When you suffer from severe gum disease and other advanced issues of the gums and supporting structures of the mouth, you may be thinking to yourself it is time to find a periodontist near me to help me get this under control. The longer you let the disease go, the harder it is to treat and save your teeth and mouth. Finding a periodontist near you, whether you use a recommendation from your local dentist or do an internet search on your own, can help keep your teeth healthy. Let’s take a look at what a periodontist near you can do for your oral health!
What Does a Periodontist Do?
A periodontist is a professional who specializes in periodontology. This means that they specialize in working on supporting the structures of the teeth and all of the diseases and conditions that may affect things like your jaw and gums. They may also help with placing and maintaining dental implants if you choose to get one in.
Often, people will work with a periodontist for more problematic cases and patients with a complex medical history or severe gum disease may want to visit one of these specialists. A periodontist can use surgical means to work with gum disease while also performing services like root planning and dental scaling.
What is the Difference Between a Dentist and a Periodontist?
While your dentist can provide a lot of great services to help keep your teeth safe and healthy, you will need to work with a periodontist if you have severe gum and tissue issues of the mouth. Visiting your dentist regularly, usually twice a year, can help keep your mouth healthy and protect your teeth, preventing you from having to visit a periodontist at all. But a periodontist is more of a specialist who can perform surgery and provide you with the next level of care when your dentist isn’t qualified for some procedures.
What is the Difference Between a Periodontist and an Endodontist?
A periodontist and an endodontist seem similar to one another on the surface. They both are specialists in the field of dentistry, providing extra care to those who need it most with their oral health. However, both of these are different in terms of what they can provide to their patients.
The periodontist will spend time working on the structures that support the teeth. This is most often areas like the gums and the jawbone in the mouth. On the other hand, an endodontist near you will focus more on the root of the tooth. This means they will work with the tissues that surround the root of the tooth, the tooth pulp, and diseases and conditions that affect them. Both are specialists, but they will work on different parts of the mouth.
Why Would You Need to See a Periodontist?
There are several reasons why you may decide to visit a periodontist nearby, or why your dentist will refer you over to one of these specialists. Some of the reasons why you may need to see a local periodontist in your area include:
- Advanced treatment: While your family dentist has the right skills for basic procedures like gum disease and infections, a periodontist can handle issues that may be more advanced and show up below the gum line. If your condition is severe or more advanced, you need to work with a periodontist.
- Advanced cleanings: Your dentist can provide cleanings two times a year for you. But if you have severe gum disease, you may need advanced cleanings to help keep infections away. This is something a periodontist can provide to you.
- Your general health: There are several conditions, including pregnancy, heart disease, and diabetes, that will affect the health of your gums. These issues can be tied to inflammation of the gum tissues and a periodontist can help you come up with a treatment that will keep your mouth healthy while working on these other health conditions.
- Prepare future restoration: You may find that you need a comprehensive dental restoration and a periodontist can help you get prepared for that.
Is Periodontal Surgery Painful?
Each patient will experience pain a little bit differently when using the services of an oral surgeon near them. Some patients who have periodontal surgery need to have more tissue removed from the palate, so they experience more pain than those who have little to no tissue removed in the process. The amount of pain you have after the surgery is completed will depend on the type of gum graft your periodontist decides to do. If you have no tissue taken out of the palate, you will notice very little discomfort when the surgery is done. If tissue is taken from the palate, you may notice some pain and discomfort after the procedure.
A periodontist near you can help describe how much pain is normal and when you should call them once the surgery is done. They will often use an anesthetic to help prevent pain and discomfort during the surgery. Many periodontist specialists will provide a prescription for pain medication to help you during the healing process.
If you are worried about the pain, make sure to discuss this with your periodontist professional ahead of time. Remember the more in-depth the surgery, the more it is likely to hurt. Your periodontist can discuss other options with you to ensure your teeth can get the treatment they need without too much pain or discomfort.
How Do I Find a Periodontist Near Me?
When it is time to visit with a periodontist to take care of your oral health, it is important to find one of the best near you. Our nationwide dental clinic locations will enable you to find a periodontist near you that will provide all of the services that you need. The beauty of the internet can make it easier to find a periodontist who can answer your questions and help you get an appointment around your schedule.
If you are looking to find a periodontist nearby who is available for an appointment, give our clinic a call. We have dental clinics across the country that can provide the very best in periodontal and dentistry care for all of your needs. Contact us today to get started.