Gum specialist/ Periodontist: When to consult? And how to find the best one?

Gums and surrounding bone serve as a base, supporting the teeth and maintaining them in their position. Therefore, gum disease can lead to reduced bone support for the teeth and their eventual loss. Most individuals do not give attention to their gum health unless they experience painful or bleeding gums. Symptoms generally don’t include pain unless in the later stages. Rather, symptoms are: visibly red or purple gums that bleed easily, gum recession and exposure of tooth root surface, loose or shaking teeth, persistent bad breath, etc… A diagnosis of periodontal disease requires professionals such as a general dentist or a gum specialist.
When does a need for the periodontist assessment arise? How to find a periodontist matching your expectations? This article provides vital tips to help find and select a qualified periodontist who will help maintain your gums and teeth

WHO IS A PERIODONTIST?

A Periodontist is a dentist who specializes in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of periodontal (gum) disease, as well as placement of dental implant. They diagnose and treat diseases involving gums and bone structure supporting and surrounding the teeth.Scaling/Cleaning for varying degrees of gum disease, implant placement, maintenance, and treatment of implant diseases are some of the main procedures performed by periodontists. Additional training at post-graduate level in dental colleges prepares periodontists to deliver professional care for complex bone and gum issues.

Symptoms like bleeding gums and persistent bad breath should not be ignored. On noticing these, it is advisable to visit a general dentist or periodontist to avoid tooth loss. Regular check ups ,scalings/teeth cleanings, along with specialist consultations when gum disease progress, helps in maintaining teeth wellness in the long run.

Why Does Gum Health Matters?

Having healthy gums is crucial to maintain oral health. Strong gums provide essential support for teeth which helps avoid tooth loss and supporting bone destruction. Poor gum health, usually indicated by bleeding gums and persistent bad breath, can progress to gingivitis (gum infection)and periodontitis (periodontal disease).

The two way connection between systemic medical conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure, and gum disease has been demonstrated by scientific research which further validates the importance of gum health. The combination of proper dental care, routine professional check-ups with early treatment helps prevent major complications. Optimum oral health starts with gum health maintenance. It promotes general wellness and gives you a beautiful smile!

Signs of Gum Disease: When to Be Concerned

Gum disease or gingivitis, if unmonitored, has the potential to progress to periodontal disease that can destroy the supporting tissues of the tooth and can also contribute to poor control of systemic conditions like diabetes(sugar) and hypertension (high BP). Symptoms like red swollen or bleeding gums are indicative of gingivitis or gum disease.

Periodontitis can develop from uncontrolled gum disease which presents with symptoms like gum recession, development of spaces in between teeth,loose teeth due to bone loss, and eventual loss of teeth.Sometimes there can be pus discharge from the gums around few teeth due to localized infection called abscess. This can lead to foul smell, swelling and pain.

If the patients fail to seek care for these symptoms they can cause irreversible damage to their oral health. On noticing the earliest symptoms of gum disease, it is advisable to seek timely dental attention for preventing undesirable complications.

Gum Recession: Causes and Treatment Options

Gingivitis is commonly present in varying degrees in the general population, and is often unnoticed as symptoms present later in the course of the disease and pain is generally not present till the disease has progressed to a large extent. Improper brushing leads to further trauma to the already infected gums, causing them to shrink away from the teeth exposing the root surfaces of the teeth. This can lead to further loss of supporting structures of the teeth and increased incidence of cavities as the exposed root surfaces are easily prone.

Neglecting even minor symptoms is unadvisable, as the disease would likely have progressed significantly by that stage. Competent early detection of these symptoms is important to prevent further damage.

Persistent Bad Breath and Its possible link to gingivitis

Persistent bad breath known as halitosis is generally not associated with gum disease. It can however be present in the very late stages of periodontitis or in case of abscesses. The most common causes of bad breath are oral dehydration, inadequate tongue cleaning, or certain foods like garlic, eggs, etc… It is advisable to visit a dentist to find out the exact cause of your bad breath.

Dental Implant disease or Peri-implantitis

Periodontists also specialize in dental implant placement,maintenance, and peri-implantitis management. Peri-implantitis refers to the inflammation, or infection of the gums and bone surrounding the dental implant, and can be present in varying degrees. If untreated,, it can lead to the rejection and loss of implant by the body.

Read Online Reviews and Testimonials to Find Suitable Periodontist

It is advisable to read online reviews and patient testimonials before you decide to visit any clinic. Google, practo, just dial are popular websites to look into. Different people have different experiences which is why it’s better to rely on general trends. testimonials by patients facing similar issues provide valuable information. It is advisable to visit the clinic and get a consultation with the general dentist, or periodontist when required, before commuting to a treatment plan.

Conclusion

Maintenance of gum health is quite important in preserving oral health and to some extent one’s general health. Optimum oral hygiene habits, regular check-ups and cleanings/scalings are recommended to prevent the development of periodontal disease, and if already present, it is ideal to not delay treatment due to absence of symptoms.
Selecting a good dentist or periodontist is of importance in the management of gum diseases. Patient testimonials and online reviews are some good sources to evaluate the doctor before the visit.