The Graduate Periodontics Clinic at the University of Washington School of Dentistry in Seattle, Washington, offers periodontal (gum) and implant treatment to patients who provide a good teaching experience for the students.
Treatments and Services
- Treat patients with problems of the gums and bone surrounding teeth.
- Provide implants, “deep cleaning” of teeth, gum and bone grafts.
- Helps to prevent tooth loss and maintain good function.
Who will provide my periodontal care?
The Department of Periodontics accepts 4 graduate students each year for its 3 year program of advanced training. These students are doctors who have already completed dental school, then chosen to specialize in periodontics. They are enrolled in an intensive program of classroom, research and clinical training that leads to a Certificate in Periodontics and a Master of Science in Dentistry Degree.
What to expect
- Patients are treated by graduate students in the department. These students are doctors who have already completed dental school and have chosen to specialize in Periodontics.
- You will have an initial screening exam (non-refundable exam fee of $33, payable when the appointment is made), and if you qualify for treatment in our clinic, you will be given appointments for a comprehensive examination and any needed radiographs (x-rays).
- If your case is not appropriate for our teaching clinic, you will still receive a brief explanation of your dental problems as well as options for seeking care in the pre-doctoral clinic, the faculty practice or an outside private practice.
To qualify for screening you must:
- Accept that appointment times are limited and that they can take longer than in private practice;
- Live in the greater Seattle area (within a 1 hour commute distance);
- Pre-pay the $33 screening exam fee prior to your appointment;
- Bring a photo ID for patient registration
- Patient Rights & Responsibilities Brochure (PDF)
Appointments
A referral from your dental provider, indicating the type of periodontal care you are seeking, is preferred, however; we do accept self-referrals as well.
It can be helpful to have radiographs (x-rays) from a referring dentist (relative to the treatment you are seeking) to initially assess your care needs. These records can be imported electronically to the UW School of Dentistry’s Radiology Department, or can be brought (on a CD-ROM) to the appointment for viewing by your doctor.
Fees and Insurance
The Graduate Periodontics Clinic offers reduced fees (compared to private specialists) for patients whose treatment provides a good teaching experience for our graduate students.
Clinic Location
Our clinic is located in Room B-403 on the fourth floor of the B-Wing of the Magnuson Health Sciences Center. For maps, transit and parking information, please visit our location and directions page.
Special Policies
- A missed appointment will result in a $33 service charge.
- The Graduate Periodontics Clinic is not an Apple Health provider.
- Treatment in the clinic is available for patients 12 years of age and older.
What is Periodontics?
Periodontics is the specialty of dentistry that deals with problems of the gums and bone surrounding your teeth. The placement of dental implants has become a major part of periodontics over the past twenty five years. General dentists may provide initial periodontal therapy or they may refer difficult treatment cases to a periodontist for specialty care.
Periodontic services include:
- Scaling and Root Planing (also known as “deep cleaning”) – removing calculus below the level of the gum line.
- Gum grafts – surgical procedures to correct receding gums.
- Bone grafts – surgical treatment to add bone height, width or depth
- Extractions – removal of teeth that cannot be saved
- Implant placement and therapy