The dental sciences have nine areas of specialty. If you need a specialist that understands the soft tissues of the gums and treatments it will be a periodontist. If your first visit to a periodontist is scheduled there are three primary areas in which they specialize. The most frequent is the treatment of gum disease. The second area of concern would be to treat a cosmetic dental issue called a gummy smile and perform a procedure to correct that. The third area growing in popularity has now become the gold standard for replacing a natural tooth, that being a dental implant. Let us review some general expectations and then these three areas of specialty.
General Expectations on Your First Visit
The periodontist will begin by creating and building a relationship with you as a new patient. They will want to document your dental history to understand this current situation that you are wanting addressed. Our mouths are as unique as our fingerprints, as much as the problems seem to be the same, they are every bit as different in treating you as an individual. On your first visit you should address any financial issues with the periodontist and your dental coverage provider. Confirm that the periodontist is on the insurance providers approved list and understand the level of insurance coverage you will have for your treatment. Will the office finance the balance that is not covered? They may ask you to elaborate on your oral history from your referring family dentist with prior x-rays. If this documentation can be shared it could benefit you and the periodontist with the upcoming procedure and your expected outcome.
If Gum Disease is the Reason for Your First Visit
Almost 50% of American adults over 30 years of age have had some form of gum disease. Gum disease has two levels or stages. The main cause of gum disease is simple neglect and poor oral hygiene. If you do avoid brushing your teeth twice a day as strongly suggested, a clear sticky substance will immediately form on your teeth called plaque. This plaque carries damaging bacteria. The bacteria instantly attack the enamel which then results in decay and cavities. When the bacteria come in contact with your gums the soft tissue also immediately become infected. The first level of gum disease is called gingivitis. Your gums are swollen, red instead of pink in color and you will have bad breath. If your family dentist identified the gum disease and made the referral to the periodontist here is what you can expect. With gingivitis, the periodontist may initiate your first visit by reviewing your oral health history. This will include evaluating your bite, any loose teeth, any bone loss, and an oral cancer screening. The periodontist will also exam the x-rays from you family dentist and most likely add a few new x-rays. Once the stage of your gum disease has been confirmed you can expect the periodontist to perform a thorough cleaning of your teeth. The additional treatment is that the periodontist will need to scale your teeth below your gumline to remove the source of the infection, the plaque. After this deep scaling is completed, an antibiotic might be added and within a few days your gums will return to normal. If your gum disease has advanced to the second stage, called periodontitis, the symptoms are your gums bleeding and are tender to the touch. You will also see your gums sagging away from your teeth developing pockets that harbor food particles accelerating the disease. You may also have a loose tooth or two and could be experiencing some bone loss. The treatment the periodontist now must take will become more intense to combat this advanced stage. The scaling is deeper, more deliberate, and includes the planing of the roots. This removes the plaque and smooths the roots so any further plaque cannot adhere to the tooth. If the disease has really advanced the intensity of this procedure could include a surgical approach. There could be a mouth guard added to protect any loose teeth to give them a chance to tighten up and get healthy. As the infection subsides the soft tissue swelling will recede, and the pockets will close again around the teeth. You might expect several appointments to treat this level of the gum disease.
If Treating a Gummy Smile is the Reason for Your First Visit
Your smile is an undervalued asset. Your smile is foundational in establishing your self-esteem and your self-confidence. If you are not fond of your smile it can influence your personal, social, and professional encounters. Maybe you noticed that when you look at your smile in the mirror there seems to be more gum tissue visible then teeth. The balance is out of proportion. This is not unique to yourself. Called a gummy smile, it is common and can be easily corrected by a periodontist. The treatment is called crown lengthening. Your teeth have two parts, the crown which is visible above your gum line, and the root which is below the surface of your gum. The periodontist will begin by administering a local anesthetic to numb the immediate area and then use a surgical scalpel, or a laser, to remove excessive gum to expose more of the crown. In just a few days, the gums will heal, and your smile will have a balanced visual perception.
If Needing a Dental Implant is the Reason for Your First Visit
If you recently had a tooth extracted or lost a tooth from an accident, you are left with a gap. If at the front, this space will affect your smile and will certainly affect your biting, chewing patterns, and even your speech. The neighboring teeth will immediately drift and shift into that gap changing alignment. Your replacement options are a dental bridge made that fills the gap or the new gold standard, a dental implant. A dental implant is a periodontal procedure. The periodontist begins the treatment by first making an impression of your existing teeth. The next step is the surgical insertion of a tiny titanium post into your jawbone in the gap. After the post has bonded, integrated, or fused to the jawbone it will function as a new root. Next an extension or abutment is added to the post to reach the surface of the gums. The periodontist finishes the restoration by placing a porcelain or ceramic artificial crown on this abutment. Because of the earlier impression, the crown has been custom fabricated to look just like your natural teeth. The implant, because of the titanium post, is secure, stable, and will perform, look, and feel just like a natural tooth.
Prevention is the Best Approach
Your periodontist will wish to discuss health industries expectations for your proper, at-home oral hygiene. Absolutely if your visit was for gum disease, but also relevant for any crown lengthening as well as for the addition of a new dental implant. There are between 100 and 200 varied species of bacteria in your mouth at any time. This is a staggering statistic. The health industry simply suggests that you brush your teeth twice a day for two minutes at each time. Replace your tooth brush every six months, which is the same timing as scheduling your regular checkup. They will also ask you to floss at least once a day. This flossing will remove the plaque from between your teeth that the toothbrush cannot reach. Many Americans are apprehensive about seeing their dentist. If you exercise good at-home, preventative oral hygiene you can make these regular examinations pleasant and rewarding.
