Meet Periodontist, Dr. Greg Diamond, and Dental Hygienist, Grainne Ferris of New York City’s The Diamond-Schlesinger Group! Before stepping into their office I didn’t know what a periodontist was much less a reason to visit one.

A periodontist is a dental expert who specializes in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of gum disease and in the surgical placement and long-term maintenance of dental implants. Think of them as a specialist in the dentistry world — they perform routine cleanings and x-rays the way your dentist does, only they don’t handle fillings/cavities, they focus on your gum and bone health instead.

Gum disease is an infection of tissues supporting the teeth, meaning it’s a problem with the teeth UNDERNEATH the gums, not the gums themselves. The reason it’s important to go to a specialist is so that they can catch it before it’s evident that you have a problem. If gum diseases is detected, it can be treated through a deep cleansing process to remove plaque underneath the gum line as well as with antibiotics.

How often do you need to go to the Periodontist? Once a year or possibly just once depending on if there are any issues detected. Gum disease can be genetic so