You are a Peri-what???
In this video, I explain all about my work as a periodontist.
“I am a periodontist”, I say to someone I had just met at a social event. Most people don’t know what a periodontist is, or does, but the older you get, the more likely you will know what a periodontist is.
Why, you may ask? Because the risk of getting a periodontal problem increases with age, whether it is gum inflammation, loose teeth, a missing tooth that requires an implant, gum recession or God-forbid, a gum lesion or growth.
“Perio-dontics” means simply dealing with “around the teeth”. At least, that’s how the profession started. But as it evolved and dental implants became the standard of care to replace a missing tooth, most periodontists are also placing implants. During my residency, which was 3 years long following dental school, I had the opportunity to train with a world-renouned implant periodontist at UCLA, Dr. Sascha Jovanovic. I learned to perform advanced implant techniques, and bone grafting methods for patients who have lost a lot of bone and wanted implants.
Today, 70% of my practice consists of implant therapy and related services, such as bone and tissue regeneration. I work with restorative specialists to rehabilitate an entire mouth in one day, in both LA and NY.
But every periodontal program is different, so there will be many different periodontists. Some don’t do implants at all, with the main focus being on periodontal or “gum” disease. Some periodontists, like myself, specialize in minimally invasive procedures, while others follow a more traditional route. Some periodontists don’t do any gum recession treatment. Most periodontists are knowledgeable about nutrition and how it relates to oral inflammation. I work with my patients to ensure that they achieve optimum healing after their dental reconstructive surgery.
So, do you need to see a periodontist? If you have a concern about your oral health other than cavities, you can find a periodontist in your area at perio.org.
How do you choose the right periodontist for you? Look into what their philosophy is, how they treat certain conditions either by meeting with them one-on-one or checking out their website.
Most importantly, we are working in an intimate space, the mouth, so be sure you feel comfortable with the periodontist you choose.
In great health,
Dr. Sanda
Schedule a consultation to see if Dr. Sanda Moldovan is the right periodontist for you.
