Dentists treat problems with the teeth, the gums, and anything else in the mouth, while periodontists only treat problems with the bone. This distinction is critical. A dentist could think of a tooth extraction as dentistry and a periodontist could think of it as dentistry and oral surgery. It's important that the different people involved in these treatments understand what they're both doing. If a dentist says, "we're going to pull out your wisdom teeth," then a periodontist will think the same thing, because they're both pulling teeth. It's important to know that a dentist doesn't just pull teeth.