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On average, patients who use Zocdoc can search for a Periodontist in Washington, book an appointment, and see the Periodontist within 24 hours. Same-day appointments are often available, you can search for real-time availability of Periodontists in Washington who accept your insurance and make an appointment online.
Zocdoc lets you search specifically for a Washington Periodontist who takes your insurance. Just choose your carrier and plan from the drop-down menu at the top of the page. If you’re not sure which plan you have, you can use Zocdoc’s insurance checker to find out.
Zocdoc is a free online service that helps patients find Periodontists in Washington and book appointments instantly. You can search for Washington Periodontists by symptom or visit reason. Then, choose your insurance plan. Based on that information, you’ll see a list of providers who meet your search criteria, along with their available appointment slots.
When you search for Washington Periodontists on Zocdoc, you can filter your results by gender, in addition to other criteria. That way, you’ll only see Periodontists in Washington who match your preferences.
On Zocdoc, you can search specifically for Washington Periodontists with availability after 5 p.m.
You can use Zocdoc to find Periodontists in Washington who are highly rated by other patients. These ratings are based on verified reviews submitted by real patients. Every time a patient completes an appointment booked on Zocdoc, they’re invited to review their experience. Each review must comply with Zocdoc’s guidelines.
Periodontists in Washington on Zocdoc who see patients through online video visits will have a purple video icon on their profiles. You can also filter your search results to show only Periodontists who offer video visits.
Most insurers provide coverage for video visits at the same cost as in-person visits. You can search on Zocdoc specifically for Periodontists in Washington who accept your insurance for video visits by selecting your carrier and plan from the drop-down menu at the top of the page. We recommend you check with your insurance carrier directly to confirm your coverage and out of pocket costs for video visits.
Zocdoc lets you search specifically for a Periodontist who has appointments available before 10:00 am, or after 5:00 pm. Just choose the special hours filter at the top of our search page.
Zocdoc let's you see real-time availability for Periodontists in Washington. Many Periodontists offer appointments on Saturdays and Sundays.
Periodontics is a dental specialty dealing with the tissues around the teeth, such as gum disease, bone loss, and gum recession. These diseases can be linked to diabetes, cardiovascular disease (CVD), and other chronic illnesses.
Periodontists are also known as gum specialists. They are dentists who specialize in preventing, diagnosing, and treating problems of the gums and jawbone, which support the teeth. They require three years of additional education and training as compared to dentists.
Periodontists perform scaling and root planing (cleaning the infected tooth's root surface), cosmetic periodontal procedures, dental implants, root surface debridement (removal of root tissue), periodontal cleanings, gum line recession, frenectomy, oral inflammation treatment, bone and gum graft.
Periodontists first complete their graduation and join a dental school where they study and train for four years on how to prevent, diagnose, and treat oral health issues. Upon medical school, a dentist completes another three years of training and education to become a periodontist. During these three years, they learn how to diagnose and treat periodontal diseases such as gum disease, which can be life-threatening. They receive in-depth training on surgical procedures related to the gums and jaw bones.
While your general dentist can address some minor gum concerns, complex cases or those involving the risk of tooth loss typically require a periodontist's expertise. If you experience any of the following signs of gum disease, it's important to consult your dentist and determine if you need to see a periodontist.
Swollen or puffy gums: Plaque and tartar buildup can cause inflammation, a common early sign of gingivitis. When left untreated, this inflammation can create pockets around the teeth, maximizing the risk of infection and tooth loss. Swollen gums often appear dark red and may make your teeth seem smaller. In the early stages, deep cleaning from your dentist and consistent oral care can help manage the condition.
Gums that bleed easily: Inflammation can also make your gums tender and more prone to bleeding when brushing, flossing, or eating. If you notice pink discoloration on your toothbrush or experience bleeding while brushing or flossing, it's time to consult your dentist.
Persistent bad breath: While occasional bad breath isn't usually alarming, persistent bad breath, despite good oral hygiene, can indicate an infection or cavities.
Painful chewing: Gum inflammation can loosen teeth over time, making chewing painful and affecting how your teeth fit together. If you observe new spaces between your teeth or a change in how your teeth align, you should see a dentist.
Receding gum line: Receding gums can result from aggressive brushing or advanced gum disease. A periodontist can address this issue both for cosmetic reasons and to prevent future gum problems.
A dentist generally refers patients to a periodontist if any periodontal treatment or dental implants are required. This happens when a patient has gum disease symptoms, such as bleeding, receding or swollen gums, discomfort near the gums, or loose teeth.
The periodontist will review any notes made by the dentist and the patient's medical and dental history. They may also look at the patient's current medication list and check whether they have cardiovascular disease or diabetes. They examine the mouth to check for gum disease and how the upper and lower teeth connect (the bite).
Additionally, the periodontist will measure the depth of the spaces between the gums and the teeth using a probe. They will check the jaw bone by taking an X-ray. Depending on the diagnosis, they will recommend medication or any required procedure.
Periodontal disease, when left untreated, can deteriorate your complete oral health. It can hamper your gums, teeth health, and mouth odor, among other things. So, let's understand the four stages of how this disease can worsen without proper care.
Some factors can increase periodontitis risks, like unhealthy dental practices, gingivitis, obesity, genetics, tobacco, smoking, inadequate dietary intake, especially a lack of vitamin C, hormonal changes, and medications causing dry mouth. Some diseases and conditions can also increase the risk factor, including leukemia, diabetes, HIV/AIDS, cancer therapy, rheumatoid arthritis, and Crohn's disease.
Periodontists are qualified to diagnose and treat problems with various mouth regions. These three locations are part of the system that keeps your teeth healthy and in place:
Periodontists perform surgical procedures to treat periodontal disease and its related damage. These are some of the procedures you can expect when visiting a board-certified periodontist near you:
Early recognition of periodontal disease can help a qualified health provider to manage and treat the issue properly.
The following are the symptoms of periodontal disease you should be aware of :
The following factors may increase the risk of periodontal disease:
When you eat certain foods, they combine with germs in your mouth and cause tooth decay. You can follow certain tips to safeguard your teeth and gums.
Consume calcium-rich foods, including milk, yogurt, cheese, tinned salmon, almonds, beans, green leafy vegetables, and calcium-fortified orange juice. Calcium protects the bone in which the tooth roots are implanted.
Limit your consumption of excessive sugary foods and drinks. Avoid sticky treats like soft candies, toffees, taffies, and pastries. If you consume sweets, rinse your mouth with water later on and brush your teeth if possible. If you chew gum, use sugar-free products.
Gum health is as critical as dental health. If the former is affected, the latter also faces the impact, which affects your overall well-being. Hence, if you have gum disease or other related issues, a periodontist has the skills, education, and experience to address the condition and assist you in maintaining excellent oral health. Therefore, it becomes vital to find a board-certified periodontist in Washington.
Aiding this search, Zocdoc helps you easily schedule a meeting with the doctor of your choice. To formulate a list of the top healthcare and medical providers for your requirements, you can search based on your location, symptoms, doctor specialty, and insurance plan. If your insurance plan is not listed on Zocdoc, you can upload a photo of your medical insurance card (note that this does not apply to vision or dental cards). We will scan the image and display your likely plan. If you're having difficulty uploading the card, feel free to reach out to our service team for assistance. For more insurance-related questions, please visit Zocdoc's patient help center.
Zocdoc also showcases a unique profile for every doctor, including information about their training, education, experience, awards, board certification, and clinical expertise, among others. You can also read verified past patient reviews. In addition, you can narrow the list of periodontists near you by using filters like gender, language, hospital affiliations, and whether they treat children.
After making a choice, you can quickly book a virtual or in-person appointment securely and for free via Zocdoc.
As per a 2017 National Institute of Health study, cardiovascular disease risk can increase by around 19% in people with periodontal disease. This relative risk increase rises to about 44% in those 65 and older. Compared to people with minimal or moderate periodontitis, the mortality risk for type 2 diabetics with severe periodontal disease is about 3.2x higher.
You can protect your gums and teeth by stopping smoking because it is known to cause gum disease. In 2020, about 11.3% of DC adults reported smoking about 100 cigarettes in their lifetime and admitted to smoking daily or on some days. Men (around 11.5%) were more likely to smoke daily than women (almost 11.2%). More people who were aged 45 to 64 (nearly 15.6%) were in this category than those aged 18 to 44 (roughly 10.2%) and those aged 45 to 64 (almost 15.6%).
Data from a 2016 report published by the National Institute of Health found that in the District of Columbia, the prevalence of severe and total(severe + non-severe) periodontitis in older adults (≥ 65 years of age) was about 16.28% and 74.24%, respectively. The report also found that the District of Columbia ranked among the top states with the highest prevalence of total periodontitis.
American Academy of Periodontology[1]
American Academy of Periodontology[2]
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
University Rochester Medical Center
The content herein is provided for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Medical information changes constantly, and therefore the content on this website should not be assumed to be current, complete or exhaustive. Always seek the advice of your doctor before starting or changing treatment. If you think you may have a medical emergency, please call your doctor or 9-1-1 immediately.