Periodontist

Q: What is a periodontist?

A: A periodontist is a dentist who specializes in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of gum disease.  The word itself comes from the Greek roots, "peri," meaning around, and "odont," the word for tooth.  Periodontistry is one of several areas of dental specialty that require two to three years of training beyond the education required for a General Dentist.  Since some 75 percent of tooth loss is due to gum disease and the deterioration of the tooth's support system, the periodontist is a critical part of our oral health care system.

If periodontal disease is caught early, there are many non-surgical ways to treat it.  The periodontist, general dentist, or hygienist may be able to scrape plaque from tooth roots to reduce the amount of bacteria in these areas, which when combined with regular care can help to keep your periodontal disease stable.  If the disease is more advanced, surgical techniques, including bone grafting, may be used to replace lost bone.  It is important for your periodontal status to be stable to be a candidate for dental implants. 

In the best of worlds, you'd like to not need the services of a periodontist, the best way to avoid that is to visit Chips Dental Associates regularly and observe a sound regimen of home care by brushing and flossing regularly.

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For more information or questions, please visit www.chipsdentalLLC.com