What Is A Periodontist

We still seem to get this question asked of us and have no problem explaining it, and in case anyone wants to know but may be afraid to ask us, here is a good read on our simple explanation.

When you need something beyond the crown of your tooth attended to, in order to make your smile sparkle again, you will see at Anthem Periodontist and Dental Implants rather than a general dentist. While we are professionals in a similar field, the types of treatments and procedures we perform are vastly different. As a periodontist we specialize in the gums, roots and jaw line of the teeth.

To make it simple we say, specializing in your teeth beyond the crown.

A dentist can perform basic procedures like filling cavities, cleanings and some cosmetic work relating to the white of the tooth that you see(which is the crown). A periodontist, however, goes deeper into the tooth in its roots and the gum line around it.

It is imperative for a periodontist to attend 3 years of additional schooling and intensive training beyond that after finishing dental school. The name given to periodontists comes from our doctor’s specialty – the diagnosis and treatment of gingivitis, also known as periodontal disease. Once a patient is diagnosed, gingivitis is treated through a specialized deep cleaning process like scaling or root planing.

This cleaning process should be specific to periodontist Las Vegas as it is important we examine the roots of teeth and work to even remove the damaged tissue from those same roots. Having an expert complete this work will you give you an advantage of trained eyes examining any possible issues beyond bacteria growth both on your tooth’s roots and on the gums.

This type of dental professional also specializes in the installation of dental implants. These devices are surgical grade titanium placed permanently into the jawbone of a patient. This can be done for a single tooth, in place of multiple teeth or even to replace all teeth. In the case of a single implant, the procedure is more effective at preserving teeth surrounding the gap because the replaced tooth acts as a “placeholder” to keep others from shifting. Dental implants are the number one alternative to temporary tooth replacements such as dentures or bridges.

In order to perform the surgical procedure of a dental implant, the doctor will first evaluate the patient’s mouth to see if he or she has enough bone structure to be a candidate. If not, bone grafting may be done prior to any implants being inserted. Once bone stability has been determined, we will surgically implant a dental cylinder into the bone in each place where an implant will go. After a healing period, during which the bone grows around and attaches to the cylinder, the abutment, to which the tooth will attach, is surgically placed. The crown, which is the same size and shape of your prior tooth is then measured, crafted and permanently secured into your mouth. Ultimately the procedure ends with a fully healed mouth and a permanent new tooth that looks and feels the same of your old one.

In addition to treating periodontal disease and installing dental implants, we can also provide cosmetic dentistry and perform other types of procedures to enhance the look of a patient’s smile. Other procedures we specialize in are the coverage of roots when the gum recesses, crown lengthening, tissue grafting, lip repositioning, removing gummy smile and many more aesthetic procedures. We have a full understanding of what many call periodontal plastic surgery and this allows us to cosmetically enhance your smile.

At Anthem Periodontics and Dental Implants Las Vegas we also provide a dental hygienist that can give your teeth the extra cleaning they need and deserve. We recommend utilizing us for this not as a replacement to your general dentist but as an addition to your tooth cleaning cycle. We also take it upon ourselves to go above and beyond to make you feel comfortable in our office. When you make a trip to our office we ensure that you will be comfortable and relaxed with our extensively trained, educated and experienced staff.