Gum disease (also called periodontal disease) is an infection of the tissues supporting the teeth, caused by bacteria in dental plaque buildup.
If plaque is not removed properly by brushing and cleaning between your teeth:
Gingivitis is the early stage of gum disease.
Signs include:
Gingivitis is reversible with good oral hygiene.
However, if untreated, it may progress to periodontitis.
Periodontitis is a destructive form of gum disease that causes irreversible damage to the bone and tissues supporting your teeth.
Although often slow progressing, it can accelerate rapidly and may, in rare cases, be aggressive.
What happens:
Periodontitis is often painless in the early stages, making it difficult to detect without professional assessment.
Periodontitis can be treated and stabilised—but success depends heavily on your daily commitment to oral hygiene. The most effective way to manage this condition is by maintaining a clean, plaque-free mouth.
Any treatment provided in the clinic must be supported by thorough home care.
We are here to support Patients through Periodontal Diseases, but the responsibility for day-to-day care lies with the Patient. Consistent home care greatly improves the chances of stabilising the disease.
Please note “If periodontitis is to be beaten, it is beaten in the bathroom—not in the dental surgery.”
If treatment is unsuccessful, the disease may progress, leading to pain, infection, or tooth loss. In such cases, specialist referral may be necessary. Specialist care may offer a higher success rate but may also involve additional costs.
Links for more information:
Main cause:
Other important risk factors:
Smoking:
Diabetes:
You may notice:
Periodontitis doesn’t just affect your mouth.
It may be linked to:
This happens because bacteria from the mouth can enter the bloodstream, thus causing inflammation elsewhere in the body.
Your Role:
It is your responsible for daily, consistent removal of soft plaque to help reduce inflammation as well as to stop it from returning.
Useful Link to Cleaning advise:
Our Role:
Professional Cleaning (Periodontal Treatment) involves thoroughly cleaning the teeth and roots to remove plaque, calculus (tartar), toxins, and diseased tissue from accessible areas of the teeth.
If necessary, the dental professional will also remove bacterial deposits and tartar from the root surfaces and gum pockets.
This helps prevent further damage to the bone and gums.
For patients with advanced periodontitis, several appointments for teeth cleaning may be necessary.
To keep your gums healthy:
*It is important to note that the NHS will ONLY support 2 Periodontal Treatment’s within a Year. This means after your second round of Periodontal treatment with the dental Hygienist/ Therapist, any further rounds of Periodontal treatment can be provided Privately.
Your Dental team will discuss these Fee’s with yourself if both you wish to proceed with this treatment option as well as if it is still the appropriate treatment option for yourself.
With successful treatment, you may notice:
Some temporary effects include:
