What is a Periodontist?
“Periodontist” is a fancy term you’ve probably never seen before. This specialized area of dentistry focuses on periodontal (gum) disease, dental implant placement and oral inflammation.
To become a periodontist, dentists must receive extensive training, including three years of specialty education in addition to attending 4 years of dental school. Continued learning helps ensure that periodontists are up-to-date in the following areas:
- Diagnosing and treating gum disease
- Cutting-edge implant surgical procedures
- Performing cosmetic periodontal procedures
Those with severe gum disease or complicated medical histories are often treated by periodontists. That’s because they offer a wide array of treatments, including:
- Scaling and root planing
- Root surface debridement
- Surgical options for severe gum issues
- Dental implant placement, maintenance and repair
Periodontists examine the gums, look for gumline recession, evaluate how teeth interlock when biting, and inspect for loose teeth. They also use a probe – a small measuring instrument – to calculate the depth of periodontal pockets. X-rays may also be administered to examine the bone below the gumline.
integratedDENTAL’s very own Dr. Brandon Katz, DDS, studied periodontology and implant dentistry at Stony Brook University where he now teaches in the Postgraduate Periodontal Program. He is also a member of the American Academy of Periodontology.