Periodontal care that goes beyond a deep cleaning
If your gums are bleeding, receding, or you've been told you have gum disease, you should see a specialist - not a general dentist. Better outcomes, less re-treatment.
What gum disease is doing below the gum line
Gum disease runs on a simple mechanism. Bacteria collect where the gum meets the tooth, the tissue becomes inflamed, and the seal between gum and tooth starts to pull away. That gap is called a pocket. Once a pocket forms it traps more bacteria, which deepens the pocket, which traps more bacteria.
At the gingivitis stage only the soft tissue is involved and it is fully reversible. Once it progresses to periodontitis, the body starts losing the bone that anchors the tooth. Bone does not grow back on its own, which is why timing matters more than almost anything else here.
We measure this rather than eyeball it. A periodontal probe records the depth of each pocket, with one to three millimeters considered healthy, and x-rays or a CBCT scan show how much bone is actually left. The uncomfortable part is that early and moderate gum disease usually does not hurt. Bleeding when you brush is often the only warning you get.
When you need a periodontist rather than a regular cleaning
A standard cleaning polishes what is above the gum line. It does not reach into a pocket, and no amount of brushing at home will either. If the problem is below the gum line, a cleaning will keep coming up short no matter how often you go.
Come see a specialist if your gums bleed when you brush or floss, if they have pulled back and your teeth look longer or feel sensitive at the root, if you have persistent bad breath or a bad taste, or if teeth have started to shift, spread, or feel loose. The same goes if you were told you have pockets of five millimeters or more, or if a deep cleaning was done and the numbers did not improve.
It is also worth a visit before other work. Implants, orthodontics, and veneers all sit on top of your gums and bone, so our periodontist, Dr. Farhadian, is often the first stop rather than the last.
Your treatment options, from least to most involved
Scaling and root planing, from $300 per quadrant, is the usual starting point. Your mouth is numbed and divided into four quadrants, and we clean the hardened deposit off the root surfaces inside the pockets so the gum tissue can reattach.
Laser therapy, or LANAP, from $2,000 per quadrant, is an option for deeper pockets. A very fine laser fiber removes diseased tissue and bacteria inside the pocket without a scalpel or sutures, which is why many patients choose it over traditional flap surgery.
A gum graft, from $1,200, addresses recession. Tissue is used to cover an exposed root, which protects it from decay, reduces cold sensitivity, and stops the recession from advancing.
Crown lengthening, from $800, reshapes gum and bone to expose more of the tooth, either so a crown or filling has something solid to hold onto, or to even out a gummy smile. Which of these you actually need comes down to your measurements, not a package.
What treatment feels like and how healing goes
Everything here is done with local anesthetic, and we offer sedation if dental work makes you anxious. Tell us at the consultation, not on the day.
After scaling and root planing, expect tenderness and some cold sensitivity for a few days. Soft foods help, and the sensitivity usually settles within a couple of weeks as the tissue tightens back down. After a gum graft, plan on one to two weeks of careful eating, no brushing directly on the site, and a prescription rinse instead. If tissue was taken from your palate, that spot is often the sorest part.
We bring you back to re-measure the pockets several weeks later, because the point of treatment is a number that improved, not just a cleaner feeling.
One honest note. Periodontitis is managed rather than cured. Most patients move to maintenance cleanings every three to four months instead of every six, and that schedule is what holds the result in place.
Planning the cost, and the price of waiting
Two things make periodontal budgeting different from other dental work. Treatment is usually priced by quadrant rather than per visit, so a case affecting one corner of your mouth and a case affecting all four are very different totals. And your annual insurance maximum matters, because a full-mouth plan can be staged across two benefit years if that saves you money.
We sort both of those out before you start. Benefits verification is free, you get an itemized written quote showing your actual out-of-pocket number rather than a percentage, and we will tell you if staging makes financial sense in your case. If you are uninsured, ask about our in-house membership plan, and we finance through Cherry, Affirm, and Sunbit.
The blunt version of the math is that early pockets are the cheapest stage this ever gets. Once bone loss costs you a tooth, you are paying for an extraction plus a replacement instead. Call (713) 322-7474 and get measured.
Treatments & pricing
Deep cleaning (scaling & root planing)
Removes plaque and bacteria below the gumline. The first step in reversing early gum disease.
Gum graft
Restores receded gum tissue. Modern techniques use minimal donor tissue with same-day recovery.
Laser therapy (LANAP)
Minimally-invasive alternative to gum surgery. No scalpel, no sutures, faster healing.
Crown lengthening
Reshapes gum + bone to expose more tooth. Used for cosmetic gummy-smile correction or to save a damaged tooth.
Prices are estimates for self-pay patients before insurance. Insurance reduces costs significantly. Financing available - most patients qualify in minutes via Cherry or Sunbit.
Frequently asked
How do I know if I have gum disease?
Common signs: bleeding when you brush or floss, persistent bad breath, gums that look red or pull away from teeth, loose teeth. A periodontal probe measures pocket depth - over 4mm indicates active disease.
Can gum disease be reversed?
Early gingivitis: yes, with proper cleaning and home care. Moderate-to-severe periodontitis: we can stop progression and restore comfort, but lost bone doesn't fully regrow. The earlier you treat it, the more we save.
What is LANAP laser gum surgery?
LANAP is FDA-cleared laser therapy that treats gum disease without scalpel or sutures. Faster healing (typically 1-2 days vs 2 weeks for traditional surgery), less pain, less gum recession after.
Is a deep cleaning the same as scaling and root planing?
Yes - 'deep cleaning' is the patient term for scaling and root planing (SRP). It removes plaque and bacteria below the gumline. Typically done in 2 visits (upper one day, lower another) with local anesthesia.
Will my insurance cover periodontal treatment?
Most dental insurance covers periodontal therapy at 50-80% with deductible. We verify benefits before treatment. Membership Plan members get 15% off all periodontal procedures.
Related specialties
Ready to get started?
Book a consultation. We'll walk you through your options, your costs, and your timeline - no pressure.