Dental implant placement might be daunting to some patients. Thus, they want to choose the best specialist to perform the procedure. This leads many to wonder, does a periodontist do dental implants, or should they go to a different specialist? Read our article to learn the answer to this question and discover how the procedure is performed.

 

Does a Periodontist Do Implants?

Typically, two types of dentists are qualified to perform dental implant surgery: an oral surgeon and a periodontist. Periodontics is a branch of dentistry that specializes in the health of the gums and bone structure in the mouth. Periodontal specialists undergo comprehensive training in various surgical procedures, including dental implant surgeries.

Additionally, periodontists have extensive knowledge of oral health issues, such as gum disease, that can influence the success of a dental implant procedure and are qualified to treat them. Thus, a periodontal specialist will have a comprehensive approach to the dental implant placement, addressing the potential issues prior to it.

 

What Periodontal Issues Should Be Considered Before Implant Placement

Among others, two common oral health issues should be addressed before dental implant placement—gum disease and bone resorption. Both these conditions are a specialty of a periodontal specialist. 

 

Gum Disease

Gum disease can also be referred to as periodontal disease. It is a chronic inflammatory condition of the gum tissue. In advanced stages, it can also affect the jaw bone underneath the gums. The main cause of gum disease is bacteria lingering in plaque and tartar in the mouth due to insufficient oral hygiene. 

Periodontitis destroys the structure of the gums and the jaw bone, making them unable to support natural teeth or dental implants. On top of that, gum disease can negatively influence your general health. For example, it is associated with illnesses of the heart, lungs, and joints. Also, a chronic infection in the mouth can undermine the immune system and gastroenterological health, decreasing your overall quality of life.

Periodontal specialists have several methods of treating gum disease, including scaling, root planing, various surgical procedures, and medication.

 

Bone Resorption

Jaw bone resorption occurs when one or more teeth are missing for a long time. When a tooth root no longer stimulates the bone and it no longer supports teeth, the body stops sending nutrients to it, as it is no longer useful. As a result, the jaw bone loses its density and “shrinks.”

When there is not enough density in the jaw bone, it can not support a dental implant. Thus, bone resorption has to be treated before the implants can be placed. The primary method of treating bone resorption is bone grafting—surgical placement of natural or artificially sourced grafts in the bone to prompt its regeneration. 

Dental implants can prevent bone resorption and subsequent complex treatments, as they stimulate the jaw bone similarly to the roots of your natural teeth. If you have lost one or multiple teeth, consider replacing them with dental implants as soon as possible, as you can lose up to 25% of the bone density just within the first year after tooth loss. As a result, dental implant placement might become impossible without prior bone resorption treatment.

 

What Happens During a Dental Implant Procedure

After your surgeon conducts the necessary examinations and treats any present oral health issues, they can begin surgery. During the procedure, your doctor will make incisions in the gum to access the bone and place screw-like metal posts directly into it. Then, they will place stitches to help restore the gum’s healing and protect the implant. They will perform the procedure using an anesthetic or sedation to prevent the patient from feeling pain.

Dental implants will need several weeks to fuse with the bone and become stable. Metal posts will function as the roots of your natural teeth. Once this process is complete, dental crowns are placed on top of them to replace natural teeth.

 

Make an Appointment with a Reliable Periodontist 

Make an appointment with an experienced periodontist at LA Wilshire Perio today. Our specialists will conduct a comprehensive examination of your oral health and offer to help you prepare for dental implant placement. We use a variety of modern methods to treat such issues as gum disease and bone resorption, which allow us to perform successful dental implant placement.

We look forward to your visit.