Periodontal Treatments

When gum disease moves beyond the early stage, it takes more than a routine cleaning to stop it. Periodontal treatment targets the infection below the gum line, repairs damaged gum and bone, and protects the teeth you have. With the right care, you can keep your natural smile healthy and strong for years to come.

Gainesville Dental Associates has a periodontist on staff, so specialist-level gum care is available in the same office where you receive your cleanings and checkups. Call (703) 754-7151 to schedule a periodontal evaluation.

What Is a Periodontist?

A periodontist is a dental specialist who has completed about three additional years of training after dental school, focused on the gums and the bone that support the teeth. Periodontists diagnose and treat moderate to advanced gum disease, repair gum recession, regenerate lost bone, and help prepare and maintain healthy tissue around dental implants. Having a periodontist as part of our specialist team means your care stays coordinated and convenient.

Signs You May Need Periodontal Treatment

• Gums that bleed when you brush, floss, or eat
• Red, swollen, or tender gums
• Gums that have receded, making teeth look longer
• Sensitivity at the gum line
• Persistent bad breath or a bad taste
• Heavy tartar buildup below the gum line
• Teeth that feel loose or have shifted
• Pocket depths of 4 millimeters or more measured at your checkup

Benefits of Specialized Periodontal Care

• Stop the infection. Removing bacteria from deep pockets halts the damage to your gums and bone.
• Keep your natural teeth. Treating gum disease early is the best way to avoid tooth loss.
• Fresher breath and healthier gums. Treatment reduces bleeding, swelling, and odor-causing bacteria.
• Restore lost support. Regenerative procedures and grafts can rebuild bone and gum tissue.
• A better-looking smile. Gum grafts cover exposed roots and create a more even gum line.
• Care in one place. Your dentist, hygienist, and periodontist share your records and plan your care together.

Our Periodontal Treatments

Scaling and Root Planing

This nonsurgical deep cleaning is often the first step in treating periodontitis. Using ultrasonic and hand instruments, we remove plaque and tartar from below the gum line, then smooth the root surfaces so bacteria have a harder time reattaching and the gums can heal snugly against the teeth. The area is numbed for comfort.

Pocket Reduction Surgery

When pockets remain too deep to clean after scaling and root planing, the periodontist gently folds back the gum tissue to remove bacteria and tartar that cannot be reached otherwise. Damaged tissue is removed if needed, and the gums are secured back in place with sutures. Shallower pockets are easier to keep clean at home and at your maintenance visits.

Regenerative Procedures

If gum disease has destroyed the bone that supports a tooth, regenerative treatment can help rebuild it. After the area is thoroughly cleaned, the periodontist places a bone graft or a protein that stimulates tissue growth, encouraging your body to regrow bone and supporting tissue.

Soft Tissue (Gum) Grafts

Gum recession exposes tooth roots, which can cause sensitivity and make teeth look longer. In a gum graft, healthy tissue, often from the roof of the mouth, is placed over the exposed root and secured. The graft protects the root, reduces sensitivity, and restores a more natural gum line.

Periodontal Maintenance

After active treatment, specialized cleanings every three to four months keep bacteria under control. These visits are more thorough than a standard preventive cleaning and include checking pocket depths to catch any changes early.

What to Expect at Your Periodontal Evaluation

1. Health history review. We discuss your symptoms, medical history, medications, and habits such as smoking that affect gum health.
2. Comprehensive gum exam. Pocket depths, gum recession, bleeding, and tooth mobility are measured and recorded. X-rays and 3D imaging show bone levels.
3. Diagnosis and plan. Your periodontist explains the stage of your gum disease and recommends the least invasive treatment that will be effective.
4. Care begins with nonsurgical therapy whenever possible, followed by surgical or regenerative treatment only if needed.
5. A personalized schedule of maintenance visits protects your results.

Periodontal Health and Dental Implants

Healthy gums and bone are essential for successful dental implants. Our periodontist can treat gum disease and rebuild bone before implant placement, and maintenance visits help protect the tissue around implants after treatment. When a tooth cannot be saved, our oral surgeon can perform the extraction and coordinate your implant care with our periodontist.

Protecting Your Results at Home

• Brush gently twice a day along the gum line with a soft-bristled toothbrush.
• Clean between your teeth every day with floss, interdental brushes, or a water flosser.
• Use any prescribed rinses exactly as directed.
• Avoid tobacco, which slows healing and increases the risk of gum disease returning.
• Ask about Invisalign if crowded teeth make cleaning difficult, and about replacing any crowns or fillings with rough edges that trap plaque.

Cost of Periodontal Treatment

Your cost depends on the stage of gum disease and the treatments you need. Most insurance plans help pay for periodontal care. We provide a written estimate before treatment and offer flexible financing options, including CareCredit.

Specialist Gum Care Under One Roof

Gainesville Dental Associates is led by owner and lead dentist Dr. Theo Batistas, supported by a team of experienced general dentists and specialists. Our periodontist works closely with our general dentists, hygienists, oral surgeon, and endodontic specialist, so every part of your treatment plan fits together. Meet our team to learn more about the people who will care for you.

Visit Our Gainesville, VA Dental Office

Gainesville Dental Associates (GDA)

7521 Virginia Oaks Drive, Suite 230, Gainesville, VA 20155

Phone: (703) 754-7151

Early-morning, evening, and Saturday appointments make it easier to keep up with periodontal treatment and maintenance visits. Get directions to our office, and save time at your first visit by completing your new patient forms online.

Periodontal Care for the Surrounding Communities

Patients visit our periodontist from across western Prince William and Fauquier counties, including Gainesville, Haymarket, Bristow, Warrenton, and Nokesville.

Periodontal Treatment FAQs

What does a periodontist do?

A periodontist is a dentist who completes about three additional years of specialty training after dental school, focused on diagnosing and treating gum disease, placing and caring for the gums around dental implants, and treating gum recession and bone loss around the teeth.

Do I need a referral to see your periodontist?

No outside referral is needed. Because our periodontist works in our office, your dentist and hygienist can coordinate your care directly, and many patients can be seen without traveling to a separate specialty practice.

Is periodontal surgery painful?

The treatment area is thoroughly numbed, so most patients feel only pressure during the procedure. Mild soreness and swelling for a few days afterward are common and usually managed with over-the-counter pain relievers and a soft diet.

How long does it take to recover from a gum graft?

Most patients return to normal activities the next day. The graft site typically heals over about two weeks, and the gums continue to mature over the following weeks. We will give you detailed instructions on eating, brushing, and caring for the area.

Can lost bone around my teeth be rebuilt?

In many cases, yes. Regenerative procedures use bone grafts and tissue-stimulating proteins to encourage the body to regrow bone and supporting tissue that gum disease has destroyed. Your periodontist will let you know if you are a candidate.

How often will I need periodontal maintenance?

Most patients who have been treated for periodontitis need maintenance cleanings every three to four months. These visits remove bacteria from below the gum line before they can cause new damage.

Does insurance cover periodontal treatment?

Most dental insurance plans cover a portion of periodontal treatment, including deep cleanings, surgery, and maintenance visits. We will review your benefits and explain your costs before treatment begins.

Take the Next Step for Healthier Gums

Gum disease does not go away on its own, but it can be treated successfully. Call Gainesville Dental Associates at (703) 754-7151 or request an appointment online to meet with our periodontal team. Read what patients say in our patient testimonials.