Pop quiz, your gums are sore and sometimes they bleed when you're brushing your teeth. Do you A.) Ignore the problems or B.) Get a referral from your dentist to see a periodontist? Hopefully, you picked B. but I know what you’re probably thinking, what in the world is a periodontist?
What are they
A periodontist is a type of dental expert that specializes in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of periodontal disease, also known as advanced gum disease. What mainly sets a periodontist apart from a general dentist is the periodontist will complete dental school and then go for an additional three years of education in order to become specialized in their respected fields. During this time, they are typically trained on how to perform procedures related to cosmetic dentistry. This means they are able to perform treatments like the installation of dental implants and treating oral inflammation.
How they can help
Aside from gum disease, periodontist also focuses on issues related to and linked to your jawbone. Since your jawbone supports your teeth, any serious issues associated with it could potentially lead to major oral complications such as the loss of your teeth. An example of this is when your jawbone starts to deteriorate, a periodontist can implement certain techniques that can repair and stimulate the jawbone in order to keep your teeth in place.
It can sometimes be difficult to distinguish if you need care from a dentist or a periodontist. You should consider visiting a dentist for more general procedures such as a basic cleaning, x-rays, cavity fillings, or a simple tooth extraction. However, you should visit a periodontist as opposed to a general dentist when you are at risk or seeing signs of periodontal disease. Periodontists are typically able to also provide you with gum grafting surgery, laser gum treatments, dental crown lengthening, pocket reduction procedures, and much more.
Contact Us Today
If you’re looking for more information on periodontist or your looking for a periodontist in your area, contact us at our offices located in Las Vegas, Nevada. One of our amazing team members will help you schedule an appointment with Dr. Leavitt.
