Choosing a periodontist in your community can vary depending on your needs. Let us first look at what a periodontist specializes in and then why you might their assistance.
What does a Periodontist Specialize in?
A periodontist is a dentist that has specialized training primarily focusing on the diagnosis, the treatment and the prevention of periodontal diseases, or gum disease. Most periodontists are also trained to surgically place dental tooth implants and cosmetic gum contouring as well. A periodontist will have graduated from a four-year undergraduate program in dentistry. They then chose to continue with an additional three years of formal training in a periodontology residency accredited by the ADA, or American Dental Association.
Why would I need to see a Periodontist?
Periodontitis’ are in high demand. Almost 50% of American adults over the age of 30 have some stage or form of periodontal disease. Gum disease is primarily the result of neglect and poor oral hygiene. If you do not brush your teeth twice a day as advised a clear sticky substance called plaque forms on your teeth. The plaque is carrying bacteria loaded with acids and sugar. When the plaque comes in contact with the gums, the soft tissue immediately becomes infected. The two stages of gum diseases are called gingivitis and periodontitis.
What are the Treatments like for Gum Disease?
The periodontist will first do a thorough exam of your gums and your teeth and take x-rays to identify issues below the gum line. If the gum disease is caught early, in the beginning stage, a good, professional teeth cleaning will reverse the disease. This cleaning might include a deeper cleaning, going below the gumline to remove any plaque, which is the sole source of the disease. This process is also called scaling and root planing. Handheld tools will manually scrape away the plaque from the entire tooth, including the root. This will remove the plaque and make the roots smooth so plaque cannot adhere to the surface. If the disease has progressed further there might be bone loss that the periodontist will need to treat.
What other Procedures does the Periodontist do?
Treating gum disease is an everyday, common procedure for the periodontist, but you may be seeking their skills to improve your smile or for a dental implant restoration. In your smile, if you see more gum than teeth, this is affectionately called a gummy smile. The proportions between gums and the teeth are out of balance. A periodontist is trained to perform a crown lengthening. They simply remove some of your tissue at the gumline, so it exposes more of the tooth. After a short healing period your smile will appear healthy and balanced. This is an easy and common procedure.
A dental implant is a restoration after you have lost a tooth. The gap should be filled promptly. You could choose a traditional dental bridge or instead choose the new gold standard in tooth replacement, a dental implant. A periodontist is trained in this innovative procedure. When finished you cannot tell the difference from your natural tooth.
So how should you choose a periodontist?
If you have a good relationship with your general family dentist and they suggest a referral, then you can trust their recommendation. From prior cases and successful results, they have developed a professional relationship with that periodontist.
You could also consider some of the following points when qualifying your periodontist:
- How long has the periodontist been practicing? Is the periodontist fresh out of school with current knowledge on techniques and technology? Or have they been in practice for some time and have experienced numerous cases and the results from different approaches to the disease. Which avenue is best for you?
- Are they current on continuing education and the recertification process? Does the periodontist just meet the minimum qualifications, or are they active in seeking out more educational opportunities? Is the perception that they enjoy what they do, and are always looking for opportunities to improve their services they offer?
- After the stage of disease has been diagnosed, what is the proposed treatment plan? Even if this periodontist came as a trusted referral, you still owe it to yourself to discuss the pros and cons of the suggested treatment plan. Is the plan aggressive or conservative? Is the suggested approach best for your level of tolerance and your lifestyle?
- What will the treatment cost? Make sure you discuss costs so there are not any surprises with the suggested procedure.
- Review all payment options? Will this office accept your insurance? Is this periodontist an approved provider with your insurance program? Does this periodontist offer payment plans with financing if your insurance does not cover the entire treatment? Address all these factors first to minimize your stress. The office staff should contact your dental insurance carrier for you.
- Has this periodontist invested in updated equipment and innovative technology? A laser is now used in many periodontal procedures. Does this periodontist have one as an option?
- How will this periodontist treat your pain? How conscience is this periodontist when it comes to your pain management? Inquire about their use of a local anesthesia during the procedure and how they feel about prescription pain medication versus an over-the-counter pain reliever. Discuss this prior to the procedure. You do not want to be chasing the pain while recovering.
- How is the bed side manner? Is the periodontist pleasant to talk with and patient with your questions? Is the office staff professional and accommodating? Are they patient when addressing your concerns? Make sure you are comfortable with them as both thoughtful and caring people. This is important when it comes to your entire experience.
- Does the periodontist practice alone? This is still a business. Practicing alone could make them a more confident specialist. Sometimes the larger, multi-specialty dental offices will market the convenience of one stop shopping dental care. Something to consider. This might not be the best approach for your case.
- Is the periodontist in a referral network? This is a decent question to ask. You could judge this periodontist by the group they are associated with. After all, you are the patient. You can ask as many questions as you want to reach your necessary level of confidence.
- What about the dental lab this periodontist uses? If a dental implant is the treatment that you are considering you might want to also check out the quality of the lab work. Ask the periodontist about their level of satisfaction with this lab or technician. When the restoration is finished you are the one dealing with the dental implant, not the dental lab.
- Location, location, location. Yes, this is a viable part of the equation for a successful experience. If you need to travel quite some distance to the office, you might ask is it worth it? Your family dentist may have another referral to offer. If not, you might want to do your own research with some of these suggested questions.
- Office hours. This is just as important as the location. Do their hours work for your busy schedule? You are the customer.
- What is their approach to any emergency care? If you do need emergent care what are the procedures in place for this periodontist? This is actually an important question in establishing a good relationship.
In conclusion, whether it is the common treatment of your gum disease, a dental implant restoration, or the cosmetic improvement of your smile, you owe it to your healthy self to understand the profession. Make an educated decision when choosing your periodontist to get the results you deserve.
