Periodontist / Endodontist

Periodontist

A Periodontist is a dental specialist who looks after the gums and helps you maintain good oral hygiene. He is a dentist who specializes in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of periodontal disease, and in the placement of dental implants. He can also undertake specialized surgeries of the gums and structures around the teeth.

Periodontists are also experts in the treatment of oral inflammation. Periodontists receive extensive training in these areas, including three additional years of education beyond dental school. They are familiar with the latest techniques for diagnosing and treating periodontal disease, and are also trained in performing cosmetic periodontal procedures.

Periodontists often treat more problematic periodontal cases, such as those with severe gum disease or a complex medical history. Periodontists offer a wide range of treatments, such as scaling and root planning (in which the infected surface of the root is cleaned) or root surface debridement (in which damaged tissue is removed). They can also treat patients with severe gum problems using a range of surgical procedures. In addition, periodontists are specially trained in the placement and repair of dental implants.

The periodontist examines the gums, checks to see if there is any gum line recession, assesses how the teeth fit together when biting, and checks the teeth to see if any are loose. The periodontist will 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 the periodontist to assess the health of the gums. X-rays may also be taken to observe the health of the bone below the gum line.

Endodontist

The word comes from the Greek words “endo” meaning inside and “odons” meaning tooth. Literally taken, it means study of that which is “inside the tooth”. An Endodontist is a dentist who specializes in matters concerning the inside of the tooth, namely, the tooth pulp which comprises nerve tissues and blood vessels. Dental decay that is neglected often spreads deep inside the tooth and reaches the pulp tissue in the core of the tooth. The endodontist specializes in removing infected and inflamed pulp and filling the area left after its removal. An Endodontist is a dental specialist, who has completed specialized training in Endodontics. Since an Endodontist specializes in treating inside of the tooth, the process is called root canal treatment.

After a dentist finishes his or her Bachelor in Dental Surgery, he or she must undergo an additional two to three years of advanced training (Masters in Dental Surgery) to become an Endodontist. Because basic training in endodontic procedures is provided in dental colleges, general dentists may, and often do, perform endodontic procedures. More complicated endodontic treatment, however, usually requires the additional expertise of an Endodontist. A general dentist will usually examine a patient’s damaged tooth to determine if the pulp might be infected or inflamed. Depending on the complexity of the issues involved and the general practices of a general dentist, the patient may be referred to an Endodontist to receive endodontic treatment, since Endodontists have additional training and can perform more complicated endodontic services.