When a dentist just isn’t enough to maintain the health of your gums, then it may be time to visit a periodontist – an expert in treating periodontal disease and helping to restore the beauty of your smile. If you find yourself falling into this category, keep reading!
How is a periodontist different from a general dentist?
While a general dentist can perform the same procedures, a periodontist has the specialized training, advanced skills, and extensive experience required to effectively treat severe gum disease and issues associated with dental implants. A periodontist also performs services such as tooth extractions, bone grafting to repair bone loss after tooth removal, soft tissue grafting, and tissue sculpting.
Tell-Tale Signs You Need a Periodontist
There are three phases of gum disease:
- Phase 1: Gingivitis (plaque and inflammation)
- Phase 2: Periodontitis (exposed pockets and bone destruction)
- Phase 3: Advanced Periodontitis (deep exposed pockets and advanced bone loss)
When it comes to dental health, it is important to pay close attention to signs of early gum disease. If left untreated, it can lead to advanced periodontitis that results in tooth loss and other conditions that affect your overall health. The most common signs include:
Bleeding Gums
When you brush or floss your teeth, do your gums start to bleed? Consider this an early red flag that your gum health may be in trouble. This is especially the case if you haven’t been brushing or flossing regularly and your gums continue to bleed after flossing for seven days straight.
Swollen, Tender Gums
Are your gums overly sensitive, swollen, or red? Unfortunately, this is a tell-tale sign of a gum infection – a condition that occurs when bacteria has built up and irritates the sensitive tissue of your gums. As a defense, your body widens the blood vessel in the infected area and sends red blood cells to fight the infection. If you experience red, swollen gums for an extended period, do not wait. This is a critical sign of gum disease.
Receding Gums
Do you feel that your teeth appear to be longer than usual? Another sign of periodontal disease, receding gums are caused by bacteria in the gum pockets that destroy both the gum and the bone tissue surrounding the teeth – an occurrence that causes the gums to pull away from the teeth.
Do you think you need to visit a periodontist?
If you are experiencing signs or symptoms of gum disease, do not delay. Early diagnosis can prevent the condition from worsening and becoming more costly (and time-consuming!) to treat. At Muscaro & Martini Dentistry in South Tampa, we work with a team of Tampa periodontists who have the knowledge and experience to treat gum disease ranging from a minor case of gingivitis to more advanced periodontitis. If you would like to learn more about our dental practice or would like to schedule an appointment, please call 813-839-6999.