Sarasota’s
Favorite Physicians
and Periodontist
2020

1. What is the Difference Between a Dentist and a Periodontist?

Ageneral dentist is your primary care dental provider. A dentist performs general teeth cleaning, x-rays of the teeth and gums, tooth extractions, and non-surgical periodontal care. Additionally, a general dentist diagnoses, treats, and manages your overall oral health care needs, including gum care, fillings, root canals, crowns, veneers, bridges, and preventive education. However, if you are diagnosed with gum disease, ask your dentist for a periodontist recommendation.

A periodontist should be considered your dental specialist. Periodontists offer a wide range of treatments, such as the cleaning of infected root surfaces, the removal of damaged tissue, and the reversal of lost bone and tissue. Even though periodontists spend most of their time diagnosing and treating gum disease, there are a variety other procedures they can perform. A periodontist implants dental implants when natural teeth cannot be saved, and they also monitor the implants to make sure that they’re properly doing their job. A periodontist may also correct gum recession and cover up exposed root surfaces which can be unsightly, as well as sensitive to hot and cold. These procedures are often used to lay the foundation for additional cosmetic procedures to help create a beautiful smile.

2. What Type of Education and Training Should I Look for in a Periodontist?

Everyone who wants to become a dentist must complete a four-year undergraduate college degree, then graduate from an accredited dental school with a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or Doctor of Medical Dentistry (DMD) degree. However, those who wish to become a periodontist must complete an additional three to seven years of formal training in an American Dental Association (ADA)-accredited periodontology residency program.

3. Are Periodontists Required to Participate in Ongoing Training?

Beyond their formal educations, periodontists must also go through a recertification process that requires fulfillment of continuing education requirements and other professional activities that demonstrate current knowledge and competence in periodontics. Board-certified periodontists are diplomates of the ABP.

4. Get Referrals

Start with a referral list of periodontists from your general dentist. Also ask family, friends, and other dental providers for recommendations. With a list of a few names, call each periodontist’s office to see if he or she is accepting new patients. Ask the receptionist for a consult appointment to meet and interview the periodontist.

5. Verify the Periodontist’s Credentials

When choosing a periodontist, it is crucial you choose a board-certified periodontist. After successful completion of an ADA-accredited residency training program in periodontics, a periodontist may earn national board certification by the American Board of Periodontology (ABP) by passing comprehensive written and oral examinations covering all phases of periodontal disease and its treatment, as well as presenting detailed reports on a range of treatments personally provided by the periodontist.

6. Consider the Periodontist’s Experience

Experience matters when you’re facing issues with your mouth, jaw, teeth, and gums. The more experience a periodontist has with a condition or procedure, the better your results are likely to be. Ask how many patients with your specific condition the periodontist has treated. If you know you need a specific procedure, ask how many of the procedures the doctor has performed and find out about complication rates—complications the doctor has encountered as well as your own risk of complications.

7. Read Patient Reviews

Reading what other people have to say about a periodontist can provide insight into his or her medical practice, as well as how his or her medical practice is operated. Patient reviews typically reflect people’s experience with scheduling appointments, wait times, office environment, and office staff friendliness. You can learn how well patients trust the periodontist, how much time he or she spends with their patients, and how well he or she answers questions.

Red flags should include anything that might be a deal breaker for you, for example:

• an unwelcoming office
• hostile attitude
• hidden fees
• non-specific treatments
• unsatisfactory results
• sales-driven behavior

8. What Should I Expect at my Initial Consultation?

At your first visit, your periodontist will take a complete medical history, evaluate your condition, and formulate a treatment plan. Make sure you take a list of all your medications with you to this visit. Your list of medications should include any over-the-counter medications and nutritional supplements. Your physical examination will include an evaluation of your head, neck, jaw, mouth, and throat, as well as your teeth and gums, and x-rays may be taken. Once a diagnosis has been made, your periodontist will discuss your treatment options.

9. Did You Feel Comfortable with the Periodontist and the office at your Initial consultation?

Choose a periodontist with whom you are comfortable talking and who supports your information needs. When you first meet the periodontist, ask a question and notice how he or she responds. Does he or she welcome your questions and answer them in ways that you can understand? Find a periodontist who shows an interest in getting to know you, who will consider your treatment preferences, and who will respect your decision-making process.

Also, if you are fearful of dental procedures or just want to take a snooze while seeing the periodontist, go somewhere that offers dental sedation options. These options include gas, oral pill and IV sedation.

10. Cost and Financings

The cost of dental care varies on the individual needs, but since your teeth affect everything from your smile and confidence, to your ability to eat, speak and participate in the activities you enjoy, and because there is no better option to restore missing teeth, visiting a periodontist should be considered a long-term investment.

Recognizing the long-term patient benefits over other treatment options and depending on the cause of tooth loss, an increasing number of insurance companies have started providing some coverage. Detailed questions about your individual needs and financing should be discussed your insurance provider. However, if you are considering a cosmetic dentistry procedure for the sole purpose of improving your appearance, health insurance will not usually cover it.

Also, Medicare does not cover any dental treatments at this time; only medical treatments are covered. Medicaid programs are run by each individual state, so coverage is going to vary depending on which state you live in. Check with your provider to determine if the periodontal treatment you need is covered by your plan.

Choose a periodontal office that offers payment options to minimize your financial obligation with or without insurance so getting the care you need will be easier than you think! Also find an office willing to take care of the insurance leg work.