01 Periodontist
✓ Medically reviewed by Dr. Neel Bhatavadekar, Periodontist & Implantologist
A periodontist is a dentist with additional years of specialized training in diagnosing and treating conditions of the gums and the bone that supports your teeth, from early gum disease through more advanced periodontal care.
At Clarus Dental Specialities in Koregaon Park, periodontal care is led directly by Dr. Neel Bhatavadekar, Pune's only US Board Certified Periodontist and Implantologist.
Patients usually choose this for: gum disease at any stage receding gums bleeding or swollen gums bone loss around teeth
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Quick answer: A periodontist is a dentist who has completed additional specialized postgraduate training, beyond a general dental degree, focused specifically on the gums and the bone that anchors your teeth. This covers everything from early gum inflammation to advanced periodontal disease, gum grafting, and dental implants, since implants are placed directly into that same gum and bone tissue. In Koregaon Park, Pune, periodontal care is provided directly by Dr. Neel Bhatavadekar, Pune's only US Board Certified Periodontist and Implantologist.
Before You Book
But if you want treatment backed by science and done by a US Board Certified Specialist, you're in the right chair.
02 Overview
After completing a general dental degree, a periodontist goes on to complete several more years of postgraduate training focused specifically on the gums, the ligament connecting tooth to bone, and the jawbone itself, the tissues that quietly do the work of holding every tooth in place.
This training covers the full range of gum health, from mild gingivitis through advanced periodontal disease involving significant bone loss, as well as the surgical procedures used to treat it: deep cleaning below the gumline, gum grafting, and periodontal surgery.
Because dental implants are placed directly into gum and bone tissue, periodontists are also very often the specialists placing them, which is why the title "Periodontist and Implantologist" commonly appears together, as it does for Dr. Neel Bhatavadekar at this practice.
03 Who Needs One
Some concerns are squarely a periodontist's territory, others are well handled by a general dentist.
04 Background
It's easy to focus on teeth themselves and overlook the gum and bone tissue around them, but that tissue is what actually holds every tooth in place. When it's compromised, by gum disease, recession, or bone loss, the effects eventually reach the teeth themselves, regardless of how healthy those teeth otherwise are.
This is also why periodontal health is checked before many other dental procedures, a crown, a bridge, or an implant all depend on the gum and bone foundation being sound first.
A periodontist's training is specifically built around recognizing and treating this foundation early, often before a patient notices any pain at all, since gum disease is frequently painless in its earlier, more treatable stages.
05 Services
These are among the core services a periodontist provides.
Diagnosis and treatment across every stage of gum disease, from early gingivitis to advanced periodontitis.
Restores gum tissue lost to recession, protecting exposed tooth roots.
Root-and-crown tooth replacement placed directly into gum and bone tissue.
06 How It Works
Gum pocket depths are measured around each tooth to assess current gum health.
Bone levels around your teeth are assessed to understand the full picture.
Your specific stage of gum health, or gum disease, is identified clearly.
This may include deep cleaning, gum grafting, or periodontal surgery, matched to what's found.
An ongoing care schedule is set to protect your gum health going forward.
07 Cost Factors
Cost depends on individual case factors and is discussed only after examination, once the following are known:
A specific estimate is only meaningful after a clinical evaluation. This section is informational and is not a quotation.
If gum disease or a periodontal treatment plan has already been discussed elsewhere, Dr. Neel is available to review your case and confirm the recommended approach.
08 What to Expect
Mild tenderness is common after a deep cleaning or minor procedure, and typically settles within a few days.
Specific home care guidance is given, particularly after any surgical treatment.
Gum health is reassessed at intervals to track how well treatment is working.
Periodontal health needs consistent maintenance, not a one-time fix, to stay stable long-term.
09 Good to Know
Being upfront about the trade-offs matters:
10 Your Visit
Your first visit includes a full periodontal examination and charting, along with imaging to assess bone levels, followed by a clear, honest explanation of your current gum health and any recommended treatment.
11 Why This Clinic
BDS (Nair Hospital Dental College, Mumbai) · Postgraduate periodontology training, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA · Diplomate, American Board of Periodontology (2008) · ITI Fellow, International Team for Implantology (2009)
Dr. Neel is Pune's only US Board Certified Periodontist and Implantologist, and one of only two in India, bringing genuine specialist training to every stage of gum and bone health care.
A credential held by only two periodontists in India, and only one in Pune.
Crowns, bridges, and implants are all planned on a foundation of confirmed periodontal health.
The same specialist handles gum treatment and the implants placed into that tissue.
The only dental clinic in Pune listed by the US Consulate Mumbai.
Patients can also read independent reviews on Google and Practo.
12 Visit Us
This dentist and dental clinic in Koregaon Park also treats patients from nearby areas of Pune. See the full Koregaon Park clinic page →
13 International Patients
Clarus Dental Specialities is the only dental clinic in Pune listed by the US Consulate Mumbai, and Dr. Neel holds a dual US-India dental license, giving NRI and overseas patients confidence in the standard of cosmetic dental care available here.
Clarus Dental Specialities is the only dental clinic in Pune listed by the US Consulate Mumbai, and Dr. Neel holds a dual US-India dental license, giving international and NRI patients confidence in the standard of periodontal care available here during a visit to Pune.
14 FAQ
A periodontist has completed several additional years of postgraduate training focused specifically on the gums and supporting bone, beyond a general dental degree.
No, you can see a periodontist directly, a referral isn't required.
Yes, periodontists are commonly the specialists placing implants, since implants go directly into the gum and bone tissue they're trained in.
Early-stage gingivitis is generally reversible with treatment and good home care, more advanced periodontal disease is managed and stabilized rather than fully reversed.
This depends on the severity of your case, discussed and set individually as part of your maintenance plan.
It can progress to further bone loss, loose teeth, and eventually tooth loss, which is why earlier treatment generally has better outcomes.
No, periodontists also treat early gum inflammation and provide preventive periodontal care, not just advanced cases.
1. Clinical literature and guidelines on periodontal disease diagnosis and treatment, indexed on PubMed Central. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc
2. Dr. Neel Bhatavadekar's peer-reviewed publications, indexed on PubMed. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Call or WhatsApp the clinic directly to ask questions or set up a periodontal consultation with Dr. Neel Bhatavadekar.
This page provides general dental information and does not constitute a diagnosis, treatment plan, or medical advice. Outcomes vary by individual case. No specific results, costs, or timelines are guaranteed. Please consult Dr. Neel Bhatavadekar or a qualified specialist for advice specific to your condition.
