Periodontics

A periodontist is a dental specialist in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases and conditions that affect the supporting tissues of teeth, including the gums and bone. A periodontist has an additional three years of university specialty training after the completion of dental school.

They are the leading experts in the management of gum inflammation and in the surgical procedures used to treat gum disease. Periodontists also perform highly aesthetic procedures to enhance the smile and correct receding gums, and receive extensive training in reconstructive surgery — bone grafting and dental implant placement — to help replace missing teeth.

Periodontal disease is a bacterial infection that destroys the supporting structures of the teeth, including the gingival fibers and the bone, and can lead to tooth loss. Periodontal diseases can be classified as either gingivitis or periodontitis.

Gingivitis is a very common infection where the inflammation is limited to the gingiva. It is easily reversible with treatment. Periodontitis, on the other hand, is a bacterial infection characterized by inflammation which extends down the root of the tooth and into the supporting structures. This causes destruction of the periodontal ligament — the fibers attaching to the root surface — and of the bone supporting the root. This process is irreversible and may lead to tooth loss if not adequately treated and controlled.

While the main cause of periodontal disease is a bacterial infection, predisposing factors may make patients more susceptible or further aggravate periodontitis. These include smoking, diabetes, a weakened immune system and genetics. The risk of periodontitis can be up to six times higher in a smoker than in a non-smoker.

Numerous studies have shown that periodontal disease is a significant risk factor in the aggravation of several systemic conditions such as diabetes, chronic respiratory disease and osteoporosis, and may be associated with an increased incidence of cardiovascular events and of pre-term and low-birth-weight babies in people with periodontitis.

The goal of these procedures is to create a beautiful new smile alongside improved periodontal health. In many cases, periodontal plastic surgery lays the foundation for further cosmetic work — veneers or crowns — by your general dentist.

Crown lengthening, gum grafts and bone ridge augmentation all contribute to creating a natural, aesthetic gum line around planned new veneers and crowns.

If teeth are very short, a crown lengthening procedure can create a more physiologic length and a more natural appearance. Where root surfaces are exposed by receding gums, teeth can appear very long; gum grafts are performed to cover those root surfaces. If a tooth has been lost, a connective tissue or bone ridge augmentation can correct the asymmetry caused by a concavity in the bone or gum and re-establish the normal architecture of the jaw.