What is a periodontist?
Skyline Dental offers periodontics services, meaning we also specialize in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of periodontal disease, and in the placement of dental implants. We are also experts in treating oral inflammation.
Periodontists receive extensive training in these areas, including three additional years of education beyond dental school. We are familiar with the latest techniques for diagnosing and treating periodontal disease, and are also trained in performing cosmetic periodontal procedures.
Periodontists like Dr. Olson often treat more problematic periodontal cases, such as those with severe gum disease or a complex medical history.
We also offer a wide range of treatments, such as scaling and root planing (in which the infected surface of the root is cleaned) or root surface debridement (in which damaged tissue is removed). Additionally, we treat patients with severe gum problems using a range of surgical procedures, and those who need anything related to dental implants, including their placement, maintenance, and repair.
What to expect at Skyline Dental
During your first visit, we review your complete medical and dental histories. It is extremely important for us to know if you’re taking any medications or if you’re being treated for any condition that can affect periodontal care, such as heart disease, diabetes, or pregnancy.
We’d then examine the gums, check to see if there is any gum line recession, assess how the teeth fit together when biting, and check the teeth to see if any are loose.
We may also take a small measuring instrument called a probe and place it between the teeth and gums to determine the depth of those spaces, known as periodontal pockets: this helps us assess the health of your gums. Lastly, we could also take X-rays to observe the health of the bone below the gum line.
Who should see a periodontist?
Patients who present with moderate or severe levels of periodontal disease, or patients with more complex cases, will be best managed by someone like Dr. Olson, who is most experienced with not only dental issues, but also periodontal issues.
