The services of a periodontist specializing in treating gum disease and placing dental implants may be familiar to you. However, periodontal care encompasses much more than just teeth. So, when should you make an appointment with a gum specialist in Dieppe, NB? 

When Is It Time to Visit the Periodontist?

Most patients who visit a periodontist do so for help with gum disease or dental implant procedures. However, a periodontist’s expertise is helpful in other contexts as well:

  • Tooth extraction (sometimes called tooth removal by some periodontists)
  • Replacement of lost bone following tooth extraction requires a bone graft.
  • Tissue sculpting and grafting of soft tissues

When should you consider seeing a periodontist versus a regular dentist?

A regular dentist can conduct the same procedures, but a periodontist has more advanced education, training, and expertise in the field. Read on to learn about the signs indicating it is time to see a periodontist, their services, and how immediate treatment can save your teeth and gums from permanent harm.

Tooth decay 

Tooth extraction is a standard dental operation, but it comes with risks, including bone loss, pain, and the need for further bone grafting surgery. When a tooth is extracted in the traditional manner, it might cause some complications:

  • Disruption to the bone and tissue around it
  • Your future dental implant potential is in jeopardy
  • The requirement for more surgical treatments to fix the broken area

A periodontist can remove your teeth with minimal disruption to your jawbone and tissue, laying the groundwork for dental implants. The skilled procedures of a periodontist also reduce the likelihood of requiring a bone graft. 

Bone repairing is necessary.

An infected tooth, root, or nerve can weaken your jawbone if not addressed. The bone continues to deteriorate and thin, changing the shape of your face. Patients who do not want dental implants but are at risk of additional bone loss may also benefit from a bone graft. A sunken, aged appearance will result from an insufficient jawbone supporting the facial muscles. Bone loss accelerates with delay in treatment.

If the bone around your teeth has been lost, a periodontist can do periodontal procedures to restore it, or they can extract the tooth. Bone and teeth can be saved if you get treatment right away. If you see a periodontist before dental implants, the bone in your jaw will likely be strong enough to hold the posts in place.

Work that requires shaping or grafting tissue.

Teeth discomfort, root decay, and bone loss are all things your gums keep at bay. Gum recession, also known as gum disease, increases the chance of tooth loss if left untreated.

Your periodontist can use tissue sculpting or a gum transplant to arrange the gum tissue to cover the tooth root.