A periodontist is a specialized dentist focusing on the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of conditions affecting the gums, supporting bone, and surrounding structures of the teeth. Periodontics addresses the foundation of your smile. Periodontists undergo additional years of focused training beyond dental school to manage complex cases and perform specialized procedures. Seeing this specialist is necessary when gum health issues exceed the scope of routine dental care.
Visible Symptoms Requiring Evaluation
The most immediate reason to seek specialized care is the presence of observable changes in your gum tissue. Healthy gums are firm and typically pink, but persistent inflammation signals that a problem may be progressing beyond simple gingivitis. Gums that appear visibly red, dark purple, or puffy and tender to the touch are showing physical signs of an underlying bacterial infection.
Bleeding is a significant indicator, especially if it occurs consistently when brushing, flossing, or spontaneously. While minor bleeding can be a sign of improper technique, bleeding that does not resolve after a few days suggests a more entrenched issue. This chronic inflammation requires professional intervention to interrupt the cycle of damage.
You may notice that your teeth look longer than they used to, which signals gum recession. Gum tissue pulls away from the tooth roots, exposing sensitive surfaces and making teeth vulnerable to decay and sensitivity. Other concerning signs include new gaps between teeth, or the sensation of teeth shifting or becoming loose. A lingering unpleasant taste or chronic bad breath (halitosis) that persists despite regular hygiene is often a symptom of bacterial buildup deep below the gum line.
Diagnosed Conditions and Complex Medical Factors
A referral to a periodontist often occurs when a general dentist identifies a problem requiring specialized management. This is typically the case when X-rays reveal bone loss surrounding the tooth roots, confirming a diagnosis of periodontitis. This advanced stage of gum disease involves the breakdown of the alveolar bone and the formation of deep pockets between the tooth and gum that cannot be adequately cleaned with standard hygiene.
Managing this disease often requires scaling and root planing, a specialized non-surgical deep cleaning below the gum line. This procedure removes hardened plaque and tartar from the root surfaces and smooths them to encourage gum tissue reattachment. If pockets are too deep or the infection is severe, the periodontist may perform surgical treatments to reduce pocket depth and access damaged bone for repair.
Certain systemic health conditions significantly complicate periodontal disease, necessitating a specialist. Individuals with diabetes, for instance, often experience more severe and rapid progression of gum disease due to altered immune response and impaired healing. Patients who are immunocompromised or have cardiovascular disease require coordinated care where managing oral infection is a priority.
Structural and Restorative Needs
The periodontist’s role extends beyond treating active disease to include procedures that rebuild or reshape the mouth’s supporting structures. They are surgical specialists in the planning and placement of dental implants, which serve as artificial tooth roots. This requires specialized knowledge of jawbone density and surrounding soft tissue to ensure a stable, long-lasting result.
If the jawbone has deteriorated due to tooth loss or advanced gum disease, a periodontist performs pre-prosthetic procedures like bone grafting or ridge augmentation. These surgical techniques rebuild the necessary height and width of the bone, creating a stable foundation for successful implant placement. Bone grafting uses materials to stimulate the body’s natural regenerative processes.
A periodontist also performs cosmetic and functional procedures to manage soft tissues. Gum contouring reshapes uneven gum lines, improving the aesthetic appearance of the smile. When recession has exposed the root surface, soft tissue grafts are performed to cover the exposed areas, reducing sensitivity and helping prevent further bone loss.