A lot of people don’t know what a periodontist is. And so I tell people a periodontist is someone who helps you save your teeth. That’s really our primary function is to help you save your teeth. And if we can’t, then we have different solutions as far as implants and whatnot go. But the basis of periodontics is getting rid of disease and infection. Now we know that periodontal disease is related to heart disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, and many other systemic issues.
So we find that once we get people under control, their periodontal condition under control, they’re much healthier, they feel better. Everybody typically has a different need, and sometimes it’s their whole mouth. Sometimes it’s just a specific area or two. But we’re gonna do a complete evaluation first. We’re gonna find out what situation are you at. Depending upon what phase you’re in will depend upon the treatment recommendations that we can provide for you.
We have two wonderful hygienists here. Some people just come here to get a regular cleaning and to make sure they don’t get periodontal disease. A lot of the patients that we treat, they refer their spouses and going, “You know, I don’t want them to have to deal with this. So I’m gonna send them in.” The things that we can do now with technology and with, what we call regenerative materials, we can actually regrow bone that’s been destroyed by this disease.
And so that’s part of the process of figuring out, how much of that do you need? Do you need it all? Do you need just part of it? Not every patient comes in here and needs everything, but we wanna find out specifically, what do you need, how can we help you with that, and then move you through the treatment. Once the periodontal treatment is complete, what we call the active care, then usually you’re either gonna go back to your general dentist and what we call alternate your cleanings.
We’ll see you a couple of times a year, and your general dentist will see you a couple of times a year. I tell people, “You have four sets of eyes looking at you. It’s very difficult for things to start falling apart without somebody noticing, again, early instead of kind of late,” which is usually what got you here.
We Can Help With Bite Alignment & Other Issues Too
We also perform procedures that address any alignment issues or teeth grinding problems:
- Occlusal Adjustment – When your teeth don’t meet together properly, we’ll adjust your bite by reshaping your teeth.
- Bite Guards – If you grind or clench your teeth, we can create a bite guard that protects your smile from further damage.
- Clear Aligners – If you have alignment issues, you can straighten your teeth with clear aligner treatment.
No matter what treatment you receive, you can expect the highest standard of care at our office. In addition to your periodontist’s years of experience, we use cutting-edge technologies to give you the best patient experience. For example, 3-D scanners and digital X-rays capture precise details of your mouth. This helps us properly diagnose gum disease and other oral health problems that require treatment.
To learn more about periodontics in St. Petersburg or to make an appointment, call 727-732-3173. You can also schedule online.
