Atlanta Center for Advanced Periodontics: What to Know if You Live in Atlanta

If you’re in Atlanta, Georgia and your dentist has mentioned gum disease, dental implants, or “seeing a periodontist,” a center like the Atlanta Center for Advanced Periodontics is the type of specialty clinic they likely have in mind. This guide walks through what such a center typically does, how periodontal care works in Atlanta, and what to expect if you’re a local resident or visiting the city for treatment.

What Is a Periodontic Center?

A periodontic center focuses on the supporting structures of your teeth—mainly your gums, jawbone, and the ligaments that hold teeth in place.

A center offering advanced periodontics in Atlanta typically provides:

• Diagnosis and treatment of gum disease (gingivitis and periodontitis)
• Deep cleanings (scaling and root planing)
• Gum grafts for recession
• Dental implants to replace missing teeth
• Treatment for bone loss in the jaw
• Periodontal maintenance for long‑term health

In a city like Atlanta, these centers often coordinate with local general dentists, oral surgeons, and prosthodontists throughout the metro area, from Buckhead and Midtown to Decatur, Sandy Springs, and the Southside.

Why Someone in Atlanta Might Need Advanced Periodontal Care

You might be referred to a center for advanced periodontics in Atlanta if:

• Your dentist sees moderate to severe gum disease
• Your gums bleed easily or feel swollen and tender
• You have receding gums or teeth that look “longer”
• Some teeth feel loose or your bite has changed
• You’re considering dental implants after tooth loss
• You have a family history of gum problems
• You wear a partial denture that no longer fits well due to gum or bone changes

Atlanta residents often discover periodontal problems during routine cleanings at neighborhood practices in areas like Virginia-Highland, West Midtown, or East Atlanta and are then referred to a specialist center for more focused care.

Common Services at an Advanced Periodontic Center in Atlanta

While each Atlanta center is different, most advanced periodontal practices offer a similar core set of services.

1. Comprehensive Periodontal Evaluation

Your first visit usually involves:

• Medical and dental history review (including conditions like diabetes or heart disease, which are common concerns in Atlanta’s population)
• Periodontal charting (measuring pocket depths around each tooth)
• Digital X-rays to check bone levels
• Oral cancer and soft tissue screening

This evaluation helps determine whether you need non-surgical care, surgical treatment, or implant placement.

2. Non-Surgical Gum Disease Treatment

For mild to moderate disease, Atlanta centers typically start with non-surgical approaches, such as:

• Scaling and root planing (deep cleaning):
  Cleaning below the gumline to remove plaque and tartar, and smoothing the root surface.
• Local medications:
  In some cases, medicated gels or rinses may be used in specific areas.

You’ll usually be asked to return to your general dentist or the periodontic center for regular maintenance cleanings, often every 3–4 months, especially if you live with risk factors like smoking or diabetes.

3. Periodontal Surgery

When non-surgical treatments are not enough, an Atlanta periodontist may recommend:

• Pocket reduction surgery (flap surgery)
  To access deeper tartar and reshape bone.
• Regenerative procedures
  To try to regrow supporting bone or tissue in certain areas.
• Crown lengthening
  To expose more tooth structure, often requested before restorative or cosmetic work.

These procedures are typically done in-office under local anesthesia, sometimes with sedation options.

4. Gum Grafting for Recession

Gum recession is a common concern across Atlanta, especially in adults who have brushed too hard, worn braces, or had long-standing gum disease.

A periodontic center may offer:

• Connective tissue grafts (using your own tissue, often from the palate)
• Free gingival grafts (to increase gum thickness and stability)
• Sometimes use of donor tissue or specialized materials

These procedures can help:

• Cover exposed roots
• Reduce sensitivity
• Improve gum health around teeth or implants

5. Dental Implants

Many advanced centers in Atlanta handle the surgical part of dental implant placement and then coordinate with your general dentist for the final crown or bridge.

Typical steps include:

1. Evaluation and imaging (often 3D scans)
2. Planning the implant position
3. Surgical placement of the implant in the jawbone
4. Healing period, followed by attachment of abutments and crowns through your restorative dentist

Because Atlanta is a regional hub, some people travel from smaller Georgia towns or neighboring states to have implant surgery done at a metro-area center and then follow up with their hometown dentist.

6. Peri-Implant Care and Implant Complication Management

If you already have implants that feel tender or bleed when brushing, an advanced periodontic center may evaluate for peri-implant mucositis or peri-implantitis (inflammation or bone loss around implants) and provide targeted treatment.

How Periodontal Care Fits into Atlanta’s Dental Landscape

Working With Your General Dentist

In Atlanta, it’s common for:

• General dentists (in neighborhoods from Grant Park to Brookhaven)
  to handle preventive care, routine fillings, and basic gum care.
• Periodontic centers
  to step in when problems become more complex or when implants are involved.

They usually share digital X-rays, treatment notes, and long-term plans. If you move within the metro area—from, say, College Park to Alpharetta—your records can typically be transferred electronically.

Insurance and Payment Considerations

Coverage in Atlanta often follows a few general patterns:

• Dental insurance may cover:
  • Exams, X-rays, and cleanings
  • Part (but rarely all) of deep cleanings and gum surgery
• Implants may or may not be covered, depending on your plan
• Some centers offer:
  • Payment plans
  • In-house membership or discount programs
  • Coordination with Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) or Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)

If you’re in Atlanta with employer-sponsored insurance (tech, healthcare, aviation, education, etc.), the center can often help you estimate benefits before treatment.

What to Expect at a Periodontic Center Visit in Atlanta

Here’s a simple overview of what most Atlanta patients experience:

Getting to a Periodontal Center in Atlanta

Atlanta’s size and traffic patterns make location and access important when choosing any specialty center.

Transportation Considerations

• Driving and parking:
  Many centers in areas like Perimeter Center, Cumberland, or Buckhead are in medical office buildings with structured parking.
• Public transit:
  If you don’t drive, look for a practice near a MARTA station, such as:
  • Buckhead, Lenox, or Medical Center for north Atlanta
  • Midtown or Arts Center for central areas
• Rideshare:
  For surgical visits where you might receive sedation, centers often require that you have someone drive you home or use a rideshare with an escort.

If You’re Visiting Atlanta for Treatment

If you’re traveling from outside the city or state:

• Consider staying near Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Downtown, Midtown, or the Perimeter Center area for easier access to expressways and medical facilities.
• Ask the center how many visits your procedure is likely to require so you can plan lodging and travel.

Questions to Ask an Advanced Periodontic Center in Atlanta

Before you commit to treatment, it’s reasonable to ask:

• “What are my options, and what happens if I wait?”
  Atlanta traffic and schedules can make immediate treatment difficult; understanding urgency helps you plan.
• “How many visits will I need, and how long does each visit take?”
• “Do you coordinate directly with my dentist in [your Atlanta neighborhood]?”
• “What are the estimated out-of-pocket costs with my insurance?”
• “What at-home care will I need to do between visits?”
• “If I move to another part of metro Atlanta, how will my records transfer?”

📝 Tip: Bring your insurance card, photo ID, and list of medications to your first visit. This is standard across Atlanta and saves time.

Taking Care of Your Gums Between Specialist Visits

Whether you’re being seen at a center for advanced periodontics in Downtown, Buckhead, Decatur, or the suburbs, day-to-day care at home makes a significant difference.

Most periodontists in Atlanta generally emphasize:

• Brushing twice daily with a soft-bristled toothbrush
• Cleaning between teeth daily (traditional floss, floss picks, or water flossers)
• Using non-irritating mouth rinses as recommended
• Not smoking or vaping, since tobacco use is a common reason for advanced gum problems
• Keeping all maintenance visits with your dentist or periodontist

If you enjoy Atlanta’s many restaurants, coffee shops, and nightlife spots, balancing that with consistent home care and checkups can help protect your investment in any periodontal or implant treatment.

How to Find and Verify a Periodontic Specialist in Atlanta

To locate and verify a periodontal specialist or advanced periodontic center in the Atlanta area, you can:

• Check with your current dentist for a referral within the metro network.
• Confirm that the dentist is a licensed periodontist through the Georgia Board of Dentistry:
  • Address: 2 Peachtree Street NW, 6th Floor, Atlanta, GA 30303
  • Main phone (Georgia Composite Medical Board/Board of Dentistry line routing and information): 404‑656‑4507
• Call your dental insurance provider and ask for a list of in-network periodontists in Atlanta.

Focusing on credentialed specialists and clear treatment plans can help you make informed decisions as an Atlanta resident or visitor seeking advanced periodontal care.