What is Periodontology – What Does a Periodontist Do?

Periodontology focuses on the health of the tissues surrounding and supporting the teeth. It plays a crucial role in preventing and treating gum diseases that can affect overall oral health. Understanding the importance of this dental specialty helps maintain strong teeth and gums throughout life.

What is Periodontics?

Periodontics is a branch of dentistry that focuses on the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of periodontal disease. It deals with conditions that affect the gums and bone supporting the teeth, including inflammation, plaque buildup, and gingivitis. Periodontal dentists also manage advanced cases like periodontitis and perform procedures such as scaling, root planing, and periodontal surgery. This field of periodontology plays a key role in maintaining the health of your gums and preventing tooth loss.

What’s the difference between a dentist and a periodontist?

A general dentist provides routine oral care like cleanings, fillings, and basic exams, while a periodontist is a dental specialist focused on the prevention and treatment of gum disease. Your general dentist may refer you to a periodontist for specialized care.

The periodontics meaning refers to the specialized branch of dentistry focused on the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases affecting the gums and supporting structures of the teeth. A periodontist def is a dentist who specializes in treating periodontal disease and performing procedures such as dental implants and gum surgery.

Periodontists complete additional training in periodontology after dental school to manage advanced periodontal procedures, including treating bone loss, receding gums, and inflammation of the gums. The difference lies in the complexity of care: periodontal dentistry addresses issues that general dentists often refer to a periodontist for, especially when plaque and tartar buildup lead to serious periodontal problems or the need for implant surgery.

What are the causes of periodontal diseases?

The development of periodontal diseases is mainly triggered by several key factors, including:

1. The most common causes of periodontal issues are dental plaque and tartar.
2. Overzealous, hard brushing with incorrect technique or the wrong toothbrush causes gum recession, exposing part of the root.
3. Unrestored contact points between teeth, large gaps, fillings with overhangs, and lack of proper tooth anatomy for hygiene can cause plaque and food debris to accumulate, leading to inflammation, gum and bone pockets, and periodontal atrophy.
4. Teeth inadequately treated endodontically can lead to chronic inflammation spreading to the gums and surrounding bone.
5. Improperly executed prosthetic restorations, such as crowns and veneers.

How does periodontal disease affect the body?

Gum and bone disease is often associated with general health problems, impacting overall well-being. Common health issues linked to periodontal disease include:

• Cardiovascular diseases;
• Heart disease;
• Stroke;
• Diabetes;
• Pregnancy complications;
• Osteoporosis;
• Kidney diseases;
• Rheumatoid arthritis;
• Cancer.

What symptoms should refer us to a periodontist

If you notice any of the following symptoms, it’s important to see a periodontist for proper diagnosis and treatment:

• Red, bleeding gums;
• Gum pain;
• Bad breath (halitosis);
• Movable teeth;
• Changes in the alignment of teeth;
• Teeth lengthening.

These signs often indicate advanced periodontal disease requiring specialized care. If untreated, gum inflammation can lead to tooth loss.

Phases of periodontal disease

Periodontal disease is a progressive condition that affects the gums and supporting structures of the teeth. It develops in distinct phases, each requiring different levels of care and treatment:

1. Gingivitis: inflammation of gums, no bone loss.
2. Mild periodontitis: early bone loss, mild gum recession.
3. Moderate periodontitis: increased bone loss, deeper pockets.
4. Advanced periodontitis: severe bone loss, tooth mobility, risk of tooth loss.

Understanding these stages helps in early diagnosis and effective periodontal treatment to prevent tooth loss and maintain oral health.

What exactly does a periodontist do?

A periodontist specializes in diagnosing and treating the supporting structures of the teeth. Their work focuses on maintaining the health and function of:

1. Gingiva: caring for the gums to prevent and treat inflammation.
2. Periodontal ligament: managing the fibers that connect teeth to bone.
3. Cementum: protecting the tooth root surface.
4. Alveolar bone: preserving and restoring the bone that supports teeth.

What type of procedures does a periodontist perform in Dynasty Stomatology?

At Dynasty Stomatology in Poland, our experienced periodontists offer comprehensive periodontal care to ensure healthy gums and teeth. Our services include:

1. Periodontal maintenance.
2. Scaling and root planing (periodontal cleaning).
3. Periodontal surgery, which covers:
   • Gingival flap surgery;
   • Gum grafts;
   • Tooth extractions;
   • Dental bone grafts;
   • Surgical crown lengthening;
   • Smile lift;
   • Frenectomy.

Modern treatments combine periodontal and implant procedures to restore oral health. Cosmetic periodontal procedures help improve both function and aesthetics of your gums.

With advanced perio dentistry expertise and a personalized treatment plan, our dental implant and periodontal specialists provide effective care for all stages of periodontal disease.

Treatment of this disease can be divided into stages

Treatment of periodontal disease involves several important stages to address inflammation and preserve gums and bone health effectively:

1. Hygienization phase: A dental hygienist plays a key role by professionally removing calculus and plaque to improve oral hygiene and reduce inflammatory response.
2. Non-surgical phase: The periodontist, a dentist who specializes in perio in dentistry, performs deep cleaning of periodontal pockets to treat soft tissue and prevent further gum line damage.
3. Surgical phase: In advanced cases, periodontal surgery is performed about 3 months after non-surgical treatment to restore bones and gums and prepare for possible placement of dental implants.
4. Maintenance phase: Since periodontal disease is a chronic form of periodontal disease, ongoing care including regular check-ups, flossing, scaling, and curettage by your dentist perio or periodontist is essential to prevent disease progression and tooth loss.

These treatment methods follow guidelines by the American Board of Periodontology to ensure proper treatment and successful perio and implant outcomes, including implant dentistry when needed.

Periodontology – Conclusion

Periodontology is the study focused on the health of gums and supporting structures, with periodontists providing specialized treatment for periodontal disease. Early detection of signs of periodontal disease and appropriate treatment can prevent serious complications and tooth loss. If needed, a periodontist is a dentist who can perform dental implants and advanced periodontal procedures to restore oral health.

Author of the article

, Dentist-Endodontist

Yana Tereshchenko