What Is a Periodontist vs. a Dentist? What Are the Differences?

Here’s a riddle for you. A periodontist is a dentist, but a dentist isn’t a periodontist. Get it?

It’s simple. There are over 3000 periodontist offices in the US, and all the periodontists practicing there are qualified dentists. But they have undergone additional training that allows them to treat a wider range of conditions.

So when would you need to see a periodontist rather than a dentist? Let’s answer the question, ‘what is a periodontist vs. a dentist?’ to learn why sometimes, a periodontist is what you need.

What Is a Periodontist Vs. a Dentist?

First, what is a dentist?

To qualify as a dentist, students need a bachelor’s degree, a great GPA, and to pass the Dental Admissions Test (DAT). Then they enroll in a four-year dental school program. In the end, they receive either a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or a Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry (DMD) degree.

That’s not the end. They still need to pass dental licensure exams. These vary from state to state.

Once they’ve reached this point, dentists can consider specializing. One of their options is becoming a periodontist.

What is a Periodontist?

A periodontist is a dentist who has completed three extra years of training. This is known as a residency in periodontology.

Periodontology is the study of the gums and bones that support the teeth. Although a general dentist can treat a wide range of dental issues, a periodontist will take on more serious cases affecting the gums and bones.

For example, gum disease is very common, and can often be treated successfully by a general dentist. However, more serious cases, called periodontitis, should be handled by a periodontist.

What Can Dentists Treat?

Dentists are the first port of call for all dental issues. First, we should all visit the dentist every six months for a checkup. During this visit, he or she will check our teeth for cavities, signs of gum disease, and other issues.

Dentists provide a wide range of essential treatments, including:

• Filling cavities
• Repairing damaged teeth
• Performing root canal surgery
• Fitting crowns and bridges
• Fitting dentures

They also provide valuable education to people of all ages on how to care for their teeth and oral health in general. Most of the time, a general dentist can meet your oral healthcare needs. But sometimes, they need to defer to specialists for more complex cases.

This includes orthodontists for issues affecting the bite. These include teeth alignment, jaw issues, and breathing difficulties. And when serious gum and jawbone issues arise, they will refer patients to a periodontist.

What Can Periodontists Treat?

Periodontists treat any problems that affect the gums and bones in the mouth. They are also dental implant specialists and can take on complex cases.

Gum Disease

There are two common forms of gum disease: gingivitis and periodontitis.

A general dentist can usually resolve gingivitis by removing plaque buildup. They’ll then teach the patient how to improve their brushing and flossing at home. But periodontitis often requires specialist treatment.

Periodontitis is a serious gum infection. First, the gums become inflamed. Without treatment, they will start to pull away from the teeth and form pockets.

You may notice bleeding when you brush your teeth. Bacteria collects in the pockets and the gums start to recede. As the disease progresses, it attacks the bone that supports your teeth.

Your teeth can then become loose. As the connective tissues holding the teeth in place break down, your teeth can fall out.

A periodontist will stop this in its tracks by performing a procedure called scaling and root planing. Scaling removes the tartar that has built up below the gumline.

Root planning goes deeper. Smoothing out the surface of the roots discourages bacteria from building up and developing into tartar. This can help the tooth to reattach to the gum and become secure again.

Advanced Gum Disease

If your periodontitis is too advanced for root planing and scaling, you may need surgery.

Pocket reduction surgery involves lifting a flap of gum to gain access to the roots of the teeth and bone beneath the teeth. The periodontist can then treat the roots and bone beneath. The gum is then sutured back in place.

A periodontist can also perform graft surgery. These can be either soft tissue grafts, to repair receding gums, or bone grafts. Bone grafts may help prevent further bone loss.

Tooth Loss

Dental implants allow people with tooth loss to replace missing teeth. This can be a single tooth, or in some cases, multiple teeth can be attached to a single implant and post.

Periodontists are experts in the bones of the mouth. When you see a periodontist for a dental implant, you know that he or she will take great care to place it in exactly the right place.

If you have suffered extensive bone loss, you may need a bone graft before a dental implant. This provides the strongest possible base for the dental implant.

No periodontist guide would be complete without mentioning how they can help people with total tooth loss. The All-on-X dental implant method is the solution.

A minimum of 4 dental implants are strategically placed in the mouth. The periodontist can then attach an entire arch of false teeth.

This can be done for both top and bottom arches. They can restore your entire smile!

The Benefits of Seeing a Periodontist

Advanced gum disease is very distressing. Nobody wants to lose their teeth. No matter how advanced your condition is, a periodontist can help.

They have advanced treatments at their disposal. They can help to reverse the damage to your teeth and will try to save your teeth if possible. They can restore your missing teeth using dental implants.

Having a full set of teeth is important for your general health. Don’t delay in seeking help from a periodontist to address these issues.

The Bottom Line: Dentist vs Periodontist

The answer to, ‘what is a periodontist vs. a dentist?’ is now clear. We all need a dentist, but hopefully, we won’t need a periodontist!

One of our best periodontist tips is to see one sooner rather than later. They can provide treatment that can save your natural teeth and halt the progression of periodontitis.

If you’ve got gum disease, save yourself a lot of expense and suffering. Head to a periodontist as soon as possible!

We hope you’ve found this article informative, and we’ve got lots more for you to enjoy. Head over to our Health section for more great tips today!