Periodontal & Esthetic Surgery in La Jolla, Since 1989

Three board-certified periodontists, each with distinct sub-specialty experience.

Dr. Peter Nordland, DMD, MS is a founding member of the International Society of Periodontal Plastic Surgeons (1987) and co-originator of the Nordland-Tarnow papilla classification system. Past President of the Western Society of Periodontology.

Dr. Stephen Hutton, DMD, MS, MPH is a retired US Navy Commander, double-board-certified in periodontology and dental implant surgery. Holds the California IV moderate conscious sedation permit.

Dr. John Lofthus, DDS, MS has practiced periodontal surgery for 35 years and serves on the faculty at UCLA School of Dentistry.

The practice operates on referrals, not advertising. About 80 percent of new patients come through general dentists, orthodontists, and prosthodontists in the San Diego area who refer cases they do not handle in-house: advanced periodontitis, failing implants, severe gum recession, or full-arch reconstruction.

Three things shape how every case is handled. First, microsurgical instruments and high-magnification visualization on every soft-tissue procedure. Second, a 3D cone-beam CT scan before any implant placement or bone graft. Third, scheduled follow-ups at 2 weeks, 6 weeks, and 3 months on every surgical case to confirm the result is stable before treatment is considered complete.

What is not within scope: general dentistry, orthodontics, endodontics, and pediatric care. Patients are referred back to their original general dentist for those needs.

Every soft-tissue surgical procedure in this practice is performed under a high-magnification surgical microscope, not the standard surgical loupes used in most periodontal offices. The difference is significant when treating delicate structures like the interdental papilla or thin gum tissue around an implant collar.

Under a surgical microscope at 16 to 25 times magnification, the surgeon sees individual collagen fibers, blood vessel orientation, and the exact junction between connective tissue and epithelium. The result is smaller incisions, suture sites that close primarily on the first attempt, and less collateral damage to healthy tissue.

For patients, the clinical effect is shorter recovery time, less post-operative discomfort, and esthetic results that integrate naturally with the surrounding tissue. For complex cases such as covering exposed roots on multiple teeth in a single visit, microsurgical technique is what makes a predictable outcome possible.

The case load falls into three categories. The sections below describe what each category includes and the techniques used.

Both non-surgical and surgical treatment of periodontitis, plus repair of damage already done.

Single-tooth, multiple-tooth, and full-arch implant cases, including revision of failed implants from other providers.

Reshaping the gum line, restoring lost papillae, and creating the soft-tissue foundation for veneers and crowns.

Most patients have never seen a periodontist before being referred to one. The first visit is largely diagnostic. No surgical commitment is made at the consultation, and no decision is required until you have reviewed the written treatment plan.

Consultations are by appointment. The first visit is diagnostic only: there is no surgical commitment and no pressure. After the exam, you receive a written treatment plan with itemized costs and expected timelines that you can review at home before deciding on next steps.

Call the office at (858) 459-7374 or book a 15-minute pre-consultation call online.