Find a Periodontist Who Is Right for You

Periodontists are dentists who specialize in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment (non-surgical and surgical) of periodontal diseases and the keeping tooth implants. In addition they perform cosmetic oral plastic surgical procedures.

It is especially important to see a best periodontist sunshine coast if you have the symptoms of gum disease, but regular periodontal examinations should participate everyone’s routine teeth's health care regimen. An analysis sometimes may be the only path to find gum disease. It's also advisable to go to the periodontist regularly if you have diabetes, heart or respiratory disease, osteoporosis, malnutrition, or smoke or use tobacco; all have been associated with periodontal disease.

Education and Certification
Periodontists must complete a four-year undergraduate school degree, then graduate from an accredited dental school with a health care provider of Dental Surgery (DDS) or Doctor of Medical Dentistry (DMD) degree. In addition, a periodontist must complete three to seven many years of formal trained in an American Dental Association (ADA)-accredited periodontology residency program.

After successful completion of an ADA-accredited residency training curriculum in periodontics, dentists may earn national board certification by the American Board of Periodontology (ABP) by passing comprehensive written and oral examinations covering all phases of periodontal disease and its own treatment, as well as presenting detailed reports on a range of treatments personally provided by the periodontist.

Periodontists must be recertified every six years. Recertification requires fulfillment of continuing education requirements and other professional activities that demonstrate current knowledge and competence in periodontics. Board-certified periodontists are diplomates of the ABP. Periodontists could work in dental schools, hospitals, the business sector, and state, national and international agencies. In addition they can give attention to research opportunities, such as testing emerging therapies and studying the interrelationships between periodontal and systemic diseases.

Types of Periodontal Procedures
Non-surgical Periodontal Treatment. In the first stages of gum disease, most treatments include deep cleanings, scaling and root planing (a professional cleaning of the main surfaces to eliminate plaque and calculus/tartar from periodontal pockets, and also to smooth the tooth root to eliminate bacterial toxins), accompanied by adjunctive therapy, such as antibiotics and antimicrobials. In most cases of gingivitis, scaling and root planing - and proper daily brushing and flossing - will create a healthy result.

Dental Implant Placement. Throughout a dental implant procedure, an artificial tooth root is located into your jaw, where it binds with the jawbone through an activity called osseointegration. After a healing period, an artificial tooth is attached to the implant post.

Periodontal Surgery Procedures, such as:

Regeneration, in which your periodontist folds back gum tissue to eliminate bacteria. Membranes (filters), bone grafts or tissue-stimulating proteins are used to encourage your body’s natural ability to regenerate bone and tissue.
Pocket reduction, where your periodontist folds back gum tissue to eliminate disease-causing bacteria before securing the tissue into place. In certain cases, irregular surfaces of damaged bone are smoothed to minimize areas where bacteria can hide, allowing gum tissue to raised reattach to healthy bone.
Gingivectomy, where excess tissue is removed under local anesthesia. The gums usually heal within eight days, and teeth contours are restored.
Periodontal COSMETIC SURGERY, such as:

Gingival Sculpting (Crown lengthening), in which excess gum and bone tissue is reshaped to expose more of the natural tooth. This is performed on one tooth to even your gum line, or several teeth to expose a broader smile.
Soft tissue grafting, in which your periodontist takes gum tissue from your palate (or another source) for an exposed root. This is performed using one tooth or several teeth to even your gum line and reduce sensitivity.
Ridge augmentation, used to improve gum and jawbone indentations, recaptures the natural contour of your gums and jaws, making an artificial tooth seem to be growing naturally out of the gum tissue.
What to Expect During Periodontal Visits
Your first periodontal visit will contain an evaluation. You will be asked about your dental/medical history. When you have medical problems, advise your periodontist, because so many diseases make a difference your mouth and gums.Additionally you should list any medicines you take, including oral contraceptives, because certain medications can adversely affect your gums or have contraindications for antibiotics. Antihypertensive medication could cause xerostomia (dry mouth) that can accelerate decay and periodontal breakdown.If you smoke, you will be advised to quit, especially if you are undergoing gum surgery. Smoking, which escalates the risk of periodontal disease, also worsens the condition if you already have it. Additionally, it may impair the healing process.Your periodontist will examine:

Your mind, neck and jaw joints (temporomandibular joints, or TMJ)
The mouth area and throat
Your teeth and gums
X-rays will be studied. A periapical X-ray - which reveals the whole tooth from crown (top) to the finish of the main in your jaw - shows the total amount and pattern of bone loss around each tooth. A panoramic radiograph - an X-ray of your complete mouth - shows other important skull structures, like the jaw joints.Once the examination is complete, your periodontist will establish a treatment plan predicated on your own wants and needs. Typically, following treatment you'll be placed on the periodontal maintenance program.And a proper oral hygiene regimen of daily at-home brushing and flossing, this treatment solution will include regular follow-up examinations and cleanings, which are crucial for the continued health of the mouth area and gums. When you have gingivitis, many periodontists recommend visits every half a year for a deep cleaning. More serious conditions may require visits every three months.

Facts to consider
An effective way to discover a qualified periodontist is to request a referral from your present dentist. Additionally, there are several facts to consider when choosing a periodontist, including:

How long gets the periodontist been in practice?
What continuing education and/or recertification courses has the periodontist taken? How recently have they been completed?
What's the periodontist’s diagnosis and proposed treatment plan? Enquire about all your options for your periodontal condition, as well as the professionals and cons of every. Periodontists have different treatment philosophies. While some give attention to treating the condition aggressively with surgery, others prefer more conservative non-surgical alternatives. Make sure you grasp why your periodontist recommends a specific treatment which you feel more comfortable with the proposed plan.
What's the periodontist’s training/clinical experience in performing the precise procedure(s) you need?
What exactly are the estimated costs of the proposed treatments? Does your periodontist accept your insurance? In cases where dental insurance will not cover treatment costs, does the periodontist offer alternative party and/or in-house financing?
What types of dental technology/equipment does the periodontist’s practice provide?
What medication and pain-relief options can be found?
Does the periodontist have a pleasurable chairside manner, and is the staff accommodating and professional?
Does the periodontist practice alone, or is he/she part of your multi-specialty dental group that can offer you with the one-stop teeth's health care? It's important to notice that while these multi-specialty practices may offer convenience, they might not exactly supply the finest specialists for the precise procedures you will need, or give referrals beyond the practice.
Who's part of your periodontist’s referral network? In case your periodontist works in collaboration with other dental/medical professionals on your case, you'll want the same degree of confidence in their professional expertise as you do in those of your periodontist. Additionally you need to ascertain whether these dental/medical professionals accept your insurance, and if the specific treatments they'll perform are covered under your insurance plan. If laboratory-fabricated restorations are participating, is your periodontist content with the work quality of the laboratory and/or technician?
Are the office hours and location convenient for you?
Which kind of emergency care is available?