Gum Disease Treatment.
"Targeted, non-surgical treatment that addresses the cause of gum disease below the gum line."
Gum disease is caused by bacteria building up below the gum line, in spaces home brushing and flossing can't reach. Treatment is non-surgical: we remove the bacterial cause, the gum tissue has the chance to heal, and we monitor the result over time.
"Caught early, gum disease is treatable."
Untreated, gum disease leads to tooth loss.
Gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults in the UK. It is caused by bacteria building up below the gum line, in spaces that home brushing and flossing can't reach. The body's response to that build-up causes the gums to become inflamed, the bone supporting the teeth to recede, and eventually the teeth to loosen.
In the early stages, gum disease often has no obvious symptoms. Many patients are unaware they have it until inflammation becomes visible as bleeding or recession. The bone loss that underlies tooth loss is silent, and bone that has receded does not grow back. Treating gum disease early stabilises the condition and protects what's already there.
Front-line treatment is non-surgical. Your hygienist uses fine instruments to clean below the gum line and remove the bacterial deposits that have built up against the tooth root. Once the cause is removed, the gum tissue has the chance to heal. We then monitor the result with follow-up appointments and tailored home care.
If your gum disease is significant and does not respond to front-line treatment, we will liaise with you and specialist periodontists for further treatment planning and care.
Most patients with gum disease can be treated non-surgically.
Gum disease is staged from mild (gingivitis), through moderate, to advanced (periodontitis). For mild and most moderate cases, non-surgical treatment with your hygienist is the standard approach. Treatment may take one or several appointments depending on the severity and the number of teeth affected.
- Patients diagnosed with gingivitis or mild-to-moderate periodontitis.
- Patients whose gums bleed when brushing or flossing.
- Patients noticing persistent bad breath that doesn't resolve with normal brushing.
- Patients with visible gum recession or sensitivity along the gum line.
- Advanced periodontitis, where a referral to a periodontist may be appropriate.
- Pregnancy, where treatment timing and approach may differ.
- Diabetes or other systemic conditions that affect healing, where we work alongside your GP.
- Patients on blood-thinning medication, where treatment may require liaison with your medical provider.
- Smokers and ex-smokers, where the treatment outcome and prognosis differs.
- Significant tooth mobility or bone loss already present, where we discuss the longer-term plan.