What exactly does the Best Periodontist in Fort Collins do?
Periodontics is a branch of dentistry concerned with the treatment of gum disease. Dentists who complete specialized training in periodontics are known as periodontists.
Periodontology is the study of the structures that support teeth and the diseases and ailments that can harm those structures. A periodontist can treat the gums, jawbones, and ligaments that hold the teeth in place. Periodontal disease, also known as gum disease, is the most common condition that affects these supporting components. Plaque on the teeth that hardens and hardens over time can cause gum disease, an inflammation of the gums caused by bacteria.
If you have severe gum disease or acute or chronic gum disease that is not responding to standard treatment, your dentist may refer you to a periodontist.
The Best Periodontists in Fort Collins are dentists who have received additional training to diagnose and treat periodontal disease. Those who choose to become periodontists receive additional training in the current methods and technologies for successfully detecting and treating gum disease. They can help their patients avoid the development of gum disease by performing routine dental cleanings during their patients’ regular dental exams. If you have any reason to suspect that you may have gum disease, you must seek medical attention as soon as possible.
Gum disease treatment usually begins with less invasive, non-surgical procedures like scaling and root planning. Specialized hand tools are used during these procedures to deep clean the surfaces of the teeth beneath the gum line.
If periodontal disease has progressed to the point where the gum tissue no longer fits snugly against the teeth, you may need minor gum surgery to repair the loose “pockets.” This will allow the healthier gum tissue to reattach to the teeth naturally.
If advanced gum disease is not treated, it can result in bone loss in the jaw, significant damage to the tissues that support the teeth, and, eventually, tooth loss. Periodontists are trained to perform regenerative procedures such as bone transplants, gum grafts, and treatments that stimulate tissue regeneration, which can help stop or reverse damage in some cases.
What Kinds of Procedures Can the Periodontist in Fort Collins Perform?
The best Periodontist in Fort Collins may use scaling and root planning as two of many procedures to treat gum disease and other gum problems. Other treatments for gum disease that may be used include:
root planning and Scaling: Scaling and root planning are technically two different treatments, but dentists usually perform them simultaneously because it is more efficient. Scaling removes calculus (hardened plaque) and plaque from the tooth surfaces located beneath the gums. Following the completion of the scaling procedure, the root planning procedure can begin. Following the removal of plaque and calculus, root planning can be used to smooth the tooth root’s surface. This procedure also removes the altered and polluted root structure caused by the bacterial endotoxins. As a result, the gums can conform to and cling to the teeth’s roots, eliminating any crevices where bacteria can collect and cause gum disease.
Surgery on the osseous (bone): You may need to see a periodontist restructure the bone structure responsible for keeping your teeth in place. The jaw bone and the ligaments that surround it are the structures that hold your teeth in place. Germs can enter the mouth and cause illness if there is space between the gums and the teeth in gaps or pockets. To prevent the formation of these pockets, bone surgery can be performed to remodel the bone and ligaments.
Bone Grafting: Some patients undergo bone grafting surgery to better prepare for a dental implant. A bone transplant can be used to increase the thickness of the jaw bone, allowing it to support an implant. When teeth are lost, or severe gum disease occurs, the jaw bone begins to degrade and eventually disappears. A bone graft surgery involves the surgical placement of bone graft material beneath the gums on top of the patient’s existing bone. This is done to improve the patient’s bone structure. This encourages the jaw bone to regenerate and expand to grow on its own and strengthens the jaw bone that is already there. After this procedure is completed and the bone has had time to heal, a dental implant can be placed.
Dental Implants: Implantation of dental implants. Periodontists are considered the experts in the placement of dental implants.
Crown Lengthening: By reshaping extra gum tissue and possibly bone tissue, it is possible to change the appearance of a “gummy” grin or create a healthy space between the teeth, gums, and bone.
When is it Time to Visit a Periodontist?
Patients with severe or complex gum disease will be referred to a periodontist to cure gum disease and prevent it from recurring. The Best Periodontists in Fort Collins are also experts in gum disease prevention. Periodontal plastic surgery can treat various conditions that affect the appearance of your mouth, such as overly sticky gums, receding gums, and missing teeth. This procedure is also referred to as “gum grafting.”
If you have any of the following symptoms, you should consider seeing the Best Periodontist in Fort Collins:
- Your gums are inflamed, bleeding, and possibly red (gum disease)
- You could have receding gums or the sensation that your teeth are loose.
- You have a missing tooth.
- You have a toothache, halitosis, or a biting problem.
- You’re nearly there on your way to perfect oral health!
Periodontal disease is a complicated dental problem that has been linked to other chronic diseases such as diabetes. Periodontists are trained to perform all of the treatments that general dentists do and several therapies that general dentists do not perform. People with more complex issues require a higher level of care, which a periodontist can only provide.
A person may require the services of the Best Periodontist in Fort Collins for reasons other than those related to the gums. These dentists are among the most qualified individuals to carry out the treatment due to their in-depth knowledge of the gums and teeth. They have received training in the surgical placement of implants and know how to do it. The vast majority of periodontists perform oral surgery regularly, such as implant placement.
