Board-certified periodontal specialist Dr. Chanook David Ahn, just 15 minutes from Irvine, offering advanced gum disease treatment, dental implants, and laser therapy
Visit our Costa Mesa flagship office for board-certified periodontal care.
Finding a qualified periodontist is one of the most important decisions you can make for your oral health. If you live in Irvine and have been diagnosed with gum disease, told you need gum surgery, or are considering dental implants, The Loft Dental Studio in Costa Mesa provides specialized periodontal care just 15 minutes from your neighborhood. Whether you are coming from Woodbridge, Northwood, Turtle Rock, University Park, Quail Hill, or the Irvine Spectrum area, our office is a quick drive south on the 405 freeway.
Irvine residents have access to many general dentists within the city, but periodontal disease and implant surgery require a level of specialization that goes well beyond general dentistry. A periodontist completes three additional years of residency training after dental school, with intensive focus on the structures that support teeth: the gums, the periodontal ligament, and the alveolar bone. Dr. Ahn completed his general practice residency at Yale-New Haven Hospital (Chief Resident, Resident of the Year) and his periodontics specialty residency at the VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, and holds board certification from the American Board of Periodontology.
Our Costa Mesa office at 3151 Airway Ave is conveniently located near the 405 and 73 freeways, in the South Coast Metro area near John Wayne Airport. Many Irvine patients already commute through this corridor daily and find our location easy to reach. The drive is typically 15 minutes from central Irvine, and the office offers ample parking in the Airway Business Center complex.
The primary focus of a periodontist is the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of periodontal disease. Gum disease is a bacterial infection of the tissues surrounding the teeth that, when left untreated, destroys the bone and connective tissue that hold teeth in place. It is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults. Periodontists are trained to detect gum disease at its earliest stages through comprehensive periodontal charting, which measures the depth of the pockets between your teeth and gums. At The Loft Dental Studio, we use digital periodontal charting for precise, reproducible measurements that allow us to track disease progression or improvement over time.
For patients with early to moderate gum disease, the first line of treatment is typically scaling and root planing, a deep cleaning procedure performed under local anesthesia. During this procedure, the periodontist removes bacterial plaque and calculus (tarite) deposits from below the gumline and smooths the root surfaces to promote reattachment of the gum tissue. Dr. Ahn combines scaling and root planing with locally applied antimicrobials and personalized home care instructions to achieve optimal results. Many patients respond well to non-surgical therapy and can maintain their periodontal health with regular maintenance visits every three to four months.
For patients with moderate to severe periodontal disease, Dr. Ahn offers LANAP (Laser-Assisted New Attachment Procedure), an FDA-cleared laser protocol that selectively targets diseased tissue while leaving healthy tissue intact. The LANAP laser operates at a specific wavelength that distinguishes between infected and healthy cells, vaporizing bacteria and diseased epithelium without cutting or suturing the gums. This results in less pain, less bleeding, less swelling, and faster recovery compared to traditional gum surgery. Critically, LANAP has been shown to stimulate true periodontal regeneration, meaning new bone, new cementum, and a new periodontal ligament can form around previously compromised teeth.
Gum recession exposes the roots of teeth, causing sensitivity, an elongated appearance, and increased vulnerability to decay. Periodontists perform connective tissue grafts, free gingival grafts, and tunnel grafting procedures to restore lost gum tissue and protect exposed root surfaces. Dr. Ahn uses minimally invasive microsurgical techniques that minimize discomfort and produce natural-looking results. For patients with multiple areas of recession, the pinhole surgical technique may be an option, allowing treatment of several teeth through tiny incisions rather than large flaps.
Periodontists are among the most qualified specialists to place dental implants because of their deep understanding of bone biology, soft tissue management, and surgical anatomy. Dr. Ahn places single-tooth implants, multiple implants for bridges, and full-arch implant solutions using 3D CBCT imaging for computer-guided placement. His training in bone regeneration means that patients who have been told they lack sufficient bone for implants can often receive grafting procedures to rebuild the necessary foundation.
Advanced periodontal disease destroys alveolar bone, the specialized bone that supports your teeth. Periodontists perform bone regeneration procedures using a combination of bone graft materials, biocompatible membranes, and growth factors to stimulate the body's natural bone-forming processes. Dr. Ahn incorporates PRF (Platelet-Rich Fibrin) therapy, which concentrates healing proteins from your own blood, to accelerate graft maturation and improve outcomes. These regenerative procedures can save teeth that would otherwise need extraction and can prepare sites for future dental implants.
Irvine residents: our Costa Mesa office is just 15 minutes away. Call (714) 549-7030 or book online.
Schedule Your ConsultationDr. Chanook David Ahn completed his General Practice Residency at Yale-New Haven Hospital, where he served as Chief Resident, followed by his periodontics specialty residency at VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System (UCLA-affiliated), where he trained under leading researchers and clinicians in the field. This combined training emphasized evidence-based treatment planning, advanced surgical technique, and a thorough understanding of the biological science underlying periodontal therapy. This rigorous academic foundation means that Dr. Ahn approaches every case with both clinical expertise and scientific precision.
Board certification from the American Board of Periodontology requires passing a rigorous written and oral examination that tests comprehensive knowledge of periodontal medicine, surgical techniques, and implantology. Achieving this certification demonstrates a commitment to the highest standards of the specialty. Not all periodontists pursue board certification, and Dr. Ahn's decision to do so reflects his dedication to clinical excellence.
Dr. Ahn's treatment philosophy prioritizes saving natural teeth whenever possible. While he is an expert in dental implants, he believes that a well-maintained natural tooth is always preferable to any replacement. Using LANAP laser therapy, regenerative bone grafting, and conservative surgical approaches, he has helped countless patients retain teeth that other providers had recommended for extraction. When implants are necessary, patients can trust that the recommendation is based on a thorough evaluation of all alternatives.
If your Irvine general dentist has recommended that you see a periodontist, the referral usually means they have identified a condition that has progressed beyond what routine dental care can manage. Understanding what triggers a periodontal referral can help you prepare for your first specialist visit and make a more informed decision about where to seek treatment.
The most frequent reasons Irvine general dentists refer patients to a periodontist include pocket depths of 5mm or greater that have not responded to scaling and root planing, radiographic evidence of bone loss around one or more teeth, gum recession exposing root surfaces and causing sensitivity or cosmetic concerns, teeth with increasing mobility that may indicate advancing bone destruction, and the need for dental implant placement, which requires surgical expertise that most general dentists do not possess. In each of these scenarios, the condition involves the supporting structures of the teeth, including bone, periodontal ligament, and gum tissue, rather than the teeth themselves. This distinction is precisely why a specialist with three additional years of surgical residency training is equipped to manage these cases more effectively than a general practitioner.
Your first appointment at The Loft Dental Studio typically begins with a comprehensive periodontal examination that includes full-mouth pocket depth measurements at six points around every tooth, 3D CBCT imaging to evaluate bone levels in three dimensions, and a thorough review of your dental and medical history. Dr. Ahn will review the findings with you on screen, explain your diagnosis in clear terms, and present all viable treatment options with transparent cost estimates. If your Irvine dentist has sent referral notes and radiographs, Dr. Ahn will have reviewed those before your appointment. The goal of this first visit is for you to leave with a complete understanding of your condition and a clear treatment plan, not a vague sense that something needs to be done.
When choosing a periodontist for surgical treatment, board certification from the American Board of Periodontology is the single most reliable indicator of advanced competence. Board certification is voluntary, requires passing rigorous written and oral examinations, and is achieved by only about 35 percent of practicing periodontists. Dr. Chanook David Ahn holds this credential in addition to his Yale-New Haven Hospital residency training, his UCLA-affiliated periodontics residency (where he served as Chief Resident), and his current position as a UCLA Clinical Faculty Lecturer. For Irvine patients facing gum surgery, implant placement, or bone regeneration, these qualifications provide verifiable assurance that the treating surgeon operates at the highest level of the specialty.
Yes. Dr. Chanook David Ahn at The Loft Dental Studio in Costa Mesa is a Yale-trained, board-certified periodontist located approximately 15 minutes from Irvine. He specializes in LANAP laser gum treatment, dental implants, gum grafting, bone regeneration, and comprehensive periodontal therapy. The office is easily accessible from all Irvine neighborhoods via the 405 freeway.
A periodontist is a dental specialist who completes three additional years of full-time residency training beyond dental school, focusing exclusively on the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of periodontal disease and the placement of dental implants. While general dentists may treat mild gum disease, periodontists handle moderate to severe cases and perform specialized surgical procedures including gum grafting, bone regeneration, and complex implant placement.
You should see a periodontist if you have been diagnosed with moderate to severe gum disease, are experiencing gum recession or tooth mobility, have been told you need gum surgery, are considering dental implants, or if your general dentist has referred you for specialized periodontal care. Signs that warrant a periodontal evaluation include bleeding gums, persistent bad breath, receding gums, and loose teeth. Early intervention from a specialist can often prevent tooth loss and the need for more extensive treatment later.
The Loft Dental Studio works with most PPO dental insurance plans. Many insurance plans provide coverage for periodontal procedures including scaling and root planing, periodontal surgery, gum grafting, and some implant-related procedures. Our administrative team can verify your specific coverage before your first appointment and help you understand and maximize your benefits. We also offer financing options for patients who need to manage out-of-pocket costs.
The Loft Dental Studio is located at 3151 Airway Ave, Suite F-103, Costa Mesa, CA 92626. From most Irvine neighborhoods, the drive is approximately 15 minutes. Take the 405 freeway south and exit at Fairview Road or Bristol Street, then head toward the South Coast Metro area. The office is near South Coast Plaza and John Wayne Airport, in the Airway Business Center complex with convenient parking.