Your dentist has referred you to a periodontist because they see a need for specialized care. A periodontist has two additional years of training after dental school and is one of eight specialties recognized by the American Dental Association.

Periodontitis is a serious infection that damages gum tissue and the bone that supports your teeth. It is also linked to heart disease, stroke, low birth weight babies and even Alzheimer’s.

Periodontists are Dentists Who Specialize in Gum Disease Treatment

Gum disease is a serious infection that can destroy the bone that supports your teeth. This can lead to tooth loss and may affect other parts of your body, such as your heart and blood vessels. It is important to visit a periodontist regularly to prevent and treat gum disease.

A general dentist is equipped to deal with conditions related to the soft tissue surrounding your teeth, but periodontists have specialized training and experience in treating the condition of your gums and jawbone. A qualified periodontist in sioux falls sd can prevent, diagnose and treat problems in these areas, including gingivitis and periapical abscesses.

Your periodontist will perform a deep cleaning called scaling and root planing to remove tartar and bacteria from below your gum line. This treatment is more extensive than a regular dental cleaning and might require a local anesthetic. Gingival flap surgery is a procedure in which your periodontist temporarily separates your gums from the tooth to access the root of the tooth and bone, to remove disease-causing plaque and calculus. Laser gum disease treatment is a less invasive option that uses a laser to remove bacteria from the gum pockets and reduce inflammation.

Midwest Periodontics is a periodontal office that provides expert care and education to patients to maintain healthy gums and teeth. Located in the growing southwest side of Sioux Falls, this office has a layout that balances the needs of surgery, hygiene, sedation, and patient privacy. The building was financed with an SBA 504 loan, which has helped to create jobs and contribute to the community.

Periodontists Treat Gum Disease

When gum disease is caught and treated early, it is reversible. It can progress from gingivitis, where the gums are red and may bleed, to periodontitis, which results in loss of bone around the teeth. Gingivitis can be controlled with a dental cleaning and regular oral hygiene. Periodontitis is harder to reverse and often requires surgery to control the disease and prevent further damage.

A periodontist can help manage these issues with antibiotics or a deep cleaning called scaling and root planing, which removes the plaque and tartar from under the gum line. They also use a laser-based technique called LANAP to clean the bacteria from the damaged tissue without damaging healthy tissue.

Other treatments include grafts to replace lost soft tissue and help the teeth look more esthetic, or crown lengthening to reduce a “gummy” smile. They can also perform a smile lift to remove excess gum tissue, which they can combine with veneers for a more attractive symmetry.

In addition to treating gum disease, periodontist in sioux falls sd are also experts in placing dental implants. This requires a deep understanding of both hard and soft tissues, which is why they have an extra three years of training beyond dental school. This specialized knowledge allows them to ensure the health of the tooth socket for a successful implant procedure.

Periodontists Place Dental Implants

Dental implants are metal poles that act as artificial tooth roots, supporting new replacement teeth. A dentist or periodontist can place these in the jaw to treat missing teeth and replace failing dentures. However, they may also be used to help a patient get back the smile they lost due to gum disease. A periodontist can perform a surgical procedure to fit the implant into the jaw, and a dentist can attach a false tooth (known as an abutment) to it.

Unlike removable dentures, replacement teeth attached to dental implants feel, look and function like natural teeth. They can even prevent bone loss by fusing to the jaw, a process known as osseointegration. They can also improve a patient’s self-confidence by providing them with the ability to eat, drink and speak normally.

The most common type of dental implant is titanium, which has proven to be durable and biocompatible with human tissue. But patients with sensitivities to titanium can receive zirconia implants, a metal-free alternative that is both biocompatible and aesthetically pleasing.

A periodontist can also provide a patient with an All-on-4 treatment, which uses four implants to support a full arch of replacement teeth. This can help patients avoid the pain and discomfort caused by traditional dentures, which require ten or more implants to hold them in place.

Periodontists Perform Cosmetic Procedures

Periodontists have extensive knowledge of both hard tissue (teeth and bone) and soft tissue (gums). They understand how both types of tissues affect each other. As such, they’re better equipped to assess the condition of your teeth and gums than a general dentist.

They have the training to treat many problems that can arise from gum disease, including reversing some of the damage. These procedures include gum graft surgery, which involves taking healthy gum tissue from the roof of the mouth or another source to cover a tooth root that has been exposed by receding gums. This helps reduce sensitivity and improves the appearance of your smile.

Another common procedure that periodontist in sioux falls sd perform is crown lengthening, which reshapes the gum line to expose more of the natural teeth. This can help with gummy smiles, in which the teeth look shorter due to excess gum tissue. Periodontists can also remove a small amount of the hard tissue to expose more of the tooth if needed.

Periodontists also have the training to place dental implants, which replace missing teeth. This requires them to accurately measure the pockets around your teeth, which they’re able to do using a special tool. In addition, they’re skilled at preserving the alveolar bone levels that support your teeth. This is a complex task, and the extra three years of postgraduate education that periodontists undergo gives them in-depth knowledge of both bone and soft tissue.