Diagnoses and treats periodontitis, deep periodontal pockets, inflammation and loss of the tissues supporting teeth.
AAP specialist overviewLearn what a periodontist does, when a general dentist may refer you, which gum and dental implant procedures periodontists perform, what happens during a periodontal evaluation, how treatment costs can vary, and how periodontists work with general dentists to protect the gums, bone and dental implants that support a healthy smile.
A periodontist is a dentist who specializes in preventing, diagnosing and treating periodontal disease—disease affecting the gums and structures supporting the teeth—and in the surgical placement of dental implants. The American Academy of Periodontology states that periodontists receive at least three additional years of advanced training after dental school.
Diagnoses and treats periodontitis, deep periodontal pockets, inflammation and loss of the tissues supporting teeth.
AAP specialist overviewEvaluates bone loss, recession and other changes affecting the foundation around natural teeth and implants.
Places dental implants and may perform bone or sinus augmentation when additional support is required.
AAP implant proceduresProvides surgical and non-surgical periodontal care, including grafting and procedures to manage advanced disease.
Periodontal care looks beyond the visible crown of the tooth. The health of the gum attachment, periodontal pockets and supporting bone can determine whether a tooth or implant remains stable over time.
This simplified diagram shows the tissues a periodontist evaluates around natural teeth.
Clinical note: NIDCR explains that deeper periodontal pockets, bone loss, loose teeth and other findings help determine the severity of gum disease and the treatment needed.
A periodontist treats the tissues that hold teeth in place and provides advanced dental implant care. The American Academy of Periodontology describes periodontists as specialists in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of periodontal disease and the surgical placement of dental implants. Their training includes both soft tissue—the gums—and hard tissue such as the supporting jawbone.
Periodontists may see patients for active gum disease, gum recession, bone loss, loose teeth, complex dental implant placement, bone or sinus augmentation, peri-implant inflammation and selected cosmetic periodontal procedures. They often coordinate care with the patient's general dentist, who continues to manage routine examinations, fillings, crowns and other restorative needs.
A periodontist is still a dentist, but has additional specialty training focused on periodontal tissues and implants. Many general dentists diagnose and manage mild periodontal problems and some also provide implants. Referral usually means the dentist believes specialist expertise or a more advanced procedure would benefit the case—not that something has necessarily gone wrong.
Provides broad dental care and often coordinates the overall treatment plan.
Focuses on gum disease, supporting bone, periodontal surgery and implant-related surgical care.
The AAP states that periodontists receive at least three years of specialty education beyond dental school, including advanced surgical training. Read the AAP explanation of periodontist training.
Periodontists provide both non-surgical and surgical care. The right procedure depends on the diagnosis, pocket depth, bone level, gum thickness, tooth or implant stability and how the tissues respond to initial treatment.
| Periodontist Treatment | What It Involves | Why It May Be Used |
|---|---|---|
| Comprehensive periodontal evaluation | Measures periodontal pockets, recession, tooth mobility, bite and bone support; X-rays may be reviewed. | Diagnosis and treatment planning. |
| Scaling and root planing | Deep cleaning below the gumline to remove plaque, tartar and contaminated deposits from root surfaces. | Non-surgical treatment for periodontitis. |
| Periodontal maintenance | Ongoing professional cleaning and monitoring after active gum-disease therapy. | Helps keep treated periodontal disease controlled. |
| Pocket reduction / osseous surgery | Surgical access to clean deep areas and reshape or manage diseased supporting bone when indicated. | Advanced periodontitis not controlled adequately with non-surgical care. |
| Gum grafting | Adds or repositions soft tissue to cover exposed roots or increase gum thickness. | Gum recession, root exposure and some esthetic/functional concerns. |
| Bone graft / regenerative procedures | Uses grafting or regenerative materials to rebuild or support lost periodontal or implant-related bone. | Bone loss from periodontal disease or preparation for implants. |
| Crown lengthening | Reshapes gum and sometimes bone to expose more tooth structure. | Restorative access, short clinical crowns or selected esthetic cases. |
| Dental implant placement | Surgical placement of implants to support crowns, bridges or dentures. | Replacement of one or more missing teeth. |
| Sinus augmentation | Raises the sinus floor and develops bone in selected upper-back-jaw implant sites. | Insufficient bone height near the maxillary sinus. |
| Peri-implant disease treatment | Treats inflammation and, when present, bone loss around dental implants. | Peri-implant mucositis or peri-implantitis. |
The AAP groups periodontal care into non-surgical treatment, surgical treatment and dental implant procedures. See the American Academy of Periodontology treatment overview.
You do not need to self-diagnose periodontal disease before seeing a specialist. Many patients reach a periodontist through a referral after a general dentist notices deeper pockets, bone loss, recession, tooth mobility or a more complex implant need.
Persistent bleeding, redness or swelling can be signs of gum inflammation and should be evaluated rather than ignored.
NIDCR notes that healthy periodontal pockets are usually 1–3 mm; deeper measurements can signal periodontal disease.
Roots may become exposed, teeth can look longer and sensitivity or tissue-thickness concerns may develop.
Advanced periodontal bone loss can reduce tooth support and allow teeth to move.
Ongoing bad breath can have many causes, including periodontal infection, and deserves professional evaluation.
Limited bone, multiple implants or implants near the sinus may benefit from specialist surgical planning.
NIDCR describes red, swollen or tender gums, bleeding, recession, loose or sensitive teeth, painful chewing and persistent bad breath among possible gum-disease symptoms. Read the NIDCR gum-disease guide.
The first appointment is usually an evaluation rather than an automatic surgery visit. According to the AAP, a periodontist commonly reviews your complete medical and dental history, including medications and health conditions that may affect periodontal care. The specialist then examines the gums, recession, tooth mobility and bite and uses a periodontal probe to measure the spaces between teeth and gums. X-rays may be used to evaluate bone below the gumline.
Medications, tobacco use, diabetes, pregnancy, previous periodontal treatment and dental history can affect planning.
Periodontal probing records pocket depths, bleeding and areas where the gum has receded.
X-rays, tooth mobility and bite help show how well teeth or implants are supported.
The periodontist explains the diagnosis, options, expected sequence, maintenance needs and estimated fees.
Periodontal disease is an inflammatory infection of the tissues that support the teeth. NIDCR explains that plaque can harden into tartar, triggering inflammation that damages gums and supporting structures. As disease advances, supporting bone can be lost and teeth may become loose.
The primary treatment goal is to control the infection. NIDCR notes that scaling and root planing may be used to clean below the gumline and smooth root surfaces, while advanced gum disease may require surgical treatment. Home care remains important during and after professional therapy.
Deep cleaning with scaling and root planing, plaque-control instruction and selected medications may be used to reduce bacterial deposits and inflammation.
When deep pockets, bone defects or tissue problems remain, surgery may improve access for cleaning, reshape or regenerate supporting tissues, or address recession.
Scaling and root planing is often called a “deep cleaning,” but it is a therapeutic periodontal procedure rather than the same service as a routine preventive cleaning. It removes plaque and tartar from above and below the gumline and cleans root surfaces where bacteria accumulate in periodontal pockets.
A CareCredit guide published December 6, 2024 reports a national average of $242 per quadrant, with a published range of $185 to $444. X-rays, antibiotics, follow-up and the number of quadrants treated can change the total. This is an older national planning reference, not a guaranteed 2026 periodontist fee.
Why “per quadrant” matters: The mouth is commonly divided into upper right, upper left, lower right and lower left quadrants. A $242 per-quadrant benchmark should not be mistaken for a complete full-mouth treatment price.
Gum recession exposes more of the tooth root and can be associated with sensitivity, esthetic concerns and reduced tissue thickness. A periodontist evaluates why recession occurred before recommending treatment because aggressive brushing, periodontal disease, tooth position, thin tissue and other factors can contribute.
Gum grafting may use the patient's own tissue, donor tissue or another grafting approach to increase soft-tissue coverage or thickness. CareCredit's November 15, 2024 guide reports a national average of $2,742 for gum graft surgery, with a $2,120 to $4,982 range. Graft type, number of teeth, site size, tissue source and anesthesia affect cost.
Cost-reference date: The gum-graft benchmark above comes from a 2024 published guide. It is included for planning context and should not be presented as a current local quote.
Periodontists are trained in both the soft tissues and supporting bone needed for implant placement. The AAP identifies periodontists as dental implant specialists and notes that more complex cases may involve multiple implants, limited bone or upper-back-jaw sites near the sinus.
One implant can support a crown when one tooth is missing and the site is suitable.
Several implants can support individual restorations or an implant-supported bridge depending on the missing-tooth pattern.
Full-mouth or full-arch implant plans replace many missing teeth with an implant-supported prosthesis.
Selected upper posterior implant sites may need sinus augmentation to develop adequate bone.
Bone defects in the jaw ridge may be rebuilt to improve support and implant placement conditions.
Periodontal follow-up monitors tissue health and helps detect inflammation around implants early.
For implant candidacy and procedures, see the AAP dental implant procedure guide.
Bone loss can occur after tooth loss, periodontal disease or infection. If a planned implant site lacks enough bone, a periodontist may discuss grafting or another site-development procedure. Bone grafts can use donor bone, synthetic material, animal-derived material or the patient's own bone depending on the case and clinician.
CareCredit's dental bone-graft guide reports a broad national range of approximately $549 to $5,148 depending on the graft type. That large span shows why “bone graft cost” should never be treated as one fixed fee.
The need for grafting depends on available bone volume, implant position, restorative design and anatomy. A periodontist uses examination and imaging to decide whether site development is necessary.
Dental implants can develop inflammatory disease around their supporting tissues. The AAP separates peri-implant disease into peri-implant mucositis, where inflammation affects soft tissues without bone loss, and peri-implantitis, where inflammation is accompanied by deterioration of the supporting bone.
Red or tender tissues and bleeding around an implant can resemble gum-disease symptoms. Previous periodontal disease, poor plaque control, smoking and diabetes are among the risk factors described by the AAP. Regular implant monitoring is therefore part of comprehensive periodontal care.
There is no single “periodontist fee” because a specialist may perform anything from an evaluation or one quadrant of deep cleaning to full-mouth periodontal surgery or complex dental implant treatment. Published cost references are more useful when tied to a specific procedure.
Average scaling and root planing benchmark; $185–$444 range in a 2024 CareCredit guide.
$2,120–$4,982 published range in CareCredit's 2024 gum-graft guide.
Full-mouth periodontal osseous surgery benchmark; $6,103–$14,647 published range.
2026 full-size single implant benchmark; confirm restorative components and grafting separately.
| Periodontist Procedure | Published Planning Cost | Source Timing | What Can Change The Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scaling & root planing | $242 average per quadrant; $185–$444 range | CareCredit guide published Dec. 6, 2024 | X-rays, antibiotics, follow-up and number of quadrants can change total. |
| Gum graft surgery | $2,742 national average; $2,120–$4,982 range | CareCredit guide published Nov. 15, 2024 | Type of graft, number of sites, tissue source, anesthesia and aftercare affect cost. |
| Full-mouth periodontal osseous surgery | $7,889 average; $6,103–$14,647 range | CareCredit periodontal/emergency cost reference | A full-mouth figure is not the same as a per-quadrant surgery quote. |
| Dental bone graft | About $549–$5,148 depending on graft type | CareCredit dental bone-graft guide | Autograft, allograft, xenograft and synthetic grafts have different cost ranges. |
| Single full-size dental implant | $2,143 average; $1,646–$4,157 range | CareCredit 2026 implant reference | Confirm whether abutment, crown, imaging and grafting are included. |
| All-on-4® dental implants | $15,176 average; $11,640–$27,500 range | CareCredit Apr. 24, 2026 guide | Usually quoted per arch; final prosthesis and extra procedures may vary. |
Published national cost references help with budgeting but are not substitutes for an itemized periodontist treatment plan. Specialist fee, location, complexity, anesthesia, number of sites and laboratory/restorative work can all change the total.
Dental insurance may cover periodontal treatment when the service is included in the plan and meets its clinical criteria. Coverage can still be limited by deductibles, annual maximums, frequency rules, network status, waiting periods or the plan's definition of covered services.
For procedures such as scaling and root planing, the insurer may ask for periodontal charting or X-rays that support medical necessity. Surgical procedures and dental implants can fall into different benefit categories. An office estimate of insurance payment is useful for budgeting but is not a guarantee of final reimbursement.
Before treatment: Ask the periodontist's office for the procedure description or code, total provider fee, estimated plan allowance, expected insurance payment and estimated patient responsibility. Then verify major benefits directly with the insurer when the treatment is expensive.
Without insurance, ask for the full self-pay treatment plan rather than only the first procedure. Periodontal care can include an evaluation, imaging, initial deep cleaning, re-evaluation, surgery or grafting and ongoing periodontal maintenance. Implant plans can add the implant body, grafting, abutment and final crown or bridge.
Both periodontists and oral and maxillofacial surgeons can perform dental implant surgery, but their specialty training has a different emphasis. Periodontists focus on gum disease, periodontal tissues, supporting bone and implant-related periodontal care. Oral surgeons have broader surgical training involving the jaws, impacted teeth, facial trauma, pathology and other oral and maxillofacial procedures.
For implants, the right specialist can depend on anatomy, the need for extractions or advanced jaw surgery, the restorative plan and the referral relationships in your dental team. The important question is not which specialty is “better,” but which clinician has the training and treatment plan appropriate for your case.
A periodontist specializes in the tissues and bone supporting teeth and implants, while a prosthodontist specializes in restoring and replacing teeth with crowns, bridges, dentures and implant prostheses. Complex implant cases can involve both specialists: the periodontist develops or maintains the surgical implant foundation and the prosthodontist designs the final restorative teeth.
Gums, supporting bone, periodontal disease, surgical implant placement, grafting and peri-implant tissue health.
Complex restorative design, crowns, bridges, dentures, implant prostheses, esthetics and function.
Sometimes, but the answer depends on why the teeth are loose and how much support remains. Periodontal disease can destroy the bone and connective tissues holding teeth in place. Treatment may control infection, reduce inflammation and improve the environment around the teeth, but severely compromised teeth cannot always be predictably saved.
A periodontist evaluates pocket depths, mobility, bone levels, tooth position, bite forces and the ability to keep the area clean before discussing prognosis. The goal is not to keep every tooth at any cost; it is to choose a plan that is maintainable and has a reasonable long-term outlook.
NIDCR identifies tobacco use as a major risk factor for periodontal disease and notes that tobacco can delay healing and make gum-disease treatment less successful. Diabetes, age, genetics and several health conditions are also associated with increased periodontal risk or severity.
This is one reason the periodontist asks about medical history and medications. Periodontal treatment is planned in the context of the whole patient, especially when surgery or implants are being considered.
Do not stop prescribed medication on your own before periodontal treatment. Give the periodontist a complete medication and medical-history list and follow instructions from the clinicians managing your care.
Bring or authorize transfer of recent dental X-rays, periodontal charting and relevant treatment plans when available.
Include prescriptions, over-the-counter medicines, supplements and any allergies.
Ask about the diagnosis, alternatives, treatment sequence, prognosis, maintenance and complete expected cost.
If you have insurance, bring plan information and ask whether pre-treatment documentation is recommended.
| Question | Why It Matters | What A Useful Answer Clarifies |
|---|---|---|
| What is my exact periodontal diagnosis? | Treatment should match the condition and severity. | Gingivitis, periodontitis, recession, peri-implant disease or another diagnosis. |
| How deep are my periodontal pockets? | Pocket measurements help describe disease severity and response to treatment. | Which areas are healthy, inflamed or difficult to maintain. |
| How much supporting bone has been lost? | Bone level affects tooth prognosis and implant planning. | Whether loss is localized or generalized and whether regeneration is realistic. |
| Can non-surgical treatment work first? | Many periodontal plans begin with infection control before surgery. | Why surgery is or is not needed now. |
| What alternatives exist? | There may be multiple approaches to saving or replacing a tooth. | Benefits, risks, maintenance and prognosis of each option. |
| Will I need bone or gum grafting? | Grafting changes treatment time and cost. | Where tissue is deficient and what material/technique is proposed. |
| Who will place the final crown or bridge? | Implant surgery and final restoration may be performed by different clinicians. | How the periodontist and restorative dentist coordinate care. |
| What maintenance will I need afterward? | Periodontal disease requires long-term control. | Cleaning interval, home-care tools and monitoring plan. |
Your general dentist can refer you to a local periodontist and share X-rays or periodontal records. You can also use the American Academy of Periodontology's member directory. AAP notes that not every member has opted into its public search, so an empty search result does not mean no periodontist practices in the area.
Use the American Academy of Periodontology Find a Periodontist directory.
Confirm specialty training, licensure, experience with the procedure you need, how the specialist coordinates with your general dentist, expected follow-up, emergency contact process, itemized fees and whether the office participates in your dental plan.
This guide uses periodontal specialty information from the American Academy of Periodontology and gum-disease information from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. Procedure-cost figures are clearly tied to their published source and date instead of being silently presented as universal 2026 fees.
| Source | Used For | Important Limitation |
|---|---|---|
| American Academy of Periodontology — What Is a Periodontist? | Specialty definition, advanced training, first visit and referral reasons. | Patient education, not personalized diagnosis or fees. |
| AAP Periodontal Treatments & Procedures | Non-surgical, surgical and implant treatment categories. | Procedure selection depends on the individual diagnosis. |
| AAP Dental Implant Procedures | Implants, sinus augmentation and ridge modification. | Does not provide individualized implant candidacy. |
| NIDCR Periodontal (Gum) Disease | Symptoms, diagnosis, pocket measurements, risk factors and treatment principles. | General federal health information, not a personal treatment plan. |
| CareCredit Scaling & Root Planing — Dec. 6, 2024 | Deep-cleaning average and published range. | Older national cost reference; current local fees vary. |
| CareCredit Gum Graft — Nov. 15, 2024 | Gum-graft average and range. | Older national planning benchmark. |
| CareCredit Dental Bone Graft Guide | Bone-graft cost ranges by graft type. | Actual graft needs and fees are highly case-specific. |
These three ToothCalculator.com tools are especially relevant when periodontal care involves bone grafting or dental implant treatment.
Answers about periodontal specialists, gum disease, dental implants, referrals, costs and first visits.
A periodontist is a dentist who specializes in preventing, diagnosing and treating periodontal disease and in the surgical placement of dental implants. The American Academy of Periodontology says periodontists receive at least three additional years of specialty education after dental school.
Periodontists treat gum disease, periodontal pockets, recession, loss of supporting bone and other periodontal tissue problems. They also place dental implants and may perform gum grafts, bone grafts, sinus augmentation and treatment around inflamed implants.
A dentist may refer you when gum disease is advanced, the diagnosis or treatment is complex, grafting is needed, implant placement is challenging or specialist periodontal maintenance is appropriate.
No. Referral means specialist evaluation or treatment may be useful. Some periodontal problems can be controlled and teeth can often be maintained, while other teeth may have a poor prognosis. The periodontist evaluates each case individually.
The periodontist usually reviews medical and dental history, examines the gums and bite, measures periodontal pockets, checks recession and tooth mobility and may review or take X-rays to assess supporting bone.
Yes. Scaling and root planing is a common non-surgical periodontal procedure used to clean below the gumline and smooth root surfaces where plaque and tartar have accumulated.
A CareCredit guide published in December 2024 reports a national average of $242 per quadrant and a range of $185 to $444. Current local fees and the number of quadrants treated can differ.
A CareCredit guide published in November 2024 reports a $2,742 national average and a $2,120 to $4,982 range. Type of graft, number of sites, tissue source and anesthesia affect the actual cost.
Yes. Dental implant placement is a major part of periodontic specialty training and practice. Periodontists may also perform bone and sinus augmentation to prepare complex implant sites.
Periodontists diagnose and treat inflammatory disease around implants. Peri-implant mucositis affects the soft tissue without bone loss, while peri-implantitis involves inflammation with supporting bone loss.
Periodontists focus on gums, periodontal disease, supporting bone and implant-related periodontal care. Oral surgeons have broader surgical training involving the jaws, impacted teeth, facial trauma and other oral and maxillofacial surgery.
A periodontist focuses on supporting tissues and implant surgery; a prosthodontist focuses on complex replacement and restoration of teeth with crowns, bridges, dentures and implant prostheses.
Many periodontal practices participate in dental plans, while others are out-of-network. Coverage depends on the specific procedure, plan rules, deductible, annual maximum, network status and clinical documentation.
Gingivitis can often be reversed when inflammation is controlled, but periodontitis is generally managed as a chronic condition. Treatment aims to control infection, reduce progression and maintain teeth and supporting tissues.
The interval is individualized based on disease severity, response to treatment, plaque control, smoking, diabetes and other risk factors. Follow the maintenance schedule recommended by your periodontist and general dentist.
Ask your general dentist for a referral or use the American Academy of Periodontology's Find a Periodontist directory. Confirm licensure, specialty training, experience with your needed procedure and insurance participation.
No. It is educational information. A dentist or periodontist who examines you must diagnose the condition and recommend appropriate treatment.
If your dentist has found advanced gum disease, significant recession, bone loss or a complex implant need, a periodontal specialist can evaluate the supporting tissues, explain treatment choices and coordinate long-term care with your general dentist.
Review What A Periodontist Does