination and teeth cleaning. While you’re familiar with the treatments a dentist provides – as well as the procedures they perform – your dentist may diagnose a condition that requires referring you to a periodontist. Although this may sound somewhat foreboding, it is actually a positive, as your dentist is ensuring you receive the appropriate care for your diagnosis.
First, What is Periodontics?
Periodontics is the branch of dentistry that focuses on the health of your gums and jawbone, as well as the tissues that support your teeth — such as the periodontal ligaments (fibrous joints that connect the tooth to the dental socket), and the cementum, which connects the tooth to the jaw by anchoring it to the periodontal ligament.
If you want to impress your friends, you can tell them that the term “periodontics” is a combination of two Greek words: “Peri,” which means “around” — and “Odons,”meaning “tooth.”
What are the Differences Between a Periodontist and a Dentist?
A periodontist is a dentist who specializes in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of periodontal disease (a chronic inflammatory disease that affects the gums and bone supporting the teeth — also known as gum disease), and in the placement of dental implants. Periodontists receive extensive training in both of these areas and more, including three additional years of education beyond dental school.
While general dentists treat early cases of periodontal disease — such as gingivitis — they may refer their patients to a periodontist for treatment of advanced cases. Likewise, general dentists are trained and licensed to place dental implants. The ideal situation for a general dentist to do so is when the patient has a healthy jawbone and gums, does not require a bone graft, and the tooth hasn’t been missing for a long time. Typically, however, a general dentist will refer patients to a periodontist.
Procedures a Periodontist Performs
The following are procedures that only a periodontist can perform:
Osseous surgery — Also known as dental pocket reduction surgery or periodontal flap surgery, this procedure is performed to treat advanced gum disease. It involves accessing the roots of the teeth and removing any infected tissue, cleaning out bacteria-filled pockets, and reshaping the bone around the teeth.
According to Periodontal Center of Excellence, “The main goal of osseous surgery is to eliminate deep periodontal pockets and reduce their depth so that proper oral hygiene practices become more effective in maintaining healthy gums and preventing further progression of gum disease.”
Bone graft — This procedure is sometimes performed in preparation for a dental implant. If the jawbone is not thick enough to support an implant, a bone graft can increase it. When a tooth is missing or in the case of severe gum disease, the jawbone deteriorates. A bone graft procedure involves surgically placing bone graft material under the gums on top of the existing bone. This fortifies the jawbone and helps it to regenerate. Once this process is complete and the bone has had time to grow, a dental implant can be placed. Our blog post — “Why You May Need a Dental Bone Graft” — covers this topic in detail.
Gum graft — This procedure may be necessary if the gums have receded too far away from the teeth. Receding gums allow the tooth root to be exposed, which can cause sensitivity and loss of bone support. This procedure involves removing tissue from another area of the mouth and grafting it over the roots of the teeth where the gum tissue has receded to permanently cover and protect the roots.
Although as mentioned earlier, a general dentist can place dental implants if the patient has no complicating factors, the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) states that periodontists are dentistry’s experts in the surgical placement of dental implants.
“Within the dental profession, periodontists are known as the experts of both hard tissue (teeth and bones) and soft tissue (gums, cheeks, etc.). Placing a successful dental implant requires extensive knowledge of both tissue types. Placing a dental implant is a surgical procedure, and the extra three years of education periodontists receive beyond dental school includes in-depth surgical training that most general dentists don’t receive.”
According to the AAP, here are some possible reasons a periodontist might be required to place your dental implants:
- You need multiple implants, which is a more complex procedure with several optional approaches to consider.
- You have limited bone structure into which the implant can be inserted.
- Your implant will be placed in the upper back jaw near the sinus, which requires sinus augmentation to raise the sinus floor, develop enough bone for the implant and create adequate space between the implant and the sinus.
The Take-Home Message
A periodontist is a dental specialist who has the additional education and training to diagnose and treat periodontal disease, as well as conditions that affect the tissues and bones that support the teeth. A general dentist will typically also refer patients who need a dental implant to a periodontist.
Although a dentist’s preferred periodontist could have his/her own practice in a different location, NK Family Dental is privileged to have one of the nation’s leading periodontists under our own roof. Dr. Amir Danesh is a board-certified periodontist and Diplomat of the American Board of Periodontology. He also is a member of the AAP, the American Dental Association (ADA), the Chicago Dental Society, both the American and International Association for Dental Research, the International Association for Orthodontics, and the American Orthodontics Society.
A reviewer and editorial member of many professional scientific journals, Dr. Danesh has made several oral and poster presentations at national and international meetings, and has contributed to the publication of two books, as well as published more than 20 papers in prestigious dental research journals.
Dr. Danesh is instrumental to our mission to provide the highest quality and most compassionate oral care to our Chicago patients. Our practice is trusted for advanced oral surgery procedures and comfortable root canal treatment.
Our team of experienced, dedicated dental professionals will help address your oral health concerns, and determine the best solution for you based on your individual situation. We strive to identify treatment options that fit your needs.
In addition to Dr. Danesh, our dental specialists include our general dentist, Dr. Nilofer Khan, and our endodontist, Dr. Al-Sabek. Please visit our website’s Meet the Doctors page to learn about all of our accomplished dental staff members.
We serve the neighborhoods of Logan Square, Bucktown, Humboldt Park, and Wicker Park with the dedication that’s earned us the reputation as the Best Dentist in Chicago!
We understand that the main concern you may have is cost, which is why we accept all major PPO plans for dental insurance and also offer our in-house dental plan. Please see our financing page for more information.
Schedule your visit through ZocDoc, or contact us directly. We look forward to treating you soon!