Some of the most common signs of Periodontal Disease are, bad breath, bleeding when you brush, a bad taste in your mouth, or loose teeth. If your dentist determines that any of the above signs could be periodontal disease he or she will refer you to the Periodontist.

The Periodontist will first perform a very thorough examination of your teeth, gums, and oral structures to determine what treatment is necessary and appropriate. In some instances a simple cleaning and instructions on how to clean your teeth will be all that is necessary. If there has been destruction of the tissues that support your teeth and pockets have formed, the treatments that are more extensive will probably be necessary. These may include non-surgical treatments such as Root Planing ( smoothing of the root surfaces ) or occlusal adjustments (correcting the bite ).

If the bone supporting the teeth has been damaged, surgical treatment may be recommended. Surgery can take the form of a minor reshaping of the supporting bone or regeneration of lost bone. The specialty of Periodontics increasingly treats bone loss by the re-growth of the bone.

Should the dentist refer you to a periodontist, this means that he / she has detected periodontal problems in your mouth and the sooner these problems are corrected the less treatment may be necessary for you to save your teeth.