Bleeding gums
Bleeding when brushing or flossing is often the first sign. Healthy gums rarely bleed.
Gum disease, treated here
Deep cleanings, also called scaling and root planing, done in this office by Dr. James Chon, DMD. Each step is explained and priced in writing before it starts.
At In Line Dentistry in Diamond Bar, Dr. James Chon, DMD, a general dentist, treats gum disease in-house with deep cleanings, also called scaling and root planing. Bleeding when brushing is often the first sign. Dr. Chon checks and measures the gums at the exam and gives an itemized written price before anything starts.
Start here
$95 for your complete first visit. $0 out of pocket with an active PPO plan.
New-patient visit
$95
Flat, for cash and HMO patients ($0 with an active PPO plan). Exam, X-rays, cleaning and a written plan.
With an active PPO plan
$0
When your plan covers preventive care at 100%. In-office whitening included for active PPO patients.
No insurance
$449/yr
The In Line Member plan: two cleanings, two exams, X-rays and 30% off treatment.
Plan for 90 minutes. We check your benefits for free before you come in. The first visit's cleaning is a regular cleaning. A deep cleaning is not part of that visit; it is itemized in writing at your exam, before anything starts. Financing is available on approved credit through CareCredit, Affirm, Klarna, Afterpay, Sunbit, LendingClub, and Proceed Finance. How financing works.
The signs
What the exam looks for
Early gum disease often does not hurt, so the exam is where it is usually found.
Red or swollen gums
Gums that look dark red or puffy, or feel tender, point to inflammation along the gum line.
Gums pulling back
Receding gums make teeth look longer and can leave the roots sensitive to cold.
Loose teeth or bad breath
Breath that stays bad, or teeth that feel loose or have shifted, can mean the bone is involved.
The deep cleaning
Below the gum line, done here
Dr. Chon measures the space between each tooth and the gum, then explains what the numbers mean. Dr. James Chon is a general dentist. For a deep cleaning, the section being treated is numbed first. The tartar is cleared from below the gum line, and the roots are smoothed so the gums can heal. If the gums need more than a deep cleaning, Dr. Chon explains the options plainly at the exam. Every step is explained before it happens, and every cost before that.
The money part
Priced in writing, before it starts
A deep cleaning depends on how many sections of the mouth need it, so there is no one-size number. You get an itemized written price at your exam, before anything starts. PPO insurance often shares the cost, and financing is available.
Transparent pricing
How our published prices and written itemized plans work.
The pricing pageInsurance
Most PPO plans welcome. We verify your benefits before your visit.
How insurance worksFinancing
CareCredit, Affirm, Klarna, Afterpay, Sunbit, LendingClub, and Proceed Finance, on approved credit.
Financing options The 4-year care policy
We stand behind our work.
Treatment is covered for four years from completion. One condition: keep up with your routine recall visits.
Read the policy →"Dr James is not only professional and very knowledgeable, his friendly demeanor kept me calm."
"Dr. James is the rare dentist who genuinely puts you at ease. His calm, friendly demeanor makes the whole experience feel less like a dental visit."
"Dr James went thru every single treatment in detail and explained everything so clearly."
What is the difference between gingivitis and periodontitis?
Gingivitis is the early stage. The gums are red and swollen and bleed easily, but the bone that holds the teeth is not yet affected, and a professional cleaning with daily brushing and flossing can often reverse it. Periodontitis is the later stage. Pockets open between the gums and the teeth, and the bone around the teeth starts to break down. That is usually when a deep cleaning is needed.
What happens during a deep cleaning (scaling and root planing)?
The section of the mouth being cleaned is numbed with local anesthetic first. Scaling removes plaque and hardened tartar from the teeth and from the pockets below the gum line. Root planing then smooths the root surfaces so the gums can heal against them. It is often done one section of the mouth at a time. Nitrous oxide is available for anxious patients; ask for it when you book.
How is a deep cleaning different from a regular cleaning?
A regular cleaning works on the teeth above the gum line and keeps healthy gums healthy. A deep cleaning goes below the gum line, into the pockets that gum disease opens up, and the area is numbed first. The cleaning in the New Patient Special is a regular cleaning. A deep cleaning is separate, and it is priced in writing at the exam.
How much does a deep cleaning cost?
It depends on how many sections of the mouth need it, so there is no single published number. Dr. Chon measures the gums at the exam, and you get an itemized written price before anything starts. For a new patient, that exam comes with the New Patient Special: $95 flat, or $0 with an active PPO plan. That visit's cleaning is a regular cleaning, so a deep cleaning is priced on its own.
Is gum disease treated here, or referred out?
Treated here. Dr. James Chon, DMD, does deep cleanings in-house at In Line Dentistry on Golden Springs Dr in Diamond Bar, on Tuesdays and Thursdays. He is a general dentist, and he checks the gums as part of the exam. If the gums need more than a deep cleaning, he explains the options plainly at the exam.
Can gum disease come back after a deep cleaning?
It can. Plaque builds up again without daily brushing and cleaning between the teeth, and the pockets can deepen again. After a deep cleaning, Dr. Chon sets how often to come back for cleanings and checks the gums at each of those visits, so changes are found while they are small.
Time for a gum check
See where your gums stand
An exam with Dr. Chon measures the gums and shows what they need, and what it costs, before you decide anything. Pick a Tuesday or Thursday time below and we'll text you to confirm it.