Get Expert Gum Surgery in San Diego, CA

Expert Gum Surgery in San Diego, CA

If your dentist has mentioned gum surgery, or you've noticed your gums pulling back, some bleeding when you brush, or a tooth that feels a little loose, you're in the right place. Most patients who come to us have questions about what the procedure actually involves, how long recovery takes, and whether surgery is really necessary at this point. We'll walk you through all of it.

Dr. Weatherington, our periodontist, handles gum grafting, osseous surgery, bone regeneration, and more, all right here in San Diego. He works as part of a multidisciplinary team that includes prosthodontists Dr. Grillo and Dr. Lum, and endodontist Dr. Breziner, all under one roof. That means if your care eventually involves crowns, implants, or cosmetic work, the specialists handling that next step already know your case from the start.

Ready to get a clear picture of what's going on? Call us at (858) 755-9810 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Weatherington.

What to Know Before You Come In

• Surgery usually comes up when a deep cleaning didn't fully do the job: pockets are still too deep, or there's already some bone loss.
• When you're talking to any periodontal office, it's worth asking: who actually performs the surgery and what's their specialty training, what kind of imaging do they use to plan it, and what happens if you need crown or implant work down the road?
• We plan every surgery using 3D cone beam imaging, which gives us a detailed picture of your bone and anatomy, so the treatment fits your situation, not a one-size-fits-all approach.
• For most patients, recovery is a matter of days, not weeks.

Signs Your Gums Might Need Extra Help

Here are a few common warning signs that your gums need professional attention:

• Receding gums: Your gumline has pulled back, making your teeth look longer and exposing the sensitive root.
• Deep pockets: Measurements haven't improved after a standard deep cleaning.
• Bone loss: X-rays show the bone supporting your teeth is wearing away.
• Changes in stability: A tooth feels slightly loose, or your bite feels "off."
• Chronic inflammation: Your gums bleed easily, stay red and swollen, or you have persistent bad breath.

Experiencing one of these doesn't automatically mean you need surgery. However, it does mean your gum disease is active, and waiting another six months will likely cause more damage. It’s time to get a proper evaluation.

The Surgical Procedures We Perform

Gum Grafting (Fixing Receding Gums)

If your gums have pulled back to expose the sensitive root of a tooth, grafting gently adds protective tissue back over that area. This immediately reduces painful sensitivity to hot and cold, protects the vulnerable root from decay, and restores a beautiful, even gumline. Dr. Weatherington will recommend the specific, gentle technique that best fits your needs.

Osseous Surgery (Pocket Reduction & Bone Smoothing)

When the pockets of infection around your teeth are too deep to clean at home, osseous surgery is the gold standard for fixing the problem. Dr. Weatherington gently lifts the gum to clean the hidden root surfaces and smooths out the damaged bone underneath. By removing the tiny craters where harmful bacteria love to hide, the gums can snuggly reattach to the tooth, making it easy for you to maintain a healthy smile at home.

Guided Bone and Tissue Regeneration (Rebuilding Support)

When advanced gum disease has destroyed the bone around a tooth, we don't just clean it—we help it rebuild. Using advanced grafting materials, we give your body exactly what it needs to safely grow new, strong bone and tissue, saving teeth that might otherwise be lost.

Crown Lengthening (Fixing a "Gummy" Smile)

Sometimes, there just isn't enough tooth showing above the gumline. This can make a smile look "gummy," or prevent a new dental crown from fitting securely. Crown lengthening gently reshapes the excess gum tissue to reveal more of your natural tooth, bringing your smile into perfect proportion.

How the Gum Surgery Procedure Works

1. Consultation and Imaging

First, we take a close look at what's going on. We measure your pocket depths, check how your gum tissue and teeth are holding up, and use cone beam 3D imaging when we need a detailed picture of the bone. Then we sit down with you and go through the scans together, including what's likely to happen if things are left as they are.

2. Planning the Surgical Approach

Once we have the full picture, we map out the plan: which teeth need attention, which technique makes the most sense for each one, how much we can take care of in a single appointment, and whether we'll need any grafting material or a barrier membrane to help the area heal properly. Everything is figured out before we schedule anything.

3. Comfort and Anesthesia

Most periodontal surgery is done with local anesthetic, so you won't feel pain during the procedure. If you tend to get anxious at the dentist, just let us know. We offer oral conscious sedation and IV sedation for patients who want a little extra help relaxing.

4. The Surgery Itself

Most procedures are completed in one visit. How long it takes depends on how many areas we're treating. We use sutures to hold the tissue in exactly the right position while everything heals.

5. Instructions Before You Leave

Before you head home, we'll walk you through everything you need to know: what normal soreness looks like, what would actually be worth calling us about, how to keep the area clean, what to eat, and when to come back for your follow-up.

What Gum Surgery Actually Accomplishes

• It stops the bone loss from continuing. Periodontal disease won't just level off on its own. It keeps going. Cleaning out the infected areas and closing those deep pockets takes away the environment the disease needs to keep spreading.
• It helps keep your teeth where they are. As the bone and tissue supporting a tooth breaks down, that tooth starts to loosen. Osseous and regenerative procedures rebuild that support so your teeth stay stable.
• It reduces sensitivity and shields your roots. Unlike the crown of your tooth, root surfaces don't have enamel to protect them. Once they're exposed, they wear down and decay more easily. Covering them with grafted tissue helps protect them, and it usually makes cold drinks and brushing a lot more comfortable too.
• It makes brushing and flossing actually work again. When pockets are deep and the gumline is uneven, a toothbrush and floss just can't get where they need to go. Shallower pockets and a more even gumline mean your daily routine can actually do its job.
• It sets the stage for any restorative work you may need. Crowns, veneers, and dental implants all depend on healthy bone and a stable gumline to hold up well and look right long-term.

Why Patients Choose DNTL for Periodontal Surgery

We originally started as a restorative practice, and we kept running into the same problem: when patients needed surgical care, we had to send them somewhere else. That didn't sit right with us, so we expanded. Now we have four specialists (prosthodontics, periodontics, and endodontics) all working together in one location, including periodontist Dr. Brett Weatherington.

• A periodontist who does this every day. Dr. Brett Weatherington, DDS, is our periodontist. Gum and bone surgery is his specialty, not something he does occasionally on the side.
• We plan around your actual anatomy. Before any surgery, we use cone beam 3D CT imaging to get a detailed picture of your bone structure. That way the approach is built around you, not a general template.
• Everyone's already on the same page. If your treatment ends up needing a crown, an implant, or a full mouth reconstruction, Dr. Grillo, Dr. Lum, and Dr. Breziner are right down the hall and they already know your case.
• Sedation if you need it. Most gum surgery is done with local anesthetic, but if dental work makes you anxious, we offer both oral conscious sedation and IV sedation.
• No rushing through your consultation. We want you to actually understand your scans and your options before you decide anything.

Frequently Asked Questions About Gum Surgery

How Do I Know if I Need Gum Surgery or Just a Deep Cleaning?

A deep cleaning (scaling and root planing) is always the starting point. Surgery comes up when the gum pockets are too deep for cleaning instruments to reach all the way down, or when a follow-up check shows the pockets haven't improved even with better home care. Your pocket measurements and X-rays are what tell us which direction to go.

Is Gum Surgery Painful?

The procedure itself is done under local anesthetic, so you shouldn't feel pain during it. Afterward, some soreness and mild swelling are completely normal for the first few days. Most patients manage just fine with the pain relief we recommend, and things usually settle down within a week.

Can Receding Gums Grow Back on Their Own?

Unfortunately, no. Once gum tissue has pulled back, it won't regrow on its own, and no toothpaste or rinse will bring it back either. A gum graft is what actually replaces the lost tissue. Better home care can help stop things from getting worse, but if a root is already exposed, a graft is the only way to cover it back up.

What Is the Difference Between a Periodontist and a General Dentist?

A periodontist is a specialist who completed several additional years of training beyond dental school, focused specifically on the gums, the bone that supports your teeth, and dental implants. General dentists are great at catching and managing gum disease in its earlier stages, but when things have progressed to the point of needing surgery, that's the kind of work a periodontist handles every single day.

Do I Need a Referral to Be Seen?

No referral needed. You're welcome to reach out to us directly. We also work closely with referring dentists who want their patients' surgical care handled here.

Let's Look at Your Situation Together

Sometimes the decision gets a lot clearer once you've actually seen your own X-rays and someone has walked you through what the numbers mean. Dr. Weatherington will go over your records with you, talk through your options (whether that's non-surgical treatment, gum grafting, or simply keeping a closer eye on things) and give you a straightforward cost estimate before you decide anything. If you've already lost a tooth or are worried about losing one, we can talk through dental implants in that same visit.

Give us a call at (858) 755-9810 to set up a time. We're at 6225 Lusk Blvd in San Diego, open Monday through Friday from 7:30 am to 3:30 pm.