Periodontics
Periodontics is the treatment of gum disease, ranging from routine scaling and root planing — a deep cleaning below the gumline — for early-stage cases, to more advanced periodontal care for patients with more significant bone or tissue loss. Treating gum disease early helps preserve the bone and tissue that support your teeth.
Why Choose Periodontics
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Treating gum disease early helps you keep more of your natural teeth for longer.
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Removing bacteria below the gumline reduces inflammation and bleeding.
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A healthy gum foundation protects the bone that holds your teeth in place.
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Gum disease has been linked to overall health, so treating it supports more than just your smile.
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Regular periodontal maintenance helps prevent small problems from becoming bigger ones.
Is Periodontics Right for You?
If you've noticed changes in your gums or been told at a cleaning that you have areas of concern, it's worth having a periodontal evaluation. Dr. Cianciulli or Dr. Rossi can measure your gum pockets and tell you exactly where you stand.
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Gums that bleed when you brush or floss
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Gums that look red, swollen, or have started to pull away from your teeth
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Teeth that feel loose or have shifted position
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Bad breath that doesn't go away with brushing
Gum disease is much easier to treat, and less invasive, when it's caught in its earlier stages.
What to Expect
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Evaluation and Measurement
We measure the depth of the pockets between your teeth and gums and check for bleeding, recession, or bone loss to determine how advanced the disease is.
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Scaling and Root Planing
Using local anesthesia to keep you comfortable, we clean out plaque and tartar from below the gumline and smooth the tooth root so gums can reattach and heal.
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Healing and Follow-Up
We check your gums a few weeks later to see how they've responded and confirm the pockets are shrinking.
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Ongoing Maintenance
Most patients move to more frequent cleanings, usually every three to four months, to keep gum disease from returning. Patients with more advanced bone or tissue loss may be referred to a periodontal specialist for additional care.
Paying for Your Care
Cost varies based on your specific treatment plan, and we're happy to walk through your options before you commit to anything. We work with most major insurance plans and offer payment arrangements to help make care manageable.
See Financial & Insurance Information →Aftercare & Maintenance
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Keep up with periodontal maintenance cleanings on the schedule we recommend, even after your gums feel better
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Brush twice a day and floss daily, paying extra attention to the gumline
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Avoid smoking or using tobacco, which slows gum healing and makes disease harder to control
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Let us know if you notice bleeding, swelling, or looseness returning between visits
Why Choose Waterford Dental Associates
Decades of Experience
Dr. Vincent Cianciulli and Dr. Jacqueline Rossi bring decades of combined clinical experience to every appointment.
Comprehensive Family Care
From preventive checkups to specialized treatment, your whole family's care can stay in one convenient Waterford location.
Individualized Treatment Planning
There's no one-size-fits-all approach here — every treatment plan is built around you.
A Comfortable Visit
A friendly atmosphere and a long-tenured team who know our patients well, visit after visit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is scaling and root planing painful?
We numb the area with local anesthesia before we start, so most patients don't feel pain during the procedure. Afterward, it's common for gums to feel a little tender or sensitive for a day or two, similar to a deep cleaning.
How many appointments does treatment take?
Scaling and root planing is often done in one or two visits, sometimes treating one side of the mouth at a time so you're not numb everywhere at once. We'll follow up a few weeks later to check healing, then set a maintenance schedule from there.
Can gum disease be reversed?
The earliest stage, called gingivitis, can usually be reversed with a thorough cleaning and better home care. Once it progresses to periodontitis and bone or tissue is lost, treatment focuses on stopping it from getting worse and keeping it stable rather than fully reversing the damage.
This is why catching it early makes such a difference.
Will I need to see a specialist for gum disease?
Many cases of gum disease are treated right here in our office with scaling and root planing and regular maintenance. For more advanced cases involving significant bone or tissue loss, we may refer you to a periodontal specialist for additional treatment.
Ready to Schedule Your Visit?
Book online in minutes, or give us a call — we're happy to help.