If you have bleeding gums or swollen and painful gum tissue, you may have gum disease also known as periodontal disease. It’s important to visit your periodontist as soon as possible for diagnosis and treatment, before the condition becomes more severe and harder to treat. If you have never seen a periodontist before, you may be wondering why you can’t just visit a dentist for gum treatments. Here are a couple of reasons why you should entrust your periodontal care to a periodontist.
Treatment Focus
Dentists are trained to handle a wide variety of oral health issues. However, they don’t specialize in complicated issues that involve soft oral tissue. As a skilled periodontist in Southern Pines, NC, Dr. Steven Van Scoyoc specializes in the conservative treatment of gum disease. He uses leading technology and cutting-edge techniques to treat inflamed tissue and perform reconstructive plastic surgery as needed to enhance the appearance of the smile.
Education
Both periodontists and dentist are required to complete an undergraduate degree and dental school, but periodontists go on to receive three additional years of specialized training beyond that. The additional training prepares periodontists to understand gum tissue on a deeper level and learn how to treat gum disease and other conditions. Treating gum disease may require intensive care that dentists may not be prepared or qualified to offer, including periodontal plastic surgery, scaling and other specialized treatments.
If you have general dental issues that require treatment, your family dentist will be able to give you the care you need. However, if you have symptoms of gum disease and you want to have best possible treatment outcome, it’s wise to schedule a consultation with a respected periodontist.
Call Our Practice
We’d love to help you manage your gum disease symptoms before they become more severe. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Van Scoyoc, please call our practice at your earliest convenience.