A periodontist is a dentist whose practice specializes in diseases and degeneration of the gums. A periodontist in San Jose is considered to be a specialist as to gain the qualification requires that the dentist train for an additional two or even three years after completion of dental school in the recognition and treatment of gum related diseases.
Generally speaking, about 75 percent of all tooth loss can be traced back to periodontal disease. Periodontal disease includes plaque formations which cause deterioration of the gums, loose teeth, gums that recede back from the teeth and gums which are often red and bleeding. Usually the first person to notice the onset of periodontal disease is your regular dentist who in turn will refer you to a periodontist in San Jose. If any of the symptoms should appear between regular visits to the dentist then make a special appointment as the earlier periodontal disease is identified the easier it is to treat it.
When periodontal disease is caught in the early stages the specialist can employ a number of non-surgical treatments. The common early treatments include dental scaling and root planning. This treatment involves the elimination of plaque from the tooth roots and then smoothing the roots to prevent to onset of bacterial growth.
When periodontal disease has reached the point where non-invasive treatments are of any value, the periodontist will undertake several surgical procedures to help restore the teeth. These procedures include grafting of bone to replace that lost to bacterial infection as well as a procedure called crown lengthening which is the restoration of a tooth so that it can support a crown. Tooth and gum contouring is used to help restore the shape of teeth and gums that have been affected by periodontal disease.
When a tooth is lost the common approach is to replace it with a dental implant. During this procedure the periodontist in San Jose will attach a titanium insert to the jaw bone and once it has fused to the bone, a crown is affixed to the top of the implant. Although a dental implant is more expensive than a bridge or a denture it lasts longer and is as good as a natural tooth.
Because periodontal disease can progress with little initial impact on the patient it can often go unnoticed for a period of time making it more costly and difficult to treat. It is important that you take your regular dental checkups seriously so that this and other dental problems can be caught early.
Periodontal disease is something that can be treated if it is caught early. If your gums are bleeding or sore or beginning to recede then you will need to see a periodontist in San Jose. You are invited to contact California Shine Dental for an appointment.
