FAQs

A periodontist is a dentist who specializes in gum disease and its treatment.   Periodontists also do dental implants, oral surgery and cosmetic dentistry.  To become a periodontist requires a significant educational commitment.  In addition to four years of dental school, periodontists complete three years of specialty training in diagnosing, preventing and treating gum disease.  Some periodontists also achieve Diplomate status from the American Academy of Periodontology, which requires extensive additional study and testing.

Periodontists are specialists in diagnosing and treating gum disease, which has been linked to a number of serious health problems including heart attack, stroke and cancer.  They have all the training your general dentist has plus three years of specialty training in treating diseases of the gums and the other structures that surround the teeth to keep them stable in your mouth.

We understand that dental procedures are scary for some people.  That’s why we offer conscious sedation for procedures like extractions and implants.  While under conscious sedation, most patients can speak, they can communicate any discomfort they may feel and they can respond to questions or requests.  The mixture of pain relievers and sedatives minimizes any pain or discomfort.  Most patients experience a brief period of amnesia that erases any memory of the actual procedure.

We do everything we can in our office to minimize any pain you may experience.   We do this through a variety of approaches, from the traditional shot of anesthetic to conscious sedation.   Different patients have very different levels of pain tolerance.  I encourage patients to tell me about their experience, their pain tolerance and their concerns.  My staff and I will work closely with you to make your experience in our office as pain free as possible.