Specialty Periodontics · Washington, DC
Periodontal Care in Washington, DC
Specialist gum and bone care built to protect natural teeth whenever possible and guide surgery when needed.
Pre-shoot · concept
Direct answer
Periodontal care is the specialty branch of dentistry that treats the gum and bone supporting teeth and dental implants. A periodontist completes three additional years of surgical training beyond dental school.
Why it matters: Gum disease is the most common cause of adult tooth loss. Untreated, it progresses silently. Treated specialist-early, it can be stabilized — often without surgery.
Why see a periodontist: General dentists screen for gum disease; periodontists treat it. The procedures (LANAP, regenerative grafting, soft tissue surgery, advanced bone grafting) live in specialist practice for a reason — they require focused training and concentrated daily experience.
Next step in DC: DC Perio offers the full scope of periodontal care at both DC locations. Patients typically come via referral from a general dentist; self-referrals are also welcome.
What a periodontist treats
Gum disease at every stage — from early gingivitis through advanced periodontitis.
Gum recession and the cosmetic / sensitivity / root-exposure problems it creates.
Bone loss around teeth or implants, including regenerative techniques that can rebuild what disease destroyed.
Implant placement when the foundation matters most — terminal dentition, full-arch reconstruction, esthetic-zone cases.
Peri-implantitis — gum disease around an existing implant, which has a different treatment pathway than around a natural tooth.
Non-surgical care first when appropriate
Most cases of gum disease can be controlled without surgery, especially when caught early. Scaling and root planing (a deep cleaning under the gum), targeted antimicrobial therapy, and a maintenance schedule tuned to your specific case stabilize the majority of patients.
Surgery enters the conversation when non-surgical care plateaus, when bone loss is severe enough that mechanical access is required, or when the tissue itself needs to be reshaped.
When surgery is the better answer
LANAP laser periodontal therapy — minimally invasive, no scalpel, no sutures, for qualified cases. Recovery is faster than traditional surgery.
Traditional flap surgery for advanced disease, when direct access to the bone is required.
Regenerative procedures — growing back lost bone and tissue using membranes, grafts, and biologics.
Soft tissue grafting for recession.
Maintenance is treatment
Periodontal disease is chronic. The patient who gets disease under control and then disappears for two years is the patient we see again with the same problem.
A periodontal maintenance schedule — typically every three to four months — protects the investment of treatment. We coordinate with your general dentist so this fits into your overall dental routine.
Common questions
Frequently asked about periodontal care
- What does a periodontist do that a general dentist does not?
- A periodontist completes three additional years of surgical specialty training beyond dental school. They focus on the soft tissue (gum) and hard tissue (bone) that supports teeth and implants — including diseases of that tissue, surgical regeneration, and advanced grafting.
- Can gum disease be reversed?
- Early gum disease (gingivitis) can be reversed with professional care and improved home routine. Advanced gum disease (periodontitis) involves bone loss that does not regrow on its own — it can be stopped and stabilized, and in selected cases regenerative procedures can restore some of what was lost. Earlier is better.
- Do I need a referral to see a periodontist?
- No referral is required, though most patients come to us referred by their general dentist. If you are concerned about your gums, bleeding, recession, or a tooth that feels loose, you can schedule a consultation directly.
- Will I need surgery?
- Not always. Many patients are managed entirely with non-surgical periodontal therapy. Surgery is reserved for cases where non-surgical care has plateaued, where access to deep pockets requires it, or where regenerative procedures can rebuild lost bone. We will tell you plainly whether surgery is or is not on the table.
Ready to talk through your options?
A consultation reviews your specific case and gives you honest options — not a pitch.