Many PM&R physicians choose to pursue additional advanced degrees (MS, PhD) or complete fellowship training in a specific area of the specialty. Fellowships are available for specialized study in such areas as musculoskeletal rehabilitation, pediatrics, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, and sports medicine.
If you have advanced periodontitis, your gum tissue may not respond to nonsurgical treatments and good oral hygiene. In that case, periodontitis treatment may require dental surgery, such as: 1  Flap surgery (pocket reduction surgery).2  In this procedure, your periodontist makes tiny incisions in your gum so that a section of gum tissue can be lifted back, exposing the roots for more effective scaling and root planing. Because periodontitis often causes bone loss, the underlying bone may be recontoured before the gum tissue is sutured back in place. 2  After you heal, it's easier to clean these areas and maintain healthy gum tissue. 3  Soft tissue grafts.
Periodontics is a dental specialty that involves the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the supporting and surrounding tissues of the teeth or their substitutes and the maintenance of the health, function and esthetics of these structures and tissues. When to See a Periodontist.Anytime is a good time to be seen by a periodontist for evaluation. A periodontist is a dentist who specializes in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of periodontal disease, and in the placement of dental implants. periodontal evaluation may be especially important if: 1  You notice any symptoms of periodontal disease. 2  You are not satisfied with your current tooth replacement option, such as a bridge or dentures, and may be interested in dental implants.