Gum Disease

Periodontal disease is the inflammation and infection of the gums and is caused by plaque and intense build up. Plaque can often happen because of poor oral hygiene.

Periodontitis is an advanced stage of gum disease which causes serious damage to the teeth, gums and bone that support teeth. As the infection becomes worse the gums may recede from the teeth which result in teeth becoming loose. 

The benefits of treatment

The purpose of treating periodontal diseases is to stop or slow down the progression of gum disease. After treatment teeth will be healthier and have a better chance of lasting longer than without treatment.

Signs of gum disease include

• Red, swollen or bleeding gums
• Gums that have shrunk away from the teeth
• Bad breath or bad taste in mouth
•  Loose teeth

How do we treat gum disease?

Periodontal treatment starts with a treatment plan and charting of the whole mouth. The dentist will remove build up and plaque with a deep scaling clean that goes into the gum line. 

Anaesthetic is sometimes needed to numb the pain if the build-up of calculus deposits is deep in the gums.  Deep cleanings usually require more than one appointment to keep track of the gums that have been treated.

Smoking increases the risk of gum disease and will reduce the chances of the periodontal treatment succeeding. The main goal is to get your oral hygiene in good shape by helping the inflamed gums with treatment and developing a hygiene plan to take care of your teeth.

Without periodontal treatment, you are at a high risk of the gum disease advancing which leads to losing teeth in the future. If you have already suffered from loose teeth, our dentists can discuss various options to replace them.