Trust Our Team of Periodontists Led by Alessandro Quaranta - a Professor Who Has Taught and Trained Numerous Periodontists Across all Australasia.

A periodontist is a registered dental specialist that treats conditions affecting your gums and the bones in your mouth. They specialise in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of gum disease (periodontal disease) including gingivitis and periodontitis.

They also specialise in cosmetic treatment and periodontal plastic surgery involving the gum (gummy smiles, gum recessions); and reconstructive periodontal treatment (dental implants with associated bone grafts and gum grafts).

Becoming a periodontist requires three or more years of full-time additional education beyond regular dental education. This level of education gives periodontists the expertise to perform cosmetic and restorative work to your mouth and face and means they are registered as a specialist with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA, the relevant body of medical and dental boards).

In fact, they carry highly specialised skillsets and there are only around 250 periodontists in Australasia (i.e. including our neighbour countries).

Dentists treat a range of general oral health conditions while a periodontist is a registered dental specialist who treats moderate to severe oral health conditions relating to gum disease (periodontal disease) or perform cosmetic and reconstructive procedures.

Some dentists are experienced enough to manage and perform mild treatment for gum disease and may also perform dental implant surgeries. Whereas a periodontist is a surgeon who has additional years of study, is specialised in their specific field and provides a higher level of care and skill.

Think of your general dentist similar to that of your GP or regular doctor who would diagnose a heart condition, for example. While a periodontist is like a specialist your GP would refer you to, like a heart surgeon or cardiologist, who would perform heart surgery and provide a specialist level of care for your heart.

In gum disease (periodontal disease) treatment, they are cleaning the gum blindly when it is all infected and swollen. Periodontal specialists have highly trained tactile sensation to debride and clean under the gum rather than relying on vision alone. When indicated, surgeries may be performed. These are the skillsets that set them apart to provide high success rate in treating patients suffering from gum diseases.

A periodontist performs such surgical tasks as gum grafting, bone grafting, flap surgery (cleaning below the surface of the gums), dental implant surgery, gum reshaping, lip repositioning, lip augmentation, periodontal debridement and scaling and root planing (removing tartar and bacteria).

A periodontist is highly skilled and specialises in diagnosing and treating gum disease (periodontal disease).

There are several signs that indicate you need to book an appointment with a periodontist. If you experience any of the following symptoms, please book an appointment with our friendly team:

• You have noticed a change in your bite. Often when chewing or talking your teeth can feel as if they have shifted and are off-centre.

• You have red, swollen or bleeding gums. This may occur consistently during the day or night or become present or worse when brushing or flossing. It is commonly described by patients where the toothpaste they spit out is pink or red rather than white. This is one of the more obvious signs that you have some form of gum disease (periodontal disease).

• Your teeth feel loose. Your teeth may feel loose generally or you may notice when chewing or clenching. This may be a sign that you have thinning of the bone in your jaw and serious infection.

• Your gums have receded. If you think your teeth look extra long in general or you have gaps between your teeth along the gum-line, you may have gum recession.

• You have oral pain or discomfort. If your pain or discomfort cannot be specifically traced to a particular tooth, and is more of a general feeling, this could be a sign of a more serious issue and a need to see our team at Smile Specialists Suite.

Important to note: Severe gum disease is not usually painful and unfortunately when identified the condition can be quite severe already. Just like no one go to the GP claiming they can feel pain or a mass/ lump is growing in their liver or intestine and unfortunately when identified they are Stage 4 or terminal. Bleeding gum is your first sign of gum disease.

No. Referrals are only needed in medical fields that are part of the Medicare system in Australia. Dentistry is not part of Medicare, so as long as you understand the treatment you require from us and how we can help you, you can make an appointment directly with our friendly team. With that in mind, we welcome all referrals from your dentists.

Referring a patient is a formal, documented way for your dentist to pass your case over to a specialist periodontist. Because your dentist has passed on medical information, we will have an established understanding of the treatment you require when you arrive are at your appointment.

Your first appointment will be a consultation to determine your condition and establish a treatment plan specifically created for your needs. At Smile Specialists Suite we will inspect your mouth, discuss your dental and medical history and discuss your aesthetic and oral health goals. We may also take x-rays and may perform some treatments on the day.

If you have updated full mouth x-rays (OPG taken within the last 18months), please bring these with you.  

Not all patients need surgery. We will determine what treatment and/or surgery may be needed during your initial consultation with our periodontists and discuss your options with you.  

If your dentist has referred you, or you are experiencing moderate to severe symptoms, you require specialist treatment from a periodontist. Periodontists specialise in treating certain conditions that general dentists are unable to provide. Periodontists also provide a higher level of expertise for any surgery you may require.  

Just like you won’t expect your medical GP to perform heart surgery on you but a referral to the heart surgeon.

As periodontists we don’t perform general dental treatments, you will need to continue seeing your general dentist for those (regular dental check-up, fillings etc.). However, our specialists are always happy to provide support and guidance to your general dentist in your care shall it be required.

It is our objective to ensure your treatment experience is as comfortable as possible. We use sedation to minimise memory and anaesthesia to block pain during treatment and surgery. The choice of sedation is also individually created as part of a treatment plan, to cater to your needs. To see how we manage pain and anxiety visit our pain management page here.

Our initial consultation fee is $390. Quotations for treatment are provided following this initial consultation and costs are based on an individual basis. You can anticipate this initial consultation to be about 1 hour.

Yes. Please check directly with your health fund provider to determine your level of cover and provisions. All claims will have to be performed by yourself.

Payment can be made via EFTPOS or cash directly with us on the day.