What is a periodontist?
A periodontist, which is a dentist who has specialized in the discipline of periodontics, has a broad range of responsibility concerning the health of all the support structures of the teeth. If the gums, or the bone underneath the gums, are experiencing any form of disease or disorder, it is a periodontist's responsibility to diagnose and treat the problem as necessary to ensure the continued health of the mouth (and in turn, the overall health of the patient).
In situations where tooth or gum disease may have progressed so far that a tooth needs to be extracted, a periodontist can further help by placing an implant in the jaw bone, upon which a dentist or prosthodontist can place a crown to replace the missing tooth, or teeth. Implants are very versatile, and can be used to replace anything from a single tooth to an entire dentition.