A periodontist is a special kind of dental professional who focuses on diagnosing, preventing, and treating diseases of the structures around the teeth. Periodontics comes from the Greek word meaning “around.” The structures around the teeth are the gums, the bones of the jaw, and the other types of tissue that keep your teeth securely in your mouth. That means periodontists also specialize in placing dental implants.
What Are Dental Implants?
You should ask a periodontist in Hamden, CT about dental implants. Dental implants are a type of artificial tooth that can be used to replace one or a few missing teeth. When you have a missing tooth, the doctor will first investigate the health of your gums. If your gums are still healthy, you might be a candidate for an implant. The doctor will make a small incision in your gums and place an anchor. Then after the suture has healed, the dentist will install the artificial tooth. This will be a permanent replacement for your missing tooth.
You should visit Friends and Family Dental to see if that procedure might be right for you. You should also ask about prevention.
How Do You Prevent Gum Disease?
Gum disease is a serious problem for many people. Gum disease is a general term that applies to many different diseases and ailments. Gingivitis is an inflammation of the gums that typically comes from bacteria. It can progress if not addressed right away. You should ask a periodontist about how to prevent the gum disease. The best way to prevent it is by brushing and flossing. Generally, dentists will recommend that you brush your teeth in the morning, after each meal, and before you go to sleep.
Such brushing means it will remove food before bacteria is allowed to grow and infect your teeth. This is only one way to prevent periodontal disease and is not always completely effective.
