A periodontist is a dentist who specializes in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of periodontal diseases, that is, those conditions or affections that impact the gums and the area surrounding the tooth structure. They also specialize in the placement of dental implants, which is one of the most complicated treatments for replacing missing teeth.

The periodontist is the dentist or orthodontist who has knowledge related to the health of the gums. It´s for this reason that their work is focused on examining, diagnosing, and preventing diseases related to this area of the mouth.

• Rescue gum health
• Removes layers of bacteria from the teeth
• Cleaning the teeth, reducing the risk of producing more delicate diseases
• Treatments that prevent tooth loss
• Treatments that prevent bad breath

While periodontics treats gum disease, endodontics involves the treatment of pulp diseases at the root of the teeth that cause infection or dental trauma, as well as the prevention of possible complications.

In general, yes, but it´s important to always check your insurance policy to make sure. Dental insurance covers some periodontal disease treatments, however, it´s preferable to have that specialty covered within your coverage, so it´s recommended that you check the policy provisions and seek to extend them to include the vast majority of periodontal conditions.

Some periodontal treatments may require the payment of a deductible, due to their complexity. And sometimes pre-existing periodontal-type conditions may be covered by your insurance under regular dental care coverage.

Health insurance may also cover some treatments for periodontal disease and related conditions. While health insurance policies generally don´t cover periodontal-related procedures, they may sometimes pay for periodontal-related medical studies or even treatment the patient is being examined for a different condition but includes periodontal care.

A general dentist must complete a four-year college degree. After this, they enter a graduate program at an accredited dental school where they graduate with a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or Doctor of Medical Dentistry (DMD) degree, making them a qualified dentist. However, to become a periodontist, they must complete an additional three years of formal training in an American Dental Association-accredited periodontics residency program after dental school. During this time, periodontists undergo comprehensive examinations and case management scenarios that provide them with experience and expertise in various aspects of periodontics.

This dental professional may also perform oral surgery. However, the practice is only limited to the soft and hard tissues of the mouth. Periodontists are responsible for taking care of your gums and making sure they function accordingly to support your teeth.

They definitely could, but it´s more recommended to go to an endodontist since that is their area of specialty.

A root canal is what is called an endodontic procedure, something that is done inside the tooth. It doesn´t involve anything external to the tooth itself. No removal of gum tissue or bone, no scalpels, no muss, no fuss.

Endodontists specialize in tooth roots and oral pain. Patients are often referred to them for complicated root canal treatment.

Absolutely! In fact, when a tooth needs to be removed because of gum discomfort, there is no better dental professional who can do the job than a periodontist. He or she will not only remove the loose or bad tooth but can also treat the damaged gum and bone tissue to prevent the spread of infection.

Although the periodontist treats aggravated dental health conditions, he or she is the most recommended person to perform a deep cleaning.

Typically, the periodontist performs a deep cleaning using a probe to check for gaps between the gums and teeth to determine the depth of cleaning and the method to be used. Precisely, if untreated gingivitis is found, it develops into advanced gum disease called periodontists.