What is a Periodontist?

Dr. Green is a periodontist which is a dentist which specializes in the soft tissues of the mouth and the underlying jawbone which supports the teeth.  A dentist must first graduate from an accredited dental school before undertaking an additional three years of study within a periodontology residency training program, in order to qualify as a periodontist.

The primary focus of this residency training is on both surgical and non surgical management of periodontal disease and the placement of dental implants.

Conditions Treated by a Periodontist

Dr. Green is mainly concerned with preventing the onset of gum disease (periodontal disease), diagnosing conditions affecting the gums and jawbone, and treating gingivitis, periodontitis and bone loss.  Periodontal disease is a progressive condition and the leading cause of tooth loss among adults in the developed world.

Dr. Green is able to treat mild, moderate and advanced gum disease by first addressing the bacterial infection at the root of the problem, providing periodontal treatment, then providing information and education on good oral hygiene and the effective cleaning of the teeth.

The most common conditions treated by Dr. Green are:

• Gingivitis – This is the mild inflammation of the gums which may or may not be signified by pain and bleeding.
  
  
• Mild/moderate periodontitis – When the pockets between the teeth and the soft tissues are measured to be between 4-6mm it is classified as moderate periodontitis (gum disease).
  
  
• Advanced periodontitis – When the pockets between the teeth and the soft tissues in general exceed 6mm in depth, significant bone loss may occur; causing shifting or loss of teeth.
  
  
• Missing teeth – When teeth are missing as a result of bone loss, Dr. Green can implant prosthetic teeth.  These teeth are anchored to the jawbone and restore functionality to the mouth.

Treatments Performed by a Periodontist

Dr. Green is able to perform a wide range of treatments to halt the progression of gum disease, replace missing teeth and make the appearance of the smile more aesthetically pleasing.

Here are some of the treatments commonly performed by Dr. Green:

• Implant placement – When a tooth or several teeth are missing, Dr. Green is able to create a natural-looking replacement by anchoring a prosthetic tooth to the jawbone.
  
  
• Osseous surgery (hard tissue recontouring) – Once periodontitis has been treated, Dr. Green can recontour the hard tissue to make the smile both natural-looking and aesthetically pleasing.
  
  
• Gum grafting – As gums recede due to periodontitis, gum grafting procedures may be performed to improve the periodontal health of the teeth.  Grafting procedures may also cover exposed root surfaces and give the tooth a more natural esthetic appearance.  
  
  
• Bone grafting – May be performed to "re-grow" bone on natural teeth that has been lost to periodontal disease.  May also be utilized in implant therapy to provide sufficient bone volume for placement of the implant.  
  
  
• Scaling and root planing (deep pocket cleaning) – As gingivitis and periodontitis progress, it becomes more difficult to cleanse the pockets between the soft tissues and the teeth.  Scaling and root planing is performed to clean the root surfaces and pockets (under local anesthetic) and remove debris and infection-causing bacteria.
  
  
• Crown lengthening – In order to expose more of the natural tooth, Dr. Green can remove some of the surrounding gingival (and bone) tissue to allow your dentisit to fabricate a new crown.  Sometimes this procedure is performed to improve a "gummy" smile which can create a beautiful smile! 

Dr. Green is a highly skilled dental health professional who is able to diagnose and treat many commonly occurring soft tissue and bone problems in the oral cavity.

Be sure to ask Dr. Green if you have any questions or concerns.