“Dentists, periodontists … what’s the difference, anyway?” We hear our patients asking this question as they wonder about the difference between the two specialties. Periodontists like Dr. Keller and Dr. Tibbs are more than just oral health professionals. Unlike dentists, who act more like general practitioners, periodontists focus on treating the soft tissue (gums) and bones supporting the teeth, as well gum disorders. Sure, dentists can prevent the onset of gum disease through regular cleanings and prescribing medications. But it is periodontists who are required for more complex and advanced cases of gum disease called periodontitis, a gum infection that, if left untreated, can lead to tooth loss. Periodontitis is a condition that most dentists simply don’t treat. The most severe cases of periodontitis can even lead to serious health problems such as diabetes, heart disease, and cancers of the head, neck, and pancreas.
To make things simpler, we’ve come up reasons for when you should visit the dentist and when you should give us a call to book an appointment with Dr. Keller and Dr. Tibbs:
Visit your general dentist for:
- Checkups and cleanings
- X-rays
- Filling cavities
- Root canals
- Tooth extractions
- Crowns or bridges
- Select cosmetic procedures such as veneers, bonding, and teeth whitening
- Pediatric (children’s) care
Visit Dr. Keller and Dr. Tibbs for:
- Deep pocket cleanings (to remove debris and infection-causing bacteria)
- Bone grafts
- Soft tissue removal
- Scaling and root planing (deep cleaning)
- Implant replacement
- Crown lengthening
- Osteoplasty (hard tissue recontouring)
- Gingivoplasty (soft tissue recontouring)
To learn more about the differences between periodontists like Dr. Keller and Dr. Tibbs and your general dentist, or to schedule your next visit, please give us a call today! We look forward to seeing and treating you!
