What Do Periodontists Do

My name is Dr Eugene Gamble. I’m a Periodontist and Implant Surgeon, an invited reviewer for dental journals, and have conducted clinical trial research.

Most of the day involves treating patients which on the face of it may appear to sound bland however, nothing could be further from the truth. Every patient is unique in the way they need to be treated and the issues they present with can vary from the straightforward to the extremely complex. You need to engage your thinking brain throughout the day to ensure optimal patient care.

I am a big advocate of prevention and spend a lot of time educating patients to ensure we get the best outcomes.

In addition, there is the organisation of all the various other team members that are involved in providing top level care. This includes coordinating the dental assistants, the lab technicians who make dentures and crowns, radiologists and pathologists who assist with diagnosing disease, and also the administrative staff who are the first touch points for most patients.

My typical day

The day starts at 6:30am where I would review the upcoming appointments and also make calls to patients who have had surgery the day before to check in and make sure everything is alright.

The first patient is seen at 7am and we go through until 3pm. There may be a small break part way through and I would make use of the time to respond to any messages that were taken during the morning.

Most days will usually contain a mix of examinations, consultations, and both surgical and non-surgical treatments. During the exams and consultations, I would spend time with the patient trying to understand their ultimate aims and objectives as the ultimate success or failure for the patient will be judged on this. During this face to face time I will also try to impress upon the patients the importance of prevention.

The surgeries can include implant placements, plastic surgery such as shaping the gums to make sure the teeth have the appropriate proportions, extractions with bone grafting, and many more. Non-surgical elements generally tend to be restoring the implants with the tooth shaped cap that will fit on top or fitting dentures onto the implants that were placed.

Once the surgery is closed I would then review the day and ensure the clinical records are up to date and that patient treatment plans are finalised. I would also write any required correspondence to the laboratory technicians, referring dentists, and other specialists who I work with. In addition, I would take time to reflect on the work that was completed that day so as to maintain continual improvements. This involves asking myself if I would have done things differently or perhaps researching a topic to see if there are any new developments or insights.

Pros

No two days are the same which for me is a plus. The variety of clinical procedures you do will be different in a number of ways and that keeps things fresh. Even when you have the same procedure, although the premise of what you are doing is the same, there may be differences in how to approach the surgery due to anatomical differences, the presence of disease or the location where you are doing the procedure.

Another enjoyable part of the job is the fact you get to meet a wide range of patients and you have the opportunity to connect with them which can lead to interesting interactions. The conversations you can have are wide and varied. You never know what the day will bring and where those interactions may lead within and beyond the clinical setting.

In addition to the above, there is a continual learning and growth element to the job. New procedures and materials are always coming out to help achieve better outcomes so attending seminars and conferences gives an element of novelty. With the internet, you can attend events from across the globe and get the perspective of people who you may never meet. The online dental community is a great source of information and assistance as well as support.

Working with the other team members to get great results can be both a blessing and a curse as you are reliant on others to ensure great results. When it goes well the patient and the team can be satisfied with a job well done. When it doesn’t go well it can be very trying. As the specialist, everybody looks to you as you are the expert. This can lead to a weight of responsibility which suits some personalities more than others. Also, there is the vicarious liability of the position where the problems that others have created land on your doorstep.

Cons

Although not too regular a problem, when you get patients who are petrified of attending the dentist they can make treatments difficult and stressful.

Another aspect that is not often talked about is the dangers inherent with the job. Cross infection is something you cannot get away from. Sharps injuries are always just a brief slip away and so you have to stay constantly vigilant otherwise hepatitis, HIV/AIDS, and other diseases may become your reality.

Although not too regular a problem, when you get patients who are petrified of attending the dentist they can make clinic life difficult. It can be stressful when you are running behind schedule, you have a number of patients waiting on you, and the person in your chair is uncooperative and you are unable to complete what you are doing.

Given all the above, I do enjoy my profession as the upside of the job far outweighs the negatives.