Periodontics is a dental specialty that requires practitioners to receive three additional years of training beyond dental school. The periodontal team at the dental practice of Dr. Wright, Dr. Massie, and Dr. Lincoln in Union, Kentucky treats a wide range of dental diseases and completes restorations using both surgical and non-surgical methods.
Visiting a periodontist instead of a general dentist when you need missing teeth replaced ensures that your provider has extensive education and supervised training. Of all conditions periodontists treat, they are especially skilled at restoring a patient’s tooth functionality and smile with dental implants.
Examples of Dental Conditions Treated by Periodontists
People with gum disease or serious tooth decay can often benefit from scaling and root planing performed by a periodontist. These terms describe a non-surgical deep cleaning process that can prevent tooth loss and potentially reverse gum disease. Other conditions commonly treated by periodontists include:
- Cosmetic dentistry procedures requiring surgical intervention, such as fixing indentations in the jawbone and gums.
- Installing dental implants that replace natural teeth that look and function just as natural teeth do.
- Gum graft surgery to cover exposed tooth roots.
- Gum pocket reduction surgery that reduces the likelihood of harmful bacteria invading gum tissue.
- Laser treatments, such as non-manual scaling and root planing.
- Lengthening of dental crowns, also known as fixing a gummy smile.
- Regenerative procedures, including those that allow patients to grow their own gum tissue and lost bone back.
The overall function of a periodontist is to treat oral inflammation, place dental implants, and prevent and treat periodontal diseases like gum disease. Feel free to reach out to our Union, Kentucky dental practice with additional questions.
