Periodontics in Marina del Rey
Gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults, and it is quiet until it is not. Diagnosis, deep cleaning and long-term maintenance are the gum care people mean when they go looking for a periodontist Marina del Rey patients can actually get in to see.
- Gums measured at every visit
- Free initial consultation
- Most insurance accepted
Periodontist Marina del Rey: what gum disease actually is
Periodontics is the branch of dentistry that treats the gums and the bone that hold your teeth in place. A periodontist is a dentist with additional training in that tissue. Much of the work people go looking for one to do, screening, deep cleaning and ongoing maintenance, is part of routine care in this office and starts with an exam.
Gum disease arrives in two stages. Gingivitis is the first: gums that are red, puffy and bleed when you brush, caused by plaque sitting along the gumline. It is usually reversible. Periodontitis is what gingivitis becomes when it is left alone. The gum pulls away from the tooth, bacteria settle into the space, and the bone underneath starts to recede. Bone that has been lost does not grow back on its own.
The signs people ignore are consistent: blood in the sink, breath that will not improve, a bad taste, teeth that look longer than they used to, and eventually a tooth that moves slightly under your tongue. None of them hurt, which is exactly why they get ignored. Gum health is checked at every general dentistry visit here for that reason.
How we treat gum disease
Six things make up periodontal care here, from the first measurement to the schedule that keeps the problem from coming back.
- 01
Gum disease screening
We measure gum pockets and check for bleeding, recession and bone loss at every visit, so a change gets noticed early.
- 02
Reading the numbers
Pockets of one to three millimeters are healthy. Four is a warning. Five or more is a space you cannot clean at home, and that is the threshold that changes the plan.
- 03
Scaling and root planing
A deep cleaning below the gumline that removes bacteria and smooths the root surfaces so the gum tissue can reattach.
- 04
Ongoing maintenance
More frequent periodontal cleanings after treatment, because gum disease is a condition you manage rather than one you finish.
- 05
Early intervention
Catching gingivitis before it turns into periodontitis is far easier to treat, and far easier to reverse.
- 06
Protecting the foundation
Treating gum disease helps prevent the bone loss that eventually leads to loose teeth and extractions.
Your first periodontal visit, step by step
A gum evaluation is not a cleaning with a different name. It is the assessment anyone searching for a periodontist Marina del Rey is really after, and here is what happens in it, in order.
- Step one
Gum evaluation
We measure the pocket depth around every tooth, check for bleeding points and recession, and use X-rays to see the bone level. That is what confirms the stage you are at, and it gives us a baseline to compare against later.
- Step two
Scaling and root planing
For active gum disease we remove bacteria and hardened deposits from below the gumline and smooth the root surfaces. The area is numbed first. This is a different treatment from a routine cleaning, which only reaches above the gumline.
- Step three
Maintenance schedule
We set an interval, often every three to four months rather than every six, and re-measure each time. If the numbers improve, the interval can stretch. If they do not, we change the plan rather than repeat it.
Periodontist Marina del Rey: visiting our office
Periodontal care means coming back on a schedule, so the practical details matter more here than for a one-off appointment.
- Address13400 West Washington Blvd, Suite 202B, Marina del Rey, CA 90292
- ParkingOn-site parking in the building; street parking on Washington
- Areas servedMarina del Rey, Venice, Playa del Rey, Playa Vista, Culver City, Westchester
- HoursMon & Tue 10–5, Wed 8:30–4, Thu 8:30–5, Fri 9–2
- Who treats youDr. Marjaneh Moghimi, DDS (USC), and our own dental team, in the same office as your other care
Maintenance visits are short. The early Wednesday and Thursday slots from 8:30 are the easiest to keep on a three or four month rhythm, and the ones people actually turn up to.
Periodontist Marina del Rey costs and insurance
Scaling and root planing is quoted by quadrant, because that is how the work is done and how insurance reads it. A single quadrant costs less than a full mouth, and we will tell you which of the two your measurements point to before anything is booked.
We accept most dental insurance plans and check your eligibility for free before your first visit. Many plans cover periodontal treatment and periodontal maintenance differently from a routine cleaning, which is a common surprise, so we show you the split in advance. The plans we work with are listed on our insurance page. If you have no insurance, the initial consultation is free.
Gum health also decides what else is possible. An implant placed into inflamed tissue is an implant at risk, and a crown fitted to a tooth with a receding gumline will not stay looking right for long. That is why gum disease gets treated first. The American Academy of Periodontology publishes plain-language guidance on the same point.
Been told you need a deep cleaning and want a second opinion? Bring your measurements, whether they came from another practice or from a periodontist Marina del Rey referred you to. We will re-measure, compare, and tell you honestly whether the recommendation holds.
Why patients choose Elegant Dentistry
Twice voted the Westside’s best dental office by readers of The Argonaut, and rated 4.4 across 114 public reviews. The practice is led by Dr. Marjaneh Moghimi, DDS (USC), with implant residency training from UCLA, and has been open on Washington since 1997.
General, cosmetic and implant dentistry sit under one roof here, which is why the gum care a periodontist Marina del Rey patients search for is not a separate errand. The team measuring your gums is the team that will place the crown, the filling or the implant that depends on them.
Periodontist Marina del Rey questions we are asked most
What are the signs of gum disease?
Bleeding gums when you brush or floss, persistent bad breath, a bad taste, gum recession, and teeth that feel loose are all common warning signs. Most of them do not hurt, which is why they get explained away for years before anyone looks properly.
Is scaling and root planing painful?
The area is numbed before the procedure, so most patients feel little to no discomfort during it. Mild soreness and some sensitivity afterward are common and temporary. Deep cleaning is usually split across more than one appointment so you are not numb from ear to ear in one sitting.
Can gum disease be reversed?
Gingivitis, the earliest stage, is usually reversible with treatment and better home care. More advanced periodontitis can be managed and controlled, though some bone loss may be permanent. That is the honest answer, and it is the reason early screening matters so much.
How often will I need periodontal maintenance?
Most patients with a history of gum disease need cleanings every three to four months, more often than the standard six-month interval. The interval is set by your measurements, not by habit, and it can change in either direction.
Why do my gums have to be treated before an implant or a crown?
Because both of them rely on the tissue and bone underneath. Gum disease is an active infection at exactly the site where an implant needs to fuse or a crown needs to seal. Treating it first is what protects the investment, and any periodontist Marina del Rey patients consult will tell them the same thing.
Is a deep cleaning just an upsell?
It should never be one. Scaling and root planing is recommended on measured pocket depths, bleeding points and bone levels shown on X-rays, not on a feeling. Ask to see your numbers. If a practice cannot show them to you, ask again somewhere else.
Concerned about your gums?
If your gums bleed, or you have been told you need a deep cleaning, book the evaluation any periodontist Marina del Rey patients consult would start with: measurements, X-rays and a plan you can see. Your initial consultation is free and we check your insurance eligibility at no charge.