Specialist Dental Services

Periodontist Services

Periodontics is specialist dental treatment for people with severe gum disease.

Treating gum disease is possible with the help of a periodontist. They specialise in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of advanced periodontal, or gum diseases. You’re in good hands. Periodontists are experts in treating periodontal disease. They receive up to three years of additional training than a dentist. They offer a wide range of services to treat gum disease.

Overview

Periodontists are specialised dentists who have had additional dental training. Periodontists treat gum disease, including non-surgical treatments and periodontal plastic surgery procedures. They're also experts in the placement and maintenance of dental implants. Their treatments range from scaling and root planing (a treatment for periodontal disease), to soft tissue grafts (to cover the exposed roots of teeth, reduce sensitivity or prevent additional recession).

Education

Periodontics has been a form of dentistry since the early 1900s. It's specialist dentistry for the treatment of periodontal, or gum disease.

The procedures a periodontist does are:

  • Scaling and root planing
  • Pocket elimination surgery, to get access to the roots of teeth to remove bacteria, plaque and tartar
  • Regenerative periodontal treatment, to help 'regrow' the bone and gum attachment around teeth, damaged by periodontal disease
  • Crown lengthening, when a tooth is decayed or broken below the gum line to expose more of the tooth for a procedure

Periodontists often work with patients needing dental implants. They provide a fixed solution to replace missing teeth and improve support and stability of partial or complete dentures.

Some of the other treatments periodontists may do are:

  • Soft tissue grafts to cover the exposed roots of teeth, reduce tooth sensitivity and prevent additional recession and bone loss
  • Preservation of jawbone after extraction (socket preservation) which can minimise bone loss after tooth extraction and can provide a foundation for a future implant placement
  • Sinus augmentation, which is performed to increase the thin wall of bone between the maxillary sinus and the mouth
  • Peri-implant disease treatment for dental implants affected by gum disease
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Need to know

Appointments

  • At least 2 appointments
  • During the first visit a periodontist will evaluate your gum inflammation, examine the space between the gum and the tooth, and measure the gum recession
  • The next visit will be for the treatment
  • You may need additional appointments with a periodontist if the treatment is more complex, or for them to assess the success of the treatment

How long it takes

  • The first appointment will usually be around 30 minutes
  • Treatment appointments will usually be at least 1 hour, however they will vary depending on the treatment you need

You may be asked about

  • Your dental history and medical history
  • Your oral health care routine at home
  • If you're a smoker

Before your appointment

  • No special preparation needed

After your appointment

  • If you have had anaesthesia you will still feel a bit numb for the next couple of hours
  • With most treatments avoid eating very hot or very cold foods - a soft food diet is usually recommended after treatment
  • Avoid drinking alcohol for at least a couple of days
  • Avoid smoking for at least a week following treatment or surgery
  • Follow the care routine prescribed to you by your periodontist
  • You may have some swelling or sensitivity for a couple of days
  • Be gentle brushing your teeth around the treatment area for the first few days

Quick tip

If your dentist or specialist gives you advice about daily preventative dental care like teeth brushing techniques and how often you should floss, write it down. It takes time to build a new habit.

Enquire now

Have questions?

The cost of visiting a periodontist will vary depending on the treatment you need and how complex the treatment is. At your consultation your periodontist will examine your teeth and gums, then recommend the best treatment option for you. They will also give you an idea of the cost of the treatment needed.

With proper oral health care, gum disease can be prevented. The main cause of gum disease is poor oral hygiene. Regular dentist visits are recommended. Brushing twice a day, flossing and maintaining a healthy diet can help prevent gum disease.

You should visit a periodontist if you need treatment for severe gum disease. You may also choose to see a periodontist for dental implants. Periodontists are experts in the treatment, prevention and diagnosis of periodontal, or gum diseases. They’ve also had an additional three years of specialised training in periodontal diseases.

Periodontists are specialised in treating, diagnosing and preventing periodontal disease. They've had three additional years of training in periodontics, both non-surgical treatments and periodontal plastic surgery procedures. If you have gum disease or are needing dental implant treatment then visiting a periodontist is the best option for you.