Periodontics in East Bronx, NY | Best Periodontist New York

What Is a Periodontist and Why See One?

A periodontist is a specialist dentist who is specifically trained to treat gums and other structures around your teeth. They work with patients to ensure they enjoy better gum health. If you have recently noticed your gums bleed during brushing or flossing or at other times, or that they feel sensitive or look swollen or red, it’s best to see a periodontist, and you don’t need a referral from your family dentist. Because a periodontist has such specific training in periodontology, they can soon tell you if you do have gum disease or other problems affecting your gums and can provide the best treatments available.

We have an experienced periodontist on our dental team at Hutchinson Metro Dental who can provide expert periodontal care as and when required.

What Is Periodontology?

Simply put, periodontology is gum health. Ideally, you should have gums that are pink, firm to the touch and which fit tightly around your teeth. They shouldn’t look swollen or red, and they should never bleed. These are signs that you have strong and healthy gums, and this is important as, without good gum health, you will not enjoy good dental health. Without strong and healthy gums, your teeth will lack the support they need and will eventually loosen. In fact, advanced gum disease is the main reason why teeth are lost.

Periodontists don’t just work on your gums, but also provide treatments for parts of the mouth that are critical but which you probably don’t consider. For example, your teeth are surrounded by a bone called alveolar bone that forms your jawbone. Advanced gum disease is one condition that can destroy alveolar bone. A periodontist can address any problems with your jawbone, helping to ensure your teeth are held securely in place.

Other vital structures are cared for by periodontists. One is called the periodontal ligament, and which is a stretchy piece of tissue. One end is attached to the alveolar bone, and the other end is connected to the tooth, more specifically the tooth root. A periodontist can make sure your periodontal ligaments are healthy and that they are performing their job correctly. Unlike your teeth that are covered with tough tooth enamel, your tooth roots are covered with a different substance called cementum and which is more easily destroyed if the tooth roots become exposed because of gum recession and is another area of your mouth that can be cared for by a periodontist.

How a Periodontist Could Help You?

A periodontist has first studied and qualified as a general dentist before completing several years more training to become a board-certified dental specialist in periodontology. They have a tremendous amount of knowledge about gum and tooth problems, and their main job is to help protect all the supporting structures around your teeth.

A periodontist is trained to make sure your gums, the connective tissues in your gum, for example, those periodontal ligaments, and your jawbone are all strong and healthy and are functioning correctly. They can easily detect any problems, providing treatment at the earliest stage possible. This is important and especially where gum disease is a problem.

Gum Disease and Its Progression

Gum disease is a bacterial infection that is, unfortunately, widespread. The early stages are called gingivitis and are extremely treatable. At this stage, gingivitis is entirely reversible. However, the symptoms of gingivitis are often ignored or overlooked, allowing the disease to worsen into periodontal disease.

Without prompt treatment, periodontal disease can often destroy gums, periodontal ligaments, and the alveolar bone. It can cause tooth loss and often requires complex and lengthy therapies to control the disease. Often, advanced gum disease is chronic, meaning you will need to see your periodontist regularly for ongoing treatment to make sure the disease doesn’t worsen.

Advanced Treatments by a Periodontist

Because a periodontist specializes in treating gums, they can provide far more advanced procedures compared with an ordinary dentist. For example, they are trained in the latest surgical techniques that can help to restore missing bone and even gum tissue. Also, they can use specialized procedures to clean out infected gums more thoroughly, giving the gums a far better chance of healing and fighting the infection.

What to Expect When You See a Periodontist?

Seeing a periodontist is a little like seeing any other dentist. You simply contact the periodontist to make an appointment, and during your first visit, they will want to review your dental and medical history. Make sure you provide a complete medical history that includes any medical conditions, and a list of medications as these could impact the treatment options suggested.

Your periodontist may need to take x-rays during your appointment to check the health of your jawbone. Of course, they will also assess your mouth, gums, and jaws thoroughly. A complete periodontal assessment is a great way to discover if you do have any gum health problems and especially if you have certain medical conditions that increase the likelihood of developing gum disease, for example, diabetes. Smokers are also at a higher risk of developing gum disease and especially because smoking can mask the earliest symptoms of gum disease. Most importantly, a periodontist can provide you with lots of useful information on how to care for your gums at home.

Avoiding Gum Disease

Gum disease may be prevalent, but there is no reason why you cannot maintain excellent gum health, provided you have a great oral hygiene routine. It’s essential to brush your teeth at least twice a day and to floss once-a-day. This simple routine takes less than 10 minutes each day to complete and is effective in ensuring your gums and teeth remain healthy and strong. Also, make sure you see a periodontist for a regular evaluation, or else see your general dentist regularly.

Regular Checkups Are Essential

Usually, most people with decent oral health will only need to see a dentist twice yearly. However, if you do have any medical problems and especially any conditions that compromise your immune system, your dentist or periodontist may suggest more frequent checkups. Whenever you book an appointment with your dentist, make sure you also schedule an appointment with the hygienist. Having your teeth cleaned professionally is another excellent and easy way to maintain strong and healthy gums, significantly reducing your risk of gum disease. It’s a far preferable approach than waiting until problems develop, at which stage you will need much more invasive and more expensive treatments.