Duties and Responsibilities: As a periodontist, you'll treat patients who have gum disease and other issues of the gums and bones surrounding the jaw. Your work may be surgical or non-surgical and might include tasks like placing implants, developing treatment plans, and providing preventative care. Salary: $305,820 Education: Periodontists are required to complete a periodontics residency, which is usually three years long. Demand or this Profession: Strong communication and customer service skills manual dexterity and attention to detail knowledge of business management concepts if starting a private practice Reflection: This career doesn't really interest me because when you're a periodontist you might have to do surgery on people and i don't like that. Also because being a dentist doctor doesn't really interest me.