Periodontist

Periodontists specialize in periodontal disease, which is a chronic inflammatory condition affecting the gums and jawbone. Also called “gum disease,” periodontal disease is a serious condition that if left untreated can lead to bleeding gums, mouth pain, bite problems, and loose teeth. You may be referred to a periodontist by your general dentist or GP if you present with its main symptoms.

To become a periodontist, dentists must receive extra training in the area of periodontal illness, which includes three years of specialized surgical education after four years of dental school. After graduating, they can handle dental implants, scaling, root planing, root surface debridement, inflammation treatment, and cosmetic procedures.

This means that they can treat infections by cleaning the tooth root (“planing”) or removing the root altogether (“debridement”). Their expertise goes beyond that of a general dentist, who may not be able to place multiple implants, perform the surgery on partially degraded bone structures, or place the implant in a complex situation, such as in the upper back jaw, which may require sinus augmentation surgery.