Training in Periodontics & Implantology
Dentistry with Purpose
My purpose is to place the knowledge and skills God has entrusted to me at the service of others, understanding that dentistry is a tool to care for, to serve, and to be a blessing to others.
A way of practising dentistry that goes beyond transforming smiles. It means caring for health with excellence, valuing and preserving what can be kept, restoring what needs to be recovered, and treating each person as a whole, with a calling to serve.
Dra. Celeste Bonilla de HilsDental Surgeon
Restoring from the Root
Panamá
Did you know...?
A dental implant helps preserve your bone
Unlike a bridge or a removable denture, a dental implant also replaces the tooth root. That keeps the jawbone stimulated and stops it from resorbing — something that does happen when a gap is left untreated.
Dental implants
A lost tooth, replaced from the root
An implant is the closest thing to a natural tooth, in both function and appearance. Here's what's worth understanding before you decide.
Book a visit
Message me and we'll arrange it
WhatsApp is fastest — I usually reply the same day. If you'd rather, leave your details and I'll get in touch.
Is it urgent?
Severe pain, swelling with fever, or a tooth that suddenly became loose: message on WhatsApp starting with URGENT.
Treatments
What do we treat in periodontics?
From the bleeding you notice when brushing, to fully replacing a tooth you've lost. These are the treatments most often needed.
Gum disease
Gums that bleed, swell or recede
Bleeding when you brush is not normal. It is a sign of inflammation that, left untreated, can progress and destroy the bone holding the tooth in place. Treatment starts with a full diagnosis and a deep clean below the gumline.
Scaling & root planing
Deep cleaning below the gumline
Removing tartar and bacteria from the root surface, below the gum margin where a toothbrush cannot reach. Done under local anaesthetic, usually one quadrant at a time. It is the foundation of periodontal treatment.
Gum grafting
For recession and exposed roots
When the root is left exposed: sensitivity appears, the tooth looks longer, and the root becomes vulnerable to decay. A graft restores the lost tissue and protects the root.
Dental implants
Replacing a lost tooth at the root
A titanium post that replaces the tooth root, with a crown fitted on top. It is the closest thing to a natural tooth in both function and appearance. It requires enough bone and healthy gum tissue.
Bone graft & sinus lift
Rebuilding bone so an implant can be placed
When bone is missing — because the tooth has been gone a while, or there was infection — it is regenerated before the implant goes in. A sinus lift creates bone height in the upper back jaw.
Gummy smile
When too much gum shows when you smile
If your smile shows more gum than you'd like, the lip is rarely the problem. It is corrected by reshaping the gum and, where needed, the bone beneath it, to rebalance the proportion between tooth and gum.
Crown lengthening
Room to restore a tooth properly
When a fracture or cavity extends below the gumline, more tooth structure is exposed so the crown or filling seals correctly and the gum around it stays healthy.
Peri-implantitis
Rescuing implants with infection
Implants get sick too. If the gum around an implant bleeds or bone is being lost, early treatment can save it. The sooner it is caught, the better the outlook.
Periodontal maintenance
Treatment doesn't end — it's sustained
After active treatment, maintenance visits every 3 to 4 months are what keep the disease from returning. It is the least glamorous part of treatment and the one that most determines the long-term result.
Gum health
Which stage are you at?
Gum disease advances quietly and with almost no pain. Recognising the stage early changes the outlook entirely — and the cost of treating it.
- 1
Healthy gums
Pale pink, firm, no bleeding when brushing or flossing.
- 2
Gingivitis
Bleeding when brushing, red and swollen gums, bad breath.
- 3
Early periodontitis
Periodontal pockets, frequent bleeding, slight bone loss.
- 4
Advanced periodontitis
Loose teeth, recessions, teeth drifting apart or falling out.
See someone soon if you notice
Ask about my case- Bleeding when brushing or flossing
- Red, swollen or tender gums
- Bad breath that won't go away
- Teeth that look longer than before
- Cold sensitivity at the root
- A tooth that feels loose
Your first visit
What happens on day one?
Nobody arrives relaxed for a first consultation. Here is exactly what happens, step by step, so you arrive knowing.
- 1
We talk first
Before looking in your mouth, we talk. What brought you in, what worries you, what your medical history is. Plenty of conditions — diabetes, pregnancy, smoking — change the plan.
- 2
Periodontal charting
The gum depth around every tooth is measured, point by point. This is the exam that defines the diagnosis. It takes a few minutes and does not hurt.
- 3
X-rays
To see the bone level, which is what you cannot see by looking. If you already have recent X-rays from your dentist, we review those together.
- 4
A clear diagnosis
I explain what I found, what stage you're at, and what the options are — including doing nothing, and what that would mean. With the images in front of you.
- 5
Plan and estimate
You leave with a written plan, broken into phases, with costs. No surprises later and no pressure to decide on the spot.
Approximate duration: 45–60 minutes
Bring with you
- ID or passport
- Recent X-rays, if you have them
- A list of medications you take
- Your insurance card, if applicable
Video education
Short explanations of what patients ask about most. Tap any of them to watch on Instagram.
Referrals
Refer a patient
I work alongside general dentists and other specialists.
Report within 48 hours
Periodontal chart, diagnosis, phased plan and radiographs, sent straight to your inbox.
Periodontal emergencies
Periodontal abscess, acute mobility or a post-surgical complication: contact me directly for priority scheduling.
Cases usually referred
Pockets deeper than 5 mm, recession with aesthetic concern, crown lengthening before prosthetics, implant assessment and peri-implantitis.
Location
Where to find me
Areas served
- Panamá Oeste
- Ciudad de Panamá
Message me on WhatsApp and we'll arrange whichever location suits you best.
Opening hours
- Monday
- 09:00 – 17:00
- Tuesday
- 09:00 – 17:00
- Wednesday
- 09:00 – 17:00
- Thursday
- 09:00 – 17:00
- Friday
- 09:00 – 17:00
- Saturday
- Closed
- Sunday
- By appointment only