Your gums do a lot more than just hold your teeth in place, they’re essential for your overall oral health. When issues like gum disease, recession, or bone loss arise, your general dentist may send you to a periodontist..
Specialising in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of gum-related conditions, periodontists are experts in keeping the foundation of your smile strong and healthy. If you’re concerned about gum graft cost or need more information on procedures, it’s best to consult with a periodontist for an accurate estimate.
If you’re dealing with gum concerns or need specialised care for your dental implants, Sydney Periodontist is here to help.
Our experienced periodontists Sydney provide expert treatment tailored to your needs, ensuring the best possible care for your gums and smile.
Book a consultation today.
What does a periodontist do?
What is periodontics?
This refers to a specialised branch of dentistry that focuses on the health of your gums and the jawbone that supports your teeth. If you’re looking for a “Periodontist near me” this field is where you’ll find expert care for gum health.
These healthcare professionals are sometimes known as gum specialists, but this is something of an oversimplification. Periodontists are focused on keeping the structures around your teeth as healthy as possible, as they provide the foundation for a strong, lasting smile.
So, what do periodontists do?
After completing five years of dental school, they go through an additional three years of focused training in periodontics.
They diagnose and treat conditions like gum disease, gum recession, and bone loss around the teeth, as well as dealing in complex dental implant cases.
If you’re dealing with gum disease or other concerns, a periodontist can help you maintain healthy gums and overall oral health. Please reach out to our friendly team if you are in need of a Periodontist Sydney.
What is a periodontist vs dentist?
When it comes to periodontist vs dentist, what’s the difference?
Well, to start with—every periodontist is a dentist, but not every dentist is a periodontist.
While a dentist takes care of your overall oral health, from fillings to cleanings, a periodontist is a specialist who focuses on the health of your gums and the bones that support your teeth.
If you have gum disease, severe recession, or need a simple or complex dental implant, your dentist might refer you to a periodontist for expert care.
It’s kind of like seeing a general doctor versus a specialist—you go to your GP for check-ups, but if you need something more advanced, they send you to someone with extra training in that area.
What type of procedure does a periodontist perform?
Periodontists perform a number of procedures including :
- Scaling and root planing, which is a deep cleaning to remove plaque and tartar below the gumline. This is a much deeper clean than the one offered by dentists, and requires local anaesthesia so that your periodontist can clean under your gum line and smooth the surfaces of your teeth to discourage plaque and bacteria build-up in the future. This is usually only recommended for people with early stage gum disease.
- Gum grafting to cover exposed roots and treat gum recession. As part of this procedure, tissue is taken, often from the roof of your mouth, and placed over exposed tooth roots to protect them and improve appearance.
- Bone grafting, which means placing a bone graft (either yours or from a bone and tissue bank) to regenerate bone in that area.
- Access/Pocket reduction surgery to reduce spaces where bacteria collects. During this procedure, your periodontist makes incisions and gently moves your gums away from your teeth, thoroughly cleans your teeth roots and then stitches your gum tissue back into place.
- Smile lift, in which your periodontist removes gum, and usually a small amount of bone, to create a less ‘gummy’ smile.
- Tooth extraction if teeth are too damaged to save, and especially difficult to extract, usually because they have broken off at the gum line, then a periodontist can perform the removal.
- Crown lengthening to expose more of a tooth’s surface for a filling or crown.
- Frenectomy, a minor surgical procedure where the frenum, a small fold of tissue that connects your lips, tongue, or cheeks to your gums, is removed or modified to address gaps between the front teeth or denture fit, or correct tongue-tie issues that can affect speech and eating.
Periodontists also perform dental implant procedures. Many dentists can and do perform implant surgeries, but you may have been referred to a periodontist because yours is a more complex case.
This may be due to :
- The need for multiple implants
- Limited bone structure in which to anchor the implant
- The need to place your implant in the upper back jaw near the sinus. This requires a sinus augmentation to raise the sinus floor, develop enough bone for the implant and create enough space between the sinus and the implant.
Periodontists also assist in cases of peri-implant disease. This condition, similar to gum disease, starts with inflammation (peri-implant mucositis) and can progress to bone loss around the implant (peri-implantitis), potentially causing implant failure if left untreated.
Not only is this serious and uncomfortable, but it can cause the failure of a very expensive implant. This is why it is essential to take excellent care of your dental implants.
When to seek a periodontist
In most cases, your dentist will let you know when it’s time to see a periodontist.
However, in general, it’s time to see a periodontist when you have worsening gum disease, a complex dental care case, or you’re at risk of tooth loss.
If you notice any of the following symptoms, then it might be worth seeing a periodontist, but you’ll still need to see your dentist first, who can give you some more insight and advice.
– Swollen or puffy gums :
This might be a sign of gingivitis, which can cause pockets to form around your teeth. The first sign of swollen gums will probably be that your teeth look smaller than usual. The gums themselves may be dark red rather than a more common pink.
– Gums that bleed :
This could be a sign of untreated inflammation. You should make an appointment with your dentist if your gums are tender to the touch, your toothbrush is pink after brushing, or you spit blood when brushing or flossing.
– Receding gums :
Not always due to gum disease, receding gums can also result from brushing your teeth with a hard/medium toothbrush along with other risk factors. Depending on what’s causing the issue, your periodontist can make an aesthetic fix or advise on treatment plans.
– Bad breath :
In most cases, bad breath is not a normal part of life. if you’re taking exceptional care of your teeth, and bad breath persists, then it might be a sign of infection or holes in your teeth.
– Sensitive teeth and painful chewing :
If pockets have formed around your teeth, then they’re likely to be sensitive and chewing will be painful. Be especially vigilant if you notice changes in the way your teeth fit together, or new spaces forming between your teeth.
At Sydney Periodontists, we provide advanced periodontal care using research-backed techniques in the management of gum diseases and implant treatment.
With locations in the CBD and Western Sydney, we provide compassionate, patient-centred periodontal services including dental implants, gingival recession, bone augmentation and graft, sinus lifts, and more.
Schedule a consultation with our specialist today.
FAQ’s
1. Why would my dentist send me to a periodontist?
There are two main reasons why you might be referred to a periodontist—to receive treatment for a periodontal disease (gum disease), which can cause gum inflammation, recession, and even bone loss if left untreated, or for a complex dental implant procedure—the complexity may be due to bone loss or the position of your missing tooth. A periodontist is trained to handle the intricacies of a complex implant placement and ensure long-term success.
2. What kind of surgery does a periodontist do?
A periodontist performs any surgical procedures that involve your gums, jawbone, and the structures supporting your teeth. They perform gum grafting to treat receding gums, Access/pocket reduction surgery to clean out deep infections, and crown lengthening to expose more of a tooth for restorative work.
If you need dental implants, they handle the surgical placement, ensuring a strong foundation. They also do bone grafting to rebuild lost bone and even treat peri-implant disease, which can affect the health of existing implants.
3. Do periodontists do deep cleanings?
Yes, periodontists do perform deep cleanings, but they’re usually called scaling and root planing. This is a non-surgical procedure that removes plaque and tartar buildup from below the gumline, where regular cleanings can’t reach.
It also smooths out the roots of your teeth to help your gums reattach and heal properly. While general dentists can perform deep cleanings, periodontists often step in when gum disease is more advanced, or if there are complex issues that need specialised care.
4. What is the difference between a periodontist and a prosthodontist?
A periodontist is all about gum health and the structures that support your teeth—like your gums and jawbone. They treat gum disease, perform gum grafts, and place dental implants, making sure your foundation is strong and healthy
A prosthodontist, on the other hand, is the expert in restoring and replacing teeth. They specialise in things like crowns, bridges, dentures, and complex full-mouth reconstructions, ensuring your smile is both functional and aesthetically pleasing
If you think of your mouth like a house, a periodontist is the one making sure the foundation is solid, while a prosthodontist focuses on the design and finishing touches.
5. What can a periodontist do that a dentist can’t?
A periodontist has specialised training in diagnosing and treating complex gum and bone conditions that general dentists may not be equipped to handle. While your dentist focuses on overall oral health, a periodontist can :
- Treat advanced gum disease (periodontitis) with procedures like gum grafts, pocket reduction surgery, and laser therapy.
- Perform complex dental implant placements, especially in cases where bone grafting or sinus lifts are needed.
- Manage severe gum recession to protect your teeth and improve aesthetics.
- Perform surgical treatments for deep infections, bone loss, and peri-implant disease (infection around implants).
- Use regenerative techniques to rebuild lost bone and tissue.
6. Are you put to sleep for periodontal surgery?
This completely depends on the surgery. Some periodontal procedures (like scaling and root planing) will be performed under local anaesthetic—meaning you’ll be awake, but you won’t feel a thing.
Other, more involved procedures like gum grafting, bone grafting, or dental implant placement may require sedation or even general anaesthesia, depending on the complexity of the surgery and your comfort level. Your periodontist will discuss your options with you before any treatment.
7. Is periodontal surgery worth it?
Yes, if you have advanced gum disease, surgery can help save your teeth, prevent bone loss, and improve your overall oral health.
Procedures like gum grafting can protect exposed roots, reducing sensitivity and lowering the risk of further recession. And if you’re getting dental implants, periodontal surgery ensures your jawbone is strong enough to support them.
While you have to decide for yourself if surgery is worth it for you, periodontal surgery comes with a host of long-term benefits like healthier gums, a stronger bite, and even a more confident smile.
