3 Things You Should Ask Your Periodontist On Your First Visit



In simple words, periodontal disease is an infection of the gums and a periodontist is a specialized name given to the dentist who treats periodontal diseases. A periodontist is capable of prescribing medicines and performing surgeries and other non-surgical treatments that will either prevent periodontal diseases or will remove the infection.

If you visit your dentist on account of persistently bleeding and swollen gums, bad breath, and painful chewing, your dentist will most likely suggest you visit a periodontist. This is because all these are sure-fire signs of chronic gum disease.

Here is a list of questions you should ask your periodontist on your first visit:

What are the risk factors if I smoke?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, smoking is one of the prime causes of gum diseases in the U.S. This is because smoking affects your immune system. This makes it hard for the gums and the bone structure to heal. The same study also suggests that those who smoke are twice as likely of being affected by gum disease as compared to those who don’t smoke.

Other than that, treatment for periodontal disease might not have the same effectiveness for smokers as it does for non-smokers. In the view of most periodontists, quitting smoking goes a long way in helping the patient’s condition heel faster.

If you’re a chain smoker, be honest with your periodontist. Ask them about the risk factors so you know what habits are affecting the health of your gums.

Can my periodontal disease cause other health problems?

There’s a substantial amount of research which links periodontal diseases to other health issues like cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, obesity, arthritis, and respiratory problems.

This mostly happens because the bacteria in the oral cavity travel to other parts of the body and affect them. Furthermore, they can facilitate the circulation of microbial toxins within the body.
Other than that, gum diseases also weaken the body’s immune system which consequently makes it difficult for the body to ward off diseases.

When you suffer from periodontal disease, there’s an increase of inflammatory elements in your oral cavity. This can lead to an increase in inflammatory activity in the cardiovascular system as well.

If your dentist has detected symptoms of periodontal disease, it’s always better to be well-informed about the effects on other body organs. If you’re already a diabetes patient, speak to your periodontist and ask them to guide you regarding the risk factors. Your periodontist will then not only carry on the treatment accordingly but will also suggest a holistic procedure to avoid further spread of the infection.

Will I need surgery?

There are both, surgical and non-surgical methods to go about gum diseases. If you haven’t yet developed any severe signs of periodontal disease, your dentist might only recommend professional cleaning.

Non-surgical methods include root scaling, root planing and antibiotics, while surgical methods comprise flap surgery, soft tissue grafting, and tissue regeneration. You need to ask your periodontist about the appropriate treatment for your condition. The final treatment depends on your dental history, the severity of the infection, and your individual health requirements.

It’s better to be safe than sorry. Get yourself tested by an expert periodontist today if you have any of the above-mentioned symptoms. For reliable dental care in Germantown, look no further than Advanced Dental Center. We also offer cosmetic dentistry services including veneers and dentures. For further details, contact us online.

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