Gum Disease Treatment
in Turnersville, NJ
 Gum disease treatment at Periodontal Health Professionals in Turnersville, NJ is led by board-certified periodontist Dr. Gail Childers, the same specialist who treats patients at our Marlton location during the rest of the week.
Our Turnersville practice at 900 Route 168, Suite B-6 sees patients Tuesdays and Thursdays and serves Washington Township, Sewell, Sicklerville, and the surrounding Gloucester County area. The closer office means most gum disease care – exams, scaling and root planing, follow-ups, and ongoing maintenance – can happen without a drive into Burlington County.
If your gums bleed when you brush, look red or pulled away from the teeth, or you've noticed a tooth feeling loose, those are the warning signs that bring most patients to a periodontist. Most stages of gum disease respond well to treatment, especially when caught early. If you're still trying to figure out whether what you're noticing counts as a problem, the symptoms of gum disease page walks through the typical signs in detail.
Gum disease treatment is one part of the periodontal services we offer – gum grafting, regenerative procedures, dental implants, and laser-assisted care among them. Patients closer to Marlton or coming in from Burlington and Camden counties may prefer our Marlton gum disease page for that office's specific contact info and hours.
On This Page
How Gum Disease Progresses
 Knowing where you fall in the progression of gum disease shapes the treatment recommendation. The earliest stages respond to relatively conservative care; later stages need more intensive treatment but can still be stabilized.
Gingivitis shows up as inflamed, bleeding gums caused by plaque and tartar at the gumline. No bone damage has happened yet. This stage is fully reversible with professional cleaning and a consistent home routine. Most patients who arrive at this stage see their gums settle back to normal within a few weeks.
Early to moderate periodontitis is the point where the bacterial infection has slipped below the gumline and started to break down the bone that holds the teeth in place. Pockets form between teeth and gums. The symptoms are often subtle – slight tenderness, more frequent bleeding, occasional bad breath that doesn't clear with brushing – which is why many patients don't notice the shift from gingivitis to periodontitis without a specialist exam.
Advanced periodontitis involves deeper pockets, significant bone loss, and teeth that may feel loose or shift slightly. Treatment is still effective and often saves the affected teeth, but the focus shifts toward stopping the disease and stabilizing the existing bone and tissue rather than full reversal. We're honest with each patient about which teeth have a strong long-term outlook.
Several factors accelerate gum disease, including smoking, uncontrolled diabetes, some medications, and genetics. The body and mouth connection page covers how active gum infection interacts with conditions like cardiovascular disease and harder-to-control diabetes.
Your Board-Certified Periodontist at Our Turnersville Office
Dr. Gail Childers is a Diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology – the credential earned by completing a three-year residency in periodontics after dental school and passing the board's certifying examination. Periodontists are the specialty trained to diagnose, treat, and manage gum disease in all stages, from the earliest gingivitis to advanced periodontitis with bone loss. The Dr. Gail Childers bio page covers his training, faculty appointments, and clinical interests in detail.
Patients in Gloucester County see Dr. Childers at our Turnersville office on Tuesdays and Thursdays, the same specialist who treats patients in Marlton the rest of the week. The clinical work is identical between offices, with the same board-certified specialist and the same treatment standards. The Turnersville office runs primarily for routine periodontal care, scaling and root planing, follow-up exams, periodontal maintenance, and surgical procedures that don't require the full equipment array housed in Marlton.
Dr. Childers's specialty experience spans 30 years in South Jersey and the Greater Philadelphia area. He's a Fellow of the International Team of Implantology, teaches periodontics at the University of Pennsylvania, and has served as President of the Northeastern Society of Periodontists. For patients with complex cases – significant bone loss, multiple failing teeth, combined perio and implant planning – that depth of specialty experience tends to translate into more conservative treatment options on the table than you'd find at a general practice.
How We Approach Gum Disease Treatment
 Treatment begins with a complete periodontal evaluation. We measure pocket depths around every tooth, check where the gums attach, look for bleeding sites, and review your updated X-rays. For cases involving potential bone loss or implant planning, CBCT 3D imaging gives us a much more detailed view of the bone underneath than standard X-rays alone. When the exam suggests treatment beyond cleaning, options range from LANAP laser therapy to traditional gum surgery to regenerative procedures, and we walk through each one in plain terms before any decision.
For early to moderate disease, treatment almost always starts with non-surgical care. Scaling and root planing removes plaque, tartar, and bacterial deposits from below the gumline and smooths the root surfaces so the gums can reattach. Most patients have this done in one or two visits with local anesthesia, and recovery typically involves a day or two of mild gum tenderness. Targeted antibiotic therapy can be folded in when specific pockets need extra attention after the initial cleaning – more on our non-surgical treatment options.
For cases that need more, the next step is usually one of these surgical or laser-assisted options:
- LANAP laser treatment – A minimally invasive laser approach that selectively targets diseased tissue while leaving healthy gum intact; recovery is generally easier than after traditional gum surgery.
- Pocket reduction surgery – We access deeper periodontal pockets directly, clean out infected tissue, and reshape the bone if needed so the pockets can be maintained at a healthy depth.
- Regenerative therapy – Bone grafting and biologic materials that rebuild lost bone and reattach the gums to the tooth in cases where the disease has done significant structural damage.
- Soft tissue grafting – Used when gum recession has exposed root surfaces, particularly when long-term periodontitis has thinned the gum tissue.
Where the procedure happens depends on the case. We handle routine non-surgical care, maintenance visits, and simpler surgical procedures at our Turnersville office. More involved cases – particularly those requiring the full CBCT, X-Guide implant navigation, or extended IV sedation setup – happen at our Marlton office, where the additional equipment is housed. We tell you which location fits your specific treatment plan at consultation, so the logistics are clear before any work begins.
After the active disease is under control, treatment shifts into the maintenance phase. Periodontal maintenance visits, usually every three to four months for the first year or two, are essential to keeping the disease from coming back. We coordinate these with your general dentist's office whenever possible so you're not duplicating cleanings. The periodontal maintenance page walks through what each visit looks like and how often we schedule them.
What You Gain From Treatment
The biggest reason to address gum disease is that what you lose to it doesn't come back on its own. Bone and gum tissue destroyed by active periodontitis are permanent losses. Treatment now stops the damage and, in many cases, lets us rebuild some of what's been lost – particularly when regenerative procedures involving bone grafting and our in-office PRGF-Endoret system are part of the plan.
Two of the symptoms patients notice most – bleeding gums and bad breath that doesn't clear with brushing – tend to resolve within the first few weeks of effective treatment. The improvement usually shows up clearly at your four-to-six-week follow-up exam.
For patients considering or already planning dental implants, treating active gum disease first is non-negotiable. Implants depend on healthy bone and gum tissue for long-term success. Dr. Childers's Fellowship with the International Team of Implantology means we often plan gum disease treatment with future implant work in mind for patients who may eventually need it.
Beyond the mouth itself, untreated gum infection has documented links to cardiovascular disease and harder-to-control diabetes. When systemic conditions are part of the picture, we coordinate with your physician so the periodontal piece supports rather than complicates the rest of your medical care. The treatment for loose teeth page explains how we approach the cases that have already progressed to mobile teeth, which is where many patients arrive for their first specialty exam.
Why Patients in Gloucester County Choose Our Practice
Patients in Washington Township, Sewell, Sicklerville, and the surrounding Gloucester County area no longer need to drive into Burlington County for board-certified periodontal care. At Periodontal Health Professionals, our Turnersville office at 900 Route 168 offers the same Dr. Childers and the same standards of care as our Marlton office – just closer to home for patients on this side of the metro area.
Dr. Childers has practiced periodontics and dental implants exclusively for 30 years, not as part of a general dental practice but as a full-time specialty. He's a Fellow of the International Team of Implantology, teaches the next generation of periodontists at the University of Pennsylvania, and holds Certification in the Chao Pinhole Surgical Technique for gum recession cases. That depth of specialty focus is what tends to differentiate the treatment options available to patients with complex cases.
Our clinical approach leans toward conservative, minimally invasive options whenever the case allows. Periodontal microsurgery, laser-assisted treatment, and the Chao Pinhole technique often give us a less-invasive path forward than traditional gum surgery. The CBCT 3D imaging, ultrasonic scalers, and in-office PRP/PRF systems described on our Advanced Technology page support both offices regardless of which location handles your case.
We work closely with general dentists in the Washington Township and Gloucester County area on shared cases. When your dentist refers you here, we communicate back with them throughout treatment, share imaging and notes, and time the maintenance phase so it integrates with the cleaning schedule you already have. If you've come in on your own, we'll help you find a great general dentist if you need one.
Cost and Insurance for Gum Disease Treatment
Cost matters, and we want to be upfront with you about what to expect. The cost of gum disease treatment depends on how advanced the disease is, how many areas of the mouth need care, whether the treatment plan is non-surgical or surgical, and whether regenerative procedures like bone grafting are involved. After the initial periodontal exam, we give you a clear, itemized estimate so you know what you're looking at before any work begins.
Most dental insurance plans cover at least part of periodontal treatment. Scaling and root planing tends to be covered fairly well, while surgical and regenerative procedures involve more variable coverage depending on the plan. Our front desk verifies your specific benefits ahead of treatment and walks you through what's covered, what's out of pocket, and what your portion will look like. For patients without insurance or with limited coverage, we offer discount programs and payment plans for qualifying situations – more on our insurance and financing options.
Schedule at Our Turnersville Office
Treating gum disease earlier almost always means less invasive treatment and a better long-term outcome. If your dentist has flagged gum disease, or you've been putting off a periodontal exam, this is a good time to schedule. Call us at (856) 702-4340 or request an appointment online. Our Turnersville office is at 900 Route 168, Suite B-6, Turnersville, NJ 08012. We see patients there on Tuesdays and Thursdays. For questions before booking, our Contact page is the easiest way to reach us.
Frequently Asked Questions
How are your Marlton and Turnersville offices different?
Both offices have the same board-certified periodontist (Dr. Gail Childers) and follow the same treatment standards. The Marlton office houses the practice's full equipment array including X-Guide implant navigation and the broader sedation setup, so we typically schedule complex surgical and implant cases there. The Turnersville office handles the full range of routine periodontal care, scaling and root planing, follow-up exams, periodontal maintenance, and many surgical procedures.
Can I get all gum disease treatment at the Turnersville office?
Yes for most treatment, but not every case. Routine periodontal exams, scaling and root planing, maintenance visits, and many surgical procedures happen at the Turnersville office. If your case involves implant placement with X-Guide navigation, advanced bone-loss assessment requiring CBCT, or extended IV sedation, those visits happen at our Marlton office. When a treatment plan spans both kinds of work, we coordinate the scheduling between locations so you know which visits happen where.
What are the Turnersville office's hours?
Our Turnersville location at 900 Route 168 is open Tuesdays 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Thursdays 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Tuesday extended hours work well for patients who keep standard daytime schedules. For appointments outside those windows, our Marlton office is open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
Will gum disease treatment hurt?
Non-surgical care like scaling and root planing is done with local anesthesia, and most patients describe the experience as similar to a longer routine cleaning – pressure rather than pain. For surgical or laser-assisted procedures, you'll have a few days of soreness and swelling during recovery, managed with over-the-counter or prescribed medication. We go over the comfort plan in detail before any procedure starts.
Do I always need surgery for gum disease?
Not at all. Most gingivitis and many moderate periodontitis cases respond fully to non-surgical treatment alone. Surgery enters the conversation only when pocket depths or bone loss have progressed past what scaling and root planing can address, or when the disease comes back after conservative treatment. When surgery is needed, LANAP laser therapy is often an option for patients who want a less invasive alternative.
How long does gum disease treatment take from start to finish?
Non-surgical treatment generally wraps up in one or two visits, with a follow-up exam four to six weeks later to check how the gums responded. Surgical or regenerative cases can extend over several months from initial exam through healing. After active treatment, ongoing maintenance visits every three to four months become part of your routine to keep the disease stable long-term.
Does insurance cover gum disease treatment at the Turnersville office?
Most dental insurance plans cover at least part of gum disease treatment, regardless of which office you visit. Scaling and root planing tends to be covered fairly well; surgical and regenerative procedures vary more by plan. Our front desk verifies benefits before treatment starts so the financial picture is clear up front. More on our insurance and financing options.
What happens if I let gum disease go untreated?
The disease keeps progressing – pockets deepen, bone loss continues, and teeth eventually loosen and can be lost. The consequences of gum disease page details what untreated periodontitis does at each stage, including systemic effects on cardiovascular health and diabetes management. The bright spot is that the disease typically moves slowly, so there's usually time to intervene effectively once you start acting on the warning signs. |
