Periodontal Surgery in Dunnellon
Bleeding gums that never quite settle down, teeth that feel loose, gum tissue that has pulled away from the roots — these are the kinds of problems that bring Dunnellon patients to us when a cleaning alone is no longer enough. Gum disease that has progressed past the early stages changes the bone and tissue that hold your teeth in place, and once that happens, treatment has to go below the gumline. Periodontal surgery is how we reach those deeper areas, clean them thoroughly, and rebuild support where it has been lost.
Periodontal surgery is a group of procedures that treat the gums and the bone underneath them. When gum disease advances, pockets form between the tooth and the gum. Those pockets trap bacteria and tartar in places no toothbrush, floss, or even a deep cleaning instrument can consistently reach. Surgery allows us to open the tissue, clean the root surfaces directly, reshape or regenerate bone, and then close everything back down so the gums can reattach more tightly to the tooth.
The term covers more than one procedure, and what you need depends on what we find. We perform gum grafting to cover exposed roots and rebuild tissue that has receded. We offer periodontal regeneration to help restore bone and attachment lost to disease. We perform crown lengthening, which reshapes gum and bone to expose more tooth structure — often necessary before a crown can be placed on a tooth that has broken near the gumline. We also perform gingivectomy and cosmetic gum contouring for patients whose gumline is uneven or covers too much of the tooth. For Dunnellon patients who have already lost teeth, we place dental implants and provide bone grafting and sinus lift surgery to prepare the site.
Most people who need periodontal surgery have already tried non-surgical treatment first. That usually means scaling and root planing — a deep cleaning that removes plaque and tartar from the roots below the gumline. For many patients, that is enough. We re-evaluate afterward, measure the pockets again, and see how the tissue responded. If pockets remain deep, if bleeding continues, or if bone loss is advancing, surgery becomes the reasonable next step.
Signs that often lead to a periodontal evaluation include:
- Gums that bleed when you brush or floss, or that stay red and swollen
- Persistent bad breath or a bad taste that cleaning does not fix
- Gums pulling back so teeth look longer or roots feel sensitive
- Teeth that feel loose, have shifted, or no longer bite together the way they used to
- A tooth broken or decayed close to the gumline that needs crown lengthening before restoration
- Uneven gum height that makes a smile look gummy or asymmetrical
Not every finding requires surgery, and we will tell you plainly when it does not. We see patients of all ages, and we accept patients without a referral, so Dunnellon residents can come to us directly rather than waiting to be routed through another office.
What the Process Looks Like
We start with a full exam. We check pocket depths around each tooth, look at how the bone appears, review your medical history, and talk through what is causing the problem — grinding, plaque control, smoking, and general health all play a role. From there we explain which procedure fits your situation and what it will and will not accomplish.
On the day of treatment, the area is numbed thoroughly. For patients who feel anxious about dental work, we offer nitrous oxide sedation and oral sedation to make the appointment more comfortable. Some procedures are done with laser dentistry. If the surgical plan connects to restorative work — a crown, a bridge, a denture — our on-site dental lab lets us handle fabrication and repairs here rather than sending everything out, which keeps timelines shorter for patients driving in from Dunnellon.
Healing and Long-Term Care
Afterward, you can expect some tenderness and swelling for a few days. We give you specific instructions on eating, rinsing, and cleaning around the site, and we follow up to check healing. Most people manage with soft foods early on and return to normal routines fairly quickly.
The part that matters most comes later. Gum disease is a chronic condition, and surgery resets the situation rather than ending it. We place patients on periodontal maintenance — cleanings on a tighter schedule than standard, performed by our hygienist — to keep pockets from deepening again. If you have implants, we provide implant maintenance as part of that ongoing care.
Insurance, Payment, and Getting Started
We accept all major PPO insurance plans and file periodontal claims as a general practice. We also welcome self-pay and cash patients, and we offer flexible payment plans when treatment needs to be spread out over time. We will go over estimated coverage and your portion before you commit to anything.
We have cared for Ocala-area families for more than 30 years, and Dunnellon is part of the community we serve every week. Dr. Hussein Salifu and Dr. Marco Geris see both routine and urgent cases, and we offer emergency appointments when a gum or tooth problem cannot wait. Call us to schedule a periodontal evaluation.