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There are two main stages of gum disease:

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1. Gingivitis

Gingivitis is the early stage of gum disease. Gingivitis is inflammation of the gums and is caused by the bacteria in plaque which is the sticky and often colourless film that constantly forms on your teeth. If untreated, this inflammation can extend to the underlying tissues and bone that support the teeth. However, if treated at an early stage the inflammation and disease can be reversed. Treatment involves thorough, professional cleaning both above and below the gum line and more effective oral hygiene techniques. Depending on the severity and extent of the gingivitis, this will be carried out by either a Periodontist or a Hygienist.

 

2. Periodontitis

If untreated, gingivitis can develop into periodontitis. Continued inflammation causes irreversible damage to the supporting bone and fibres that hold teeth in place. Pockets form around the teeth and traps more plaque beneath the gum line. These deep pockets are difficult to access with normal tooth brushing and the plaque below the gum line will harden into tartar on the root surfaces causing further inflammation. Eventually, the fibres and bone supporting your teeth are destroyed to an extent which may cause your teeth to move or loosen. This can affect how well you can chew your food and severely affected teeth may need to be extracted by your dentist.

How is Gum Disease Treated?

The early stages of gum disease can often be reversed with effective brushing and flossing. Good daily oral hygiene will help keep plaque from building up.

 

Scaling

Regular professional cleaning is the only way to remove plaque that has built up and hardened into tartar. Your Periodontist or Hygienist will clean or "scale" your teeth to remove the tartar above and slightly below the gum line.

 

Root planing

For deeper pockets it is necessary to undergo deeper, more extensive cleaning called Root Planing which is usually carried out under Local Anaesthetic by one of our periodontists.

 

Surgery

If your gum condition is more severe or does not fully resolve with root planing and cleaning, you may require surgery. In certain cases it maybe necessary for antibiotics to be taken as part of the gum treatment in order to gain more healing following the therapy.

Maintenance and follow-up appointments

 

Remember, after successful treatment, you still need to take extra care of your gums to make sure disease does not return. Periodontal disease may not always be cured, depending on the severity of the disease, but the aim of treatment is to slow the rate of progression of the disease and eventually stabilise the disease. This requires a high level of oral hygiene care from the patient and regular maintenance from your dental professional. Here at The Park Clinic, our periodontists will develop an individual maintenance programme, where we will monitor your gum condition, review and assess your gum status on a regular basis and coordinate treatment with our hygiene team with regard to your ongoing long term care.

Further information can be obtained at the following websites:

• The British Society of Periodontology

• The American Academy of Periodontology