Specialty · Gums & Bone
Periodontics is the dental specialty that cares for your gums and the bone supporting your teeth. Dr. Sergio Ortiz Pérez treats bleeding gums, periodontitis, gum recession, and problems around dental implants. Care begins with a thorough diagnosis and may include deep cleaning, microsurgery when needed, and ongoing maintenance at Clínica Montelimar in San José or by appointment in Guanacaste.
Before thinking about veneers or crowns, let's look at your gums.
Many smiles improve by treating the gums rather than the teeth. If an implant bleeds, hurts, or feels loose, it should also be evaluated. When surgery is needed, Dr. Ortiz uses magnification and tissue-preserving techniques to support a more comfortable recovery.
When to consult
Healthy gums do not bleed
Gum disease advances without pain. By the time it bothers you, bone loss has often already started. If you recognize any of these signs, it's time for a consultation.
- Blood in the sink when you brush or floss
- Red, swollen, or sensitive gums
- Bad breath that doesn't go away
- Teeth that feel loose or have shifted
- Receding gums with exposed roots
- Teeth that look longer, or new gaps between them
Disease progression
From gingivitis to maintenance
Gingivitis
Gums look red and bleed, but no bone is lost yet. This stage is reversible: a professional cleaning and good home care restore health within days.
Periodontitis
The infection reaches the bone and pockets form. Lost bone doesn't grow back on its own, but deep cleaning stops the disease.
Recession and tooth loss
Exposed roots, sensitivity, loose teeth. We rebuild with gum grafts or, if a tooth can't be saved, with implants on a healthy foundation.
Maintenance
Regular checkups keep the disease from coming back. This phase decides whether the result lasts decades or is lost in months.
Index
Gum treatments we offer
Dental cleaning and prevention
Tartar control, deep cleaning, and care for bleeding gums.
45–60 minutos1 a 2 sesionesGum disease and bone loss treatment
Treatment for periodontitis and loose teeth, with microsurgery and bone regeneration.
60–90 minutos por cuadrante2 a 4 sesiones + mantenimientoGum graft and gum recession
Covering exposed roots and rebuilding receded gums.
60–90 minutos1 sesión + 2 controlesNatural-looking dental implants
Implants planned in 3D, with guided surgery and bone regeneration.
60–90 minutosCirugía + corona (2 a 4 visitas)Implant maintenance and peri-implantitis
Specialist checkups that keep your implants healthy for years.
45–75 minutos1 sesión + controles cada 3–6 meses
Common questions
Your questions about gums, answered
Periodontics is the specialty that treats the gums and the bone that holds your teeth. A periodontist diagnoses gingivitis and periodontitis, performs deep cleanings and gum grafts, and places implants when a tooth can no longer be saved.
View the treatmentPeriodontitis is controlled, not erased. Bone that is already lost does not grow back on its own, but with treatment and maintenance every three to four months the disease stops and teeth are kept for years.
View the treatmentYes. Gingivitis is the reversible stage: if plaque and tartar are removed with a professional cleaning and good home care, gums stop bleeding within a week or two and return to a firm pink color.
View the treatmentHealthy gums do not bleed. Bleeding usually means inflammation caused by plaque below the gum line. Brushing more gently will not solve it: the plaque must be removed and the gums checked for periodontal pockets.
View the treatmentWith local anesthesia, gum treatment is usually well tolerated. You may have mild soreness or cold sensitivity for a few days, depending on how much treatment you need, and we check in with you afterward.
View the treatmentNo antibiotic cures periodontitis on its own, because the bacteria live in a biofilm attached to the root. Treatment is mechanical: cleaning that root. Antibiotics are only used as support in aggressive cases, and only when a specialist prescribes them.
View the treatmentUsually every three to four months. Bacteria can build up below the gumline again within a few months, so the interval is adjusted to your risk, bleeding, and pocket depth.
View the treatmentIn many cases, yes, with a gum graft. Tissue is taken from the palate or a matrix is used to cover the exposed root. Besides improving appearance, it removes sensitivity and protects the root from wear.
View the treatmentOnly after it's under control. Placing an implant in a mouth with active periodontitis increases the risk of peri-implantitis. We stabilize the gums first, then plan the implant.
View the treatmentIt depends on how many areas are affected and whether surgery or a graft is needed. At your evaluation visit you receive a written estimate by phases, in clinical order and with no surprise costs.
View the treatmentIt depends on your case. Usually one surgical visit, a few months of healing, and a final visit for the crown. 3D planning keeps the process efficient.
View the treatmentYes, often. We coordinate appointments around your travel dates and give you the records your dentist or insurer back home may need.
It lets us work with much greater precision: smaller incisions, faster healing, and details that are invisible to the naked eye.
Tell us what has been bothering you.
Message us on WhatsApp and tell us about your symptoms. Our team will help you schedule the right consultation, with no forms to fill out.