Dental Implants: Using a Periodontist vs. General Dentist to Restore Your Smile
General dentistry and periodontics both focus on the overall health of the mouth, but periodontics is more specialized, offering expertise in gum disease, dental implants and other advanced diseases of the teeth and mouth. As one of the prominent clinics offering periodontal services and treatment for advanced oral health issues in Los Angeles, Southland Dental Care provides the right solutions to meet your smile needs.
Services provided by our clinic vary from what you might receive from a general dentist. While your regular dentist focuses on proper care of your teeth and fixing any trouble spots associated with them, our team focuses on more advanced dental care. We specialize in identifying and treating issues impacting any part of your mouth, including your teeth, gums, and bones.
What Services Does a Periodontist Provide that a General Dentist Does Not?
Services and care provided by a general dentist are typically limited to the actual teeth. They often include routine cleaning of the teeth, tooth fillings and root canals. Most do not provide additional services related to the overall health of your gums and mouth.
Due to the extensive training around bones and soft tissue in the mouth, a periodontist has the knowledge and experience to treat more advanced oral healthcare issues. Gum disease treatment, dental implants and bone grafting are just a few of the services provided by the periodontists at Southland Dental Care. Other services we provide include:
- Gum Disease Stage Identification
- Gum Recession Treatment
- Gum Bleaching
- Ridge Augmentation and Preservation
- Crown Lengthening
- Gingivectomy
- Tissue Regeneration
- Scaling and Root Planning
- Periodontal Maintenance
- Full Mouth Reconstruction
- Dentures
- Invisalign
- TMJ Treatment
Why Should You Choose a Periodontist for Dental Implants?
As mentioned previously, inserting dental implants requires advanced training that most general dentists don’t have. General dentists are trained in matters of the teeth. Knowing how to clean and examine teeth for any trouble spots is their specialty. Should a patient have a cavity or more serious issue with their tooth, the general dentist has the training necessary to provide a tooth filling or root canal to remove the bad part of the tooth and stop additional damage from occurring.
A periodontist on the other hand has extensive training and experience about teeth as well as the gums and bones within the mouth. This extensive knowledge is necessary in order to provide patients with dental implants. Installing dental implants in your mouth is a surgical procedure as the implants are attached to your bone. You want an experienced professional with the proper training to manage this significant of a procedure, so a general dentist just won’t do. A skilled periodontist, like Dr. Delaram Hanookai in Los Angeles, has the right knowledge and experience needed to ensure that your dental implants are a success.
What is an Implantologist?
An implantologist is a dentist that specializes in implanting dental implants in your mouth. Like periodontists, these professionals have extensive education and experience in adding dental implants to a patient’s mouth. A general dentist can obtain a specialty in implantology, which provides them with the training necessary to install dental implants. However, they often lack additional training about the gums and bones. Having experience in the soft tissue and bones of the mouth is critical when getting dental implants as any signs or issues of disease could be an early indicator for potential implant failure. This is why choosing a periodontist rather than an implantologist is a better option if you are considering dental implants.
What are Dental Implants?
Dental implants consist of a metal rod, designed to support replacement teeth, that is surgically inserted into the bone of a patient’s mouth. Once the implant is in place, your periodontist can insert a crown or bridge of replacement teeth over the implant to restore your smile. Dental implants are a great option to consider if you have one or missing teeth that need to be replaced. They are also preferred over dentures as they provide a permanent solution that allow you to chew, talk and eat without fear of your dentures getting in the way.
Are Dental Implants Painful?
While getting dental implants in your mouth is considered a surgical procedure, it doesn’t mean that you have to be in pain or agony during it. Sedation dentistry is an option for dental implants. Sedation allows you to be asleep or a bit drowsy during the procedure, so that you are not tense about the work going on in your mouth. This allows our team to do the work that we do best while you relax and rest.
Sedation dentistry is highly recommended for patients undergoing dental implant surgery, but it can also be beneficial for those who are nervous with any dental procedures. If you find yourself dreading any work being done on your teeth, reach out today to speak to our team about how we can use sedation dentistry to help get you the smile you deserve. We can discuss the sedation options available to you, including a pill you take prior to arriving for the procedure or gas administered once the procedure is ready to begin.
How do Dental Implants Compare to Dentures?
Dental implants are similar to dentures in that they provide false teeth that are not natural to the person’s body. However, dentures and dental implants vary greatly from there. Dentures are often a full set of teeth, while dental implants can vary from one single tooth to a full set of teeth. Dentures are often held in place in a person’s mouth with denture paste or similar products, while dental implants are surgically rooted in the patient’s jaw bone. This eliminates the need for an additional adhesive to hold them in place.
The big benefit that dental implants have over dentures though is a restored lifestyle. Patients that have dentures often experience a limitation in doing certain activities. Many find that dentures can affect how they talk and make it difficult to eat certain foods, such as corn on the cob. Dentures can also take a while to get used to, which is why it’s often recommended to start with a soft or liquid diet after getting them. While you will need to allow time for your mouth to heal after having surgery for dental implants, you can return to your normal life relatively soon without having to learn how to adjust to your new teeth. Dental implants do a much better job of mimicking your original teeth, which is why they are generally recommended over dentures if your gums and bones are health enough for the implants.
What are One Day Dental Implants?
Although getting dental implants may seem like an intense, surgical procedure, it’s actually a process that allows for same day service in our office. One day dental implants allow you to have the procedure and get your new teeth all in the same day without the need to revisit the clinic for additional appointments. This allows you to have your smile restored immediately without having to walk around hiding your mouth or avoiding giving a smile due to the gaps from missing teeth.
These dental implants that can be done in one office visit are highly recommended for patients who are uncomfortable with dental procedures. Rather than stressing about multiple appointments and visits to our office, you can get everything you need done in one day. Pairing one day dental implants with sedation dentistry might just give you the positive experience you need to lose your fear of going to the dentist!
What Should Be Expected When Having Dental Implants?
Getting dental implants first begins with an initial consultation appointment. This provides you with the opportunity to meet with our periodontist, discuss the procedure and ask any questions you may have. Our periodontist will assess your mouth and make sure that you are a good candidate for dental implants. Healthy bones and gums are essential for providing an anchor point for your implants.
When you get your implant, you have the option of being awake for the procedure or using sedation dentistry. The latter makes it possible for you to sleep through the procedure and wake up with your dental implants in place. While you can expect a little swelling or pain after the dental implants are in place, we will provide pain relief tips and after care instructions until your mouth has recovered. After the implant is in place, the final step is to install a crown or bridge on to the implant, replacing your missing teeth and restoring your smile.
It’s important to follow the aftercare instructions to prevent complications, such as an infection developing in your mouth. Swelling and pain should drastically subside within a day or two after the procedure, so if you find yourself experiencing these, it’s important to follow up with our clinic right away. Our periodontist can take a look at the implant, along with your gums, teeth and bones, to determine if you have developed an infection or have other issues with your implants.
How are Dental Implants Cared for?
Once you’ve received your dental implants, it’s important that you properly take care of them. Just as putting the implants in your mouth required healthy gums and bones, the similar requirement exists for continued care of the implants. Failure to properly care for your implants can result in implant failure.
One of the biggest threats to your implants is gum disease. If gum disease causes receding gum lines, your dental implants might shift or become loose. To ensure that your dental implants are properly cared for you should brush and floss your teeth daily. If at any point you have any concerns about your gums or dental implants, schedule an appointment with our periodontist, Dr. Delaram Hanookai.
What if I Develop Issues with my Dental Implants?
Once your mouth has healed from the procedure, it’s highly unlikely that you will experience any pain or inflammation with your dental implants. This is why it’s important to call our clinic right away if you develop an issue. We will bring you in for an appointment and take a look at your implants to determine what’s causing your discomfort. Once the root cause has been identified, we can discuss treatment options and provide our recommendation for next steps.
What Makes Dental Implants from Southland Dental Care the Right Choice?
At Southland Dental Care we have extensive knowledge and experience in periodontics and dental implants. Dr. Delaram Hanookai in particular has more than 15 years of experience with dental implants and understands how important it is for you to regain your smile. We provide free consultations for anyone interested in getting dental implants. Although we are based in Los Angeles, we provide dental implant solutions for clients from all areas across the United States. Give us a call today to find out how we can help you restore your smile!