First Visit to a Periodontist

There are nine areas of specialty in the dental sciences. If you are considering a specialist that understands the soft tissues of the gums and different treatments it will be a port huron periodontist.  So, if your first visit to see a periodontist is scheduled there are three primary areas of concern in which they do specialize. The most prevalent is that of the treatment of gum disease. The second would be to address a cosmetic dental issue called a gummy smile and the periodontist will perform a procedure to correct that. The third growing area in popularity is becoming the gold standard for replacing a lost natural tooth, that being a dental implant.  Let us start with some general expectations and then each of these areas of specialty.

General Expectations on your first visit

The periodontist will begin by establishing a relationship with you as a new patient. They will want to know your prior dental history to understand and interpret this situation that brought you to their office. Our mouths are like our fingerprints, as much as the problems may be alike, they are every bit as different in dealing with you as an individual.

They might ask you to provide your oral history from your referring family dentist such as prior x-rays. If this history can be shared it will benefit you with the upcoming procedure and the expected outcome.

If gum disease is the reason for your first visit

Almost half of American adults over the age of 30 have been found to have some form of gum disease. Gum disease has two identifiable stages. The primary cause of gum disease is neglect and poor oral hygiene. If you do not brush your teeth twice a day as suggested a clear sticky substance will form on your teeth called plaque. This plaque will carry damaging bacteria. The bacteria attack the enamel which results in decay and cavities. When it comes in contact with your gums the soft tissue immediately become infected and inflammed. The first stage of gum disease is called gingivitis. The gums are swollen, a darker red in color and you most likely will have bad breath. If your family dentist diagnosed the gum disease and made the referral to the periodontist here is what to expect.

With gingivitis or early periodontitis, the periodontist will initiate your first visit by taking some time to establish some oral health history. This will include things like your bite, loose teeth, bone loss, and oral cancer screening. The periodontist will also want to examine the x-rays from your family dentist and most likely capture new x-rays. Once the level of your gum disease has been established you can expect the periodontist to review your treatment plan with you. The addition from your family dentist is that the periodontist will scale your teeth beneath your gumline to remove the damaging plaque and tartar from your roots. Once this deep scaling is finished an antibiotic will most likely be given to you and within only a few days your gums will begin return to normal. This deep cleaning is not always the definitive treatment and more therapy needs to be recommended.

If the gum disease has advanced to the next stage called periodontitis the signs and symptoms will include your gums bleeding and they will be tender to the touch. You will see your gums pulling away from your teeth creating pockets that will harbor food particles accelerating the disease. You may now have a loose tooth or two and are experiencing bone loss. The procedures and treatments the periodontist now will take will be more intense to combat this advanced level. The scaling is much deeper and includes the planing of the root surface. This smooths the roots so plaque cannot adhere to the tooth. If the disease is really advanced the intensity of the procedure may include a surgical approach. There might be a mouth guard made to protect the loose teeth to give them a chance to get healthy. As the infection leaves the soft tissue the swelling will subside, and the deepening pockets will closeup again around the teeth. This level of the disease takes more time to correct and most likely will take multiple appointments.

If correcting a gummy smile is the reason behind your first visit

Your smile is a very undervalued asset. Your smile is the foundation for your self-esteem and your self-confidence. If you are unhappy with your smile it can have a direct effect on your personal, social and professional encounters. You may have noticed that when you look in the mirror at your smile that there seems to be more gum tissue visible then teeth. The balance between the two is out of proportion. This is not a unique situation to yourself. It is called a gummy smile and is quite common. Thankfully this can be corrected by a periodontist.

The procedure is called crown lengthening. Your teeth have really two parts; a crown which is visible above the gum line, and the root which is below the surface of the gum. The periodontist will administer a local anesthetic and use a surgical scalpel or a laser to remove some gum to expose more of your crown. In a few days, the gums will heal, and your smile will be better proportioned than before.

If wanting to get a dental implant is the reason for your first visit

If you either had a tooth extracted or you lost a tooth due to an accident, you are left with a gap. A space that might affect your smile or certainly affects your biting and chewing patterns. The neighboring teeth will want to drift into that gap changing bite patterns and possibly even speech. Your replacement options are to have a dental bridge made that fills that gap or as of late there is now a new gold standard, that is a dental implant.

A dental implant, dealing with your gums, is a periodontal procedure. The periodontist will first make an impression of your existing teeth. Then the actual procedure begins with a small titanium post surgically inserted into your jawbone in the area of the gap. Once the post has integrated or fused to the jawbone it will serve as the new root. Then an extension or abutment is added to the post to reach the surface. The periodontist will now place a porcelain or ceramic artificial crown on this abutment.  This crown looks just like your natural teeth. The implant, thanks to that titanium post, will act and feel just like a natural tooth.

Prevention is the best approach

You should expect a discussion about the dental industry’s expectations for proper, at-home oral hygiene. Definitely if your visit is for gum disease but it is also relevant for crown lengthening as well as for the addition of a dental implant. We all have between 600+ different species of bacteria in our mouth. An overwhelming statistic. The health industry strongly suggests we brush our teeth twice a day for two minutes at each time. Change your tooth brush every three to six months, which is the same timing as scheduling a regular checkup. You will also be advised to floss at least once a day. This flossing will remove the plaque in areas that the toothbrush cannot reach. Many Americans do not like to see their dentist. If you develop good at-home, preventative oral hygiene you can make these regular evaluations and checkups pleasant and rewarding.

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