Gum health is the foundation on which everything else in your mouth is built. When the tissue and bone that support your teeth are compromised, the effects reach further than most patients expect — affecting not just how your smile looks, but how long your teeth last and, increasingly, your overall systemic health. At LALUME Dental Studio in Newport Beach, patients have access to in-house periodontal care through Dr. Ara Bakian, a periodontist who visits the practice monthly to perform specialty procedures including gum disease treatment, gum grafting, crown lengthening, sinus lifts, implant placement, and extractions.
Working alongside Dr. Shahira Saad — a UCLA School of Dentistry graduate with advanced training in cosmetic dentistry and smile design — LALUME offers a level of coordinated in-house periodontal and restorative care that is genuinely uncommon in a boutique practice. Most patients who need periodontal work are referred elsewhere and left to manage multiple offices and treatment timelines. At LALUME, that coordination happens in one place, with both doctors communicating directly and planning with the final result already in mind.
A periodontist is a dental specialist who completes an additional three years of residency training after dental school, focused entirely on the gums, jawbone, and the connective tissue that holds teeth in place. While a general dentist provides comprehensive dental care, a periodontist brings specialist-level depth to anything involving the structures beneath the teeth. That distinction matters most when disease has progressed, when implants or bone work are needed, or when cosmetic treatment depends on the gum and bone foundation being correct first.
Periodontal disease is the most common reason patients seek a periodontist, but it is far from the only one. Research published in the National Institutes of Health’s PMC database confirms that periodontal disease is closely linked to systemic conditions including cardiovascular disease and diabetes, making timely treatment a matter of whole-body health. Beyond disease, periodontists perform a range of procedures that support both function and aesthetics: scaling and root planing, pocket reduction surgery, gum grafting, crown lengthening, guided bone regeneration, sinus lifts, and implant placement. At LALUME, all of these procedures are available in-house through Dr. Bakian, coordinated from the outset with Dr. Saad’s restorative and cosmetic treatment plan. Regular periodontal evaluations — including digital scanning and detailed gum assessments — help catch changes early, before they require more complex intervention.
Periodontal disease begins as inflammation of the gum tissue and, left untreated, progresses to destroy the bone that holds your teeth in place. In its early stage, gingivitis, gums may appear red or swollen and bleed during brushing or flossing. As it advances to mild periodontitis, pockets form between the teeth and gum tissue — measuring 4 to 6mm in depth — and infection begins working below the gumline. In advanced periodontitis, pockets exceed 6mm, significant bone loss occurs, and teeth may shift or loosen. Because early-stage disease is often painless, many patients are unaware of the condition until it has already progressed. Common symptoms that warrant evaluation include bleeding gums, persistent bad breath, receding gum tissue, loose or shifting teeth, and sensitivity at the gumline. Regular evaluations at LALUME, including digital scanning and detailed probing measurements, are the most reliable way to catch changes early and protect the long-term stability of your smile.
Dr. Bakian's scope of care at LALUME extends well beyond treating active gum disease. Periodontal procedures play an equally important role in restorative and cosmetic treatment planning. Crown lengthening exposes more tooth structure for a restoration or reshapes the gumline ahead of veneers, creating the proportionate canvas that cosmetic work requires. Gum grafting covers exposed root surfaces, rebuilds receded gum tissue, and restores both function and appearance. Frenectomy releases restrictive tissue that causes gaps between teeth or tongue-tie. Guided bone regeneration and sinus lifts build the bone volume that implant placement depends on. Extractions are performed when a tooth cannot be saved and a clear path to replacement is needed. Having Dr. Bakian available in-house means these procedures are coordinated with Dr. Saad's porcelain veneers, implants, and smile design work from the very start — not after the fact as an afterthought.
One of the most meaningful advantages of treatment at LALUME is having both a periodontist and a cosmetic and restorative dentist working in the same practice, on the same patients, with a shared treatment plan from the very first appointment. Many patients who come in seeking veneers, implants, or a smile design consultation first need periodontal work to ensure the gum tissue and bone are healthy enough to support the final result. At other practices, that means referrals, separate offices, and a treatment sequence that no single provider is fully coordinating. At LALUME, Dr. Bakian and Dr. Saad communicate directly, plan together, and work with the end result already in mind — so the transition from periodontal care to cosmetic or restorative work is seamless and well-timed.
Periodontal treatment for disease management is often partially covered under PPO dental plans, and our team will review your benefits with you before any treatment begins. For procedures outside your coverage, Cherry and CareCredit financing options are available. Whether you are coming in for your first evaluation, managing an existing periodontal condition, or preparing for cosmetic work that requires a periodontal foundation, LALUME is ready to help you understand what is involved and what comes next. Contact our office to schedule a consultation.
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Give us a call to speak with one of our friendly team members, and schedule a consultation with Dr. Saad.
LALUME Dental Studio gives Newport Beach patients access to specialist-level periodontal care without ever leaving the warm, spa-like setting they have come to trust. Dr. Bakian brings focused periodontal training to the practice monthly, and Dr. Saad remains involved throughout every stage of care — from initial evaluation through any cosmetic or restorative work that follows. If you have noticed symptoms of gum disease, been told by your dentist that you need periodontal evaluation, or are planning treatment that requires a healthy gum and bone foundation first, a consultation at LALUME is the right starting point.
Our team will review your full clinical picture, explain your options clearly, and help you understand what treatment involves and what to expect at every step. Contact our office to schedule your consultation with Dr. Saad and Dr. Bakian.
Receive high-quality, personalized treatment recommendations from Dr. Saad and get answers to all your smile questions from the comfort of your own home.
Ample secure and safe paid parking located on-site.
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