When Deep Cleaning Isn't Enough - Gum Surgery in Everett, WA
Pockets too deep to clean, gums receding away from the roots, or bone already lost. Surgical treatment reaches what a deep clean can’t, and it’s carried out here by our in-house periodontist rather than referred across town. Trusted by Everett families with 330+ reviews, 4.9 stars on Google.
4.9 Stars on Google
Family-Friendly Office
New Patients Welcome
Modern & Comfortable Facility
Now accepting new patients. Call ahead and we’ll find a time that works for you.
Why Patients Choose Us
Surgical Gum Care Without a Referral
Most practices refer gum surgery out to a specialist across town. Ours is in the building, so the dentist who spotted the problem and the periodontist who treats it are on the same team.
- Specialist surgical care without a referral
- Flap surgery, osseous surgery and gum grafting all done here
- The area is fully numbed with local anesthetic throughout
- A written estimate before treatment starts
Your Periodontist
Treated by a Specialist
Dr. Betsy Mosquera is our in-house periodontist, with over 20 years of experience and periodontal training from Saint Louis University. She performs the surgical work here, so there is no waiting for a referral appointment elsewhere.
No Surprises
A Written Estimate Before Treatment
You will know what the surgery involves, how many areas need treating, and what it costs before anything starts.
When Surgery Is Needed
Why Deep Cleaning Sometimes Isn't Enough
Your gum and bone should fit snugly around each tooth, much like a turtleneck around your neck. Gum disease destroys that supporting tissue, and pockets form between the gum and the tooth. Bacteria collect in those pockets, which causes more bone loss, which deepens the pockets further.
Once a pocket is too deep to clean at home or with a professional cleaning, surgery is what stops the cycle.
Signs you may be at that stage:
- Pockets measuring 5mm or deeper at your last check
- Gums that keep bleeding despite good brushing and regular cleanings
- Teeth that feel loose or have shifted
- Gums visibly receding, with roots exposed
- Gum disease that keeps returning after treatment
Pocket Reduction
Flap and Osseous Surgery
Also called pocket reduction surgery, flap surgery, or osseous surgery depending on exactly what’s needed.
Under local anesthetic, the gum is lifted away from the tooth so the root surfaces can be cleaned properly. Where the infection has damaged the bone, it’s smoothed and reshaped, or filled with regenerative material such as Emdogain or a bone graft. The gum is then stitched back to fit closely against the tooth.
The point is to make the pockets shallow enough that your own brushing and flossing can keep them clean. That’s what protects the tooth long term, and it also reduces the wider health risks associated with untreated gum disease.
Receding Gums
Gum Grafting for Recession
When gums recede, the root of the tooth is exposed. That causes sensitivity to cold, makes the tooth look longer, and leaves the root vulnerable to decay because it has no enamel covering it.
A gum graft covers the exposed root with healthy tissue, either taken from the roof of your mouth or from a donor source. It stops the recession getting worse, reduces sensitivity, and protects the root.
Recession has several causes: gum disease, brushing too hard, grinding, or simply the position of the tooth. We’ll work out which applies to you, because treating the cause matters as much as covering the root.
After Surgery
Recovery and Aftercare
Some swelling is normal. An ice pack against the outside of your face helps in the first day or two, and warm salt water rinses reduce swelling and keep the area clean over the following week.
Antibiotics are sometimes prescribed before, during or after treatment to prevent infection.
You’ll come back a week or two later so we can check the area is healing properly.
Is it painful?
Periodontal surgery has an old reputation that modern technique doesn’t deserve. The area is fully numbed throughout, and the procedure is far less invasive than it once was. Most patients find recovery more manageable than they expected.
Cost & Payment
What Does Gum Surgery Cost?
It depends on the extent of the treatment. A single area is very different from surgery across several quadrants, and grafting or bone regeneration adds to it. We’ll give you a written estimate before any work starts.
What affects the price:
- How many areas of the mouth need treating
- Whether gum grafting is part of the treatment
- Whether the bone needs regenerative material rather than reshaping alone
- Whether other treatment is needed first
Does Insurance Cover It?
Usually, at least in part. Periodontal surgery is generally classed as necessary rather than cosmetic, so most plans contribute. We’ll check your specific plan and tell you where you stand before you commit.
Please note: We do not accept DSHS, Apple Care, Apple Health, or Provider One dental insurance plans.
Paying the Balance
We offer CareCredit and can arrange payment in installments.
Not sure whether you need surgery?
Come in and we’ll measure your pockets, tell you what we find, and set out what treatment would involve.
Your Periodontist
Who Performs Your Surgery
Gum surgery here is performed by our in-house periodontist, so you are not referred to another practice for the surgical stage of your treatment.
Periodontist
With over 20 years of experience and periodontal training from Saint Louis University, Dr. Mosquera performs flap and osseous surgery, gum grafting, bone grafting and implant placement.
Want to meet the team in person?
Visit our Everett dental office – we love meeting new patients and
families. You can also meet our support team, the people who will greet you at the door and help with scheduling and insurance.
testimonials
What Patients Say About Icon Dental Center
Our patients say it best. With over 330 five-star reviews on Google, Icon Dental Center is one of Everett’s most trusted dental providers. Here’s what your neighbors are saying:
New Patient Forms
Save Time at Your First Visit
Download and complete your new patient forms before your visit, so there’s less to fill in when you arrive. Bring them with you, or email them ahead.
Location
Visit Our Everett Dental Office
Ready to Book Your Appointment? Whether you’re due for a routine checkup or considering cosmetic treatment, our friendly team in Everett is here to help.
Icon Dental Center – Everett
Address:
1820 100th Pl SE Suite B, Everett, WA 98208, United States
Phone:
(425) 337-2400
Hours:
Mon, Tues, Thu: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Wed 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Sat, Sun & Fri: Closed
Faq's
Frequently Asked Questions
A deep cleaning treats pockets from above the gumline. Surgery lifts the gum so the root and bone underneath can be cleaned and reshaped directly. Surgery is for pockets too deep for cleaning to resolve.
It’s pocket reduction surgery where the bone itself needs reshaping, not just the gum. The bone is smoothed or rebuilt so the gum can fit closely against the tooth again.
The area is numbed throughout. Some swelling and tenderness for a few days afterwards is normal, and manageable with an ice pack and salt water rinses.
Most people return to normal activity the next day. Full healing of the gum tissue takes a few weeks, and we’ll check the area at a follow-up visit.
No. Gum tissue doesn’t regrow on its own, which is why grafting is used to cover an exposed root. The important thing is stopping the recession getting worse.
Usually at least in part, since periodontal surgery is treated as necessary rather than cosmetic. We’ll check your plan before you commit.
Last updated: September 2026