Periodontists
Overview
Introduction
Periodontists are dentists who specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases affecting the gums and bone that support the teeth. They perform thorough clinical examinations, measuring the depth of gum pockets and checking for gingival bleeding, and may do tests to find out which types of bacteria are involved. Periodontal surgery may be needed in more severe cases of periodontitis. Some periodontists also insert dental implants to replace lost teeth or perform gum grafts in situations where the gums have receded. The America...
Quick Facts
Median Salary
Employment Prospects
Minimum Education Level
Experience
Skills
Personality Traits
Earnings
The U.S. Department of Labor reports that the median annual earnings for dentists with a specialty, including periodontists, was $178,800 in May 2018. Salaries ranged from less than $87,250 to $208,000 or more. Earnings vary according to number of years in practice, location, hours worked, and specialty. Salaries are influenced by the number of other periodontists practicing in a community. Ben...
Work Environment
Most periodontists work in private dental practices. The hours worked vary; some practitioners work only part-time, perhaps because they also teach part time or are nearing retirement. Others work full time and may treat some patients in the evenings or on weekends.
While many dentists wear comfortable business attire underneath a laboratory coat, some opt to wear surgical scrubs when tr...
Outlook
Employment for periodontists is expected to grow by 4–6 percent through 2028, according to the U.S. Department of Labor, about as fast as the average for all careers. Like other fields of medicine, periodontal procedures may change over time, which could affect demand. As Americans retain more teeth and live longer, they have more teeth at risk for periodontal disease. Furthermore, as the possi...