Who is a Periodontist?
A periodontist is a dental professional who specialises in preventing, diagnosing and treating periodontal disease, performing cosmetic periodontal plastic surgery procedures and placing dental implants. Periodontists often treat more problematic periodontal cases, such as those with severe gum disease or a complex medical history. Periodontists offer a wide range of treatments, such as scaling and root planing (in which the infected surface of the root is cleaned) or root surface debridement (in which damaged tissue is removed). They can also treat patients with severe gum problems using various surgical procedures. In addition, periodontists are specially trained in the placement and repair of dental implants.
Who should see a Periodontist?
Some patients' periodontal needs can be managed by the general dentist. However, as more and more patients exhibit signs of periodontal disease, coupled with research that suggests a relationship between periodontal disease and other chronic diseases of aging, periodontal treatment may necessitate a greater understanding and increased level of expertise by a trained specialist. Patients who present with moderate or severe levels of periodontal disease or patients with more complex cases will be best managed by a partnership between the dentist and the periodontist.
Will the treatment be painful?
We will take every measure to ensure that your procedure is in no way uncomfortable or painful. If treatment is needed, we will inject a small amount of anesthesia to gently numb an area of your mouth. For most patients, the feeling of numbness usually subsides after 2-3 hours.
What to expect in the initial examination?
The initial examination involves gathering your medical and dental history. Full mouth periodontal charting wherein the periodontist measures the bone levels around every tooth using a periodontal probe. Full mouth radiographs (x-rays) will be taken to determine bone levels. Colour images, study casts, and CBCT scans may also be taken to aid in determining the periodontal condition of your mouth.
How can gum disease be prevented?
The infection around most of your teeth can be treated and stabilised, and with the improvement of your home dental and gum care and a regular maintenance programme, the periodontal disease you present with can be slowed and probably arrested. The most important first step is learning to clean teeth effectively. A personalised program of oral hygiene for each patient is designed. All such programs include proper tooth brushing and are aimed at cleaning the teeth well without traumatising the teeth or gums. Dental floss, tape, or interdental brushes should also be part of the plaque control program for the hard-to-reach surfaces between teeth. Since the area between the teeth is where most periodontal pockets start, it is well worth the extra time and effort required to master the interdental technique. Daily tooth cleaning will keep the formation of bacterial plaque and calculus to a minimum, but it won't completely prevent it, nor will it remove calculus already formed and firmly attached to the teeth at the gum line or below. Plaque within deep pockets is out of reach of home cleaning methods.
What is the treatment for gum disease?
An initial cause-related periodontal treatment comprising of non–surgical treatment is an essential step in controlling and treating your periodontal disease. This consists of scaling and root planing (SRP)/debridement throughout the mouth, together with a review and revision of your cleaning procedures. Scaling and root planing is a careful cleaning of the tooth root surfaces to remove plaque from pockets and remove bacteria and toxins from the tooth root. Research has consistently shown that debridement reduces inflammation of the gums and reduces the amount of bacteria associated with periodontal disease. Due to these positive findings, this is usually the first mode of treatment recommended for most patients. In fact, many people may not require surgical treatment after debridement; in others, this may be part of a pre-surgical procedure.