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oral surgeon vs periodontist

Oral Surgeon vs Periodontist: What Are the Differences?

VWB Blog 2 years ago 8

Believe it or not, 25% of adults aged 20-64 have a tooth cavity; you could look around the room and likely see someone with a tooth problem. But when your teeth continue to get worse, they can go as far as damaging the gums. Without healthy gums, your teeth would fall right out, and that’s an issue all in itself.

If you’re worried about the condition of your gums, you might want to know who to talk to. But when things get serious, what is the difference between an oral surgeon vs periodontist? Continue reading to find out.

Oral Surgeon Vs Periodontist

When you need work done on your gums, you might not put much thought into who is doing the procedure. However, it’s not just any oral surgeon who is qualified for the task of major periodontal care. It’s important to know the differences of an oral surgeon vs periodontist.

What Is an Oral Surgeon?

When working with an oral surgeon, it’s essential to know that this healthcare professional focuses on issue points in the mouth, face, and jaw. While this technically includes gum areas, it’s not a specialized position.

An oral surgeon should be able to handle typical gum deformities and diseases. With several years of dental training, oral surgeons have an extra three years of specialized practice before performing surgeries.

What is a Periodontist?

A periodontist is a dental specialist that focuses solely on the gums and related areas. While their experience doesn’t cover as much range as an oral surgeon, their experience is highly sought after for those looking for serious gum problems.

Periodontists also undergo extensive training. In addition to their standard DMD/DDS, these medical professionals pursue a residency in periodontology for up to three years. This career is competitive, and those that finish their residency are some of the most capable surgeons in the industry.

When looking at oral surgeon vs periodontist, it’s easy to remember the main difference. While both are capable of performing surgeries, one is broader and the other is more specialized.

Periodontist Guide: When You Need This Professional

Many gum diseases can be solved with regular visits to your dentist. However, when problems arise and don’t get better, you could be at risk of a serious case. When your normal appointments aren’t enough, you might need to meet with a periodontist.

As mentioned above, an oral surgeon may be capable of handling some of the more common gum issues. However, a periodontist is really the only medical professional you want working on your gums. Some of the more complex work a periodontist does include:

  • Root planing
  • Root scaling
  • Dental implants
  • Soft tissue grafting
  • Gingivectomies

More Periodontist Tips

The above information should help explain the difference between an oral surgeon vs periodontist. When problems in your mouth don’t get better, it’s essential to have the right professional working on them. For more information on periodontal care and other medical advice, check out our Health section.

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