The Office & Periodontist

What are your office hours?

Monday & Wednesday 7:00 am to 4:00 pm (Office is closed every other Monday)

Tuesday & Thursday 8:30 am to 5:00 pm

Friday 7:00 am to 1:00 pm (surgeries only)

Do you take insurance?

We take most dental PPOs and some dental HMOs. Please call us at 858-679-0142 for questions about your individual provider. For a list of the insurance plans we accept, click here.

How long has Dr. Khansari been practicing?

Dr. Khansari has been a practicing Periodontist since 2002. Learn more about Dr. Khansari, here.

What are Dr. Khansari’s credentials?

Dr. Khansari is a Board Certified Periodontist. Learn more about Dr. Khansari, here.

Does Dr. Khansari do Pinhole and Laser technique?

Yes, however individual treatment will depend on your diagnosis and if you are a good candidate.

Do you offer free consultations?
Consultations are $140, including a full periodontal evaluation. Consultations take about one hour. Book a consultation, here.
What are the costs of procedures?

Cost is based on the procedure, the intensity, and type of treatment, and your insurance coverage.

Does the office offer payment plans?
Yes, we participate in 3rd party financing with no interest or finance charges for 12 months upon credit approval. Learn more about our payment plans, here.

General Periodontal Questions

What happens if the periodontal disease goes untreated?
When gingivitis is left untreated, it can worsen over time and impact the integrity of your gums in a serious way. Periodontal disease occurs when plaque from your teeth recedes and begins to grow underneath the gum line. This, in turn, can irritate your gums and cause them to become inflamed, leading to further complications.
How do you get rid of an infection in your gums?

There’s no way to treat a gum abscess at home. To reduce pain and sensitivity until you see a dentist, rinse your mouth with warm salt water or take an over-the-counter medication like Ibuprofen to reduce inflammation.

Is a gum abscess an emergency?

A dental abscess is a severe and potentially life-threatening condition in which a pocket of pus in the tooth has led to an infection. Before you see the dentist, rinse your mouth with mild salt water several times to reduce the pain and draw the pus to the surface.

Is gum surgery painful?

The amount of pain you have after surgery depends on the type of gum graft performed. If no tissue is removed from your palate, you should have little to no discomfort. However, if tissue is removed from your palate, you may be uncomfortable for a few days following the procedure.

Do your gums grow back after being cut?

In the case of dental surgery where the gums are cut open or where a tooth is removed, the gums will eventually grow back together. When you lose gum tissue as a result of gum disease the gums will not grow back.

Receding Gums

Can your gums grow back?

Receding gums are gums that have pulled away from a tooth, leaving its delicate root exposed. This also creates small spaces where plaque, a sticky film of bacteria, can collect. As a result, receding gums don’t grow back. Keep reading to learn what you can do to treat receding gums, even if they won’t grow back.

How do you stop a receding gum line?
  1. Use an electric toothbrush without pressure.
  2. Brush your teeth correctly, at least twice a day.
  3. Floss daily.
  4. Massage your gums.
Can you reverse gum recession?

Gum recession can’t be reversed. This means receded gum tissue won’t grow back. However, mild gum recession doesn’t necessarily put your mouth at increased risk of gum disease. You may need to have occasional deep cleaning treatments called “scaling and root planing” to treat gum recession.

Can anything be done for receding gums?
Gum recession is not something you want to ignore. If you think your gums are receding, make an appointment with Dr. Khansari. There are treatments that can repair the gum and prevent further damage.
Do gums recede with age?

Gums do naturally recede with age, which is why many people think that there’s really no way to stop receding gums from occurring. The truth is, however, that gums may recede for a number of reasons, including overaggressive brushing, inadequate brushing and flossing, tooth grinding (bruxism), and gum disease.

How do you stop receding gums from getting worse naturally?

Brush your teeth for at least two minutes at least twice a day. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush to remove plaque and debris from your teeth and along the gum line. Depending on how vigorously you brush, a medium- or hard-bristled brush could damage your gums, root surface, and tooth enamel.

Deep Gum Cleaning

Is deep gum cleaning really necessary?

After examining your mouth and X-rays, your dentist looks somber and delivers the bad news: Your gums are in such bad shape you’re going to need a rather invasive-sounding procedure called “deep cleaning.” You wonder if it’s really necessary. …Deep cleaning is officially known as scaling and root planing.

Can I scrape plaque off my teeth?

The best ways to prevent plaque from forming is to stick to good dental habits. Your dentist will scrape and clean your teeth so they’re free of plaque and tartar. They may also perform a fluoride treatment, which can prevent and slow the growth of plaque bacteria and buildup of tartar on your teeth.

Does Deep Cleaning make your teeth whiter?

​Since tartar has a yellow color, having it removed from your teeth may result in a whiter, brighter smile without the need for additional whitening treatment. Once your hygienist finishes removing the tartar, they will polish your teeth with a special motorized polishing tool.

Laser Treatment

What is laser treatment for gum disease?

Lasers can be used to treat periodontal disease. Current controlled studies have shown that similar results have been found with the laser compared to specific other treatment options, including scaling and root planing alone. Scaling and root planning is a traditional non-surgical therapy used to treat periodontal diseases.

The PerioLase® laser is used as part of Laser Periodontal Treatment to remove harmful bacteria and diseased tissue from the gum pocket by passing a laser light between gum and tooth. The laser uses heat to strip away the diseased gum.

Is the use of lasers in periodontal therapy harmful to patients?

Yes and no. Each laser has different wavelengths and power levels that can be used safely during different periodontal procedures. However, damage to periodontal tissues can result if a laser with an inappropriate wavelength and/or power level is used during a periodontal procedure.

Can laser treatment cure periodontal disease?

Similar to the benefits seen in arthroscopic surgeries, periodontal laser therapies are less invasive, less painful, and offer faster recovery. The only laser-based surgery with FDA clearance for True Regeneration™ to regenerate tissues lost to gum disease and “peer-reviewed” science is the LANAP® protocol.

Can I trust the claims in an ad for periodontal therapy performed with a laser?

It is important to beware of advertising that sounds too good to be true because it very well may be. A dental professional can help you separate facts from the hype.

How much is laser gum removal?

Gum contouring can cost anywhere from $50 – $350 per tooth. Dental insurance may cover some of the cost if the periodontal plastic surgery procedure is medically necessary, but not if the procedure is purely for cosmetic reasons.

What is LANAP® laser periodontal surgery?

An FDA-cleared laser treatment called the LANAP® protocol offers a less painful, more successful treatment alternative to conventional surgery. LANAP=LAR is the only scientifically, research-proven methodology that results in true periodontal regeneration, new bone growth, and gum tissue reattachment.

How does LANAP® work?

The success of the LANAP® protocol is rooted in laser physics and the unique interaction between the tissue in the mouth and the variable pulsed wavelength of the PerioLase MVP-7 1064 Nd:YAG dental laser. Simply put – the wavelength targets the diseased tissue without harming healthy tissue.

Is LANAP® surgery effective?

Studies on LANAP® procedure show positive results, such as less tooth loss after laser surgery, as compared to traditional surgery. It also has been shown to increase new tissue attachments between gum and bone after treatment, and aid in gum regeneration for periodontal patients.

What does LANAP® stand for?

Laser-Assisted New Attachment Procedure. Laser-assisted new attachment procedure (LANAP®) is a surgical therapy for the treatment of periodontitis, intended to work through regeneration rather than resection. This therapy and the laser used to perform it has been in use since 1994.

Have questions that wasn’t answered?

We’re happy to answer any additional questions you may have and discuss your individual situation!

Please don’t hesitate to contact us or give us a call at 858.679.0124.