Periodontal (Gum) Disease

The type of treatment depends on your individual condition. If your Periodontal disease is in its early stages, you may have red swollen, painful  bleeding gums, and some loose teeth or teeth that have moved position.  Receding gums may have lead to  sensitive teeth.  You may already have some bone loss around your teeth and may have had gum-boils or abscesses.  Often  oral hygiene instruction along with scaling and root-planing under local anaesthetic may be all that’s needed. This is a Non-Surgical Therapy that removes plaque and hard deposits of tartar from the roots of the teeth below the gumline. Root surfaces are cleaned and smoothed with specially-designed instruments. It is important to remove the plaque and tartar from the periodontal pockets because they contain the bacterial toxins that irritate the gums.

Moderate to more advanced Periodontal Disease may require Surgical Therapy also usually carried out under local anaesthetic. The goals of this treatment are to remove calculus from deep pockets around the teeth, shrink the pockets, smooth root surfaces and arrange gum tissue into a shape that will be easier to keep clean. There are also procedures to regenerate bone and supporting tissues previously lost to Periodontal Disease, involving the use of bone grafts and / or regenerative membranes. These techniques restore and strengthen the support of the teeth so they can function for longer. This type of surgery is only appropriate in certain shapes of bony defects, and will be suggested if it is appropriate. Surgery is usually under Local Analgesia, but an Anaesthetist can provide Sedation if required.

As well as local anaesthetics, we can also arrange conscious sedation for nervous patients.

A Specialist in Periodontics is trained to deal with many varieties of gum disease and can also carry out gum grafting  at teeth with severe gum recession (Periodontal Plastic Surgery). Other treatments may include Splinting loose teeth to firm teeth, Crown-lengthening surgery, Occlusal Therapy and Osseous Surgery. Whatever your treatment plan entails, our goal is to bring you to a state of good oral health, and then help you maintain it.

The Benefits

Besides fresh breath, a renewed confidence in your smile, restored oral health and a new sense of health and well-being, you’ll be able to chew your food more easily and enjoy foods you avoided because they were to difficult to eat. Years ago, people accepted tooth loss as part of getting older. You don’t have to. With help from your general dentist and Specialist, plus your own dedication to good oral hygiene, you could keep your teeth for a lifetime.

Costs

The cost of periodontal treatment will vary depending upon your needs and the fees reflect the high quality of care provided to ensure your total peace of mind. After the consultation and explanation of the appropriate treatment, you will be provided with an estimate of the cost. The consultation fee includes a full diagnostic report to your dentist. Unless your Dentist provides relevant dental radiographs (X-rays), these will be required at extra cost. These will be used to see how much of the bone support at each tooth has been lost. As you consider this health investment, keep in mind that treating gum disease is less costly and better for your health than replacing lost teeth, lost to untreated gum disease.

Does it Hurt?

Improved equipment, local anaesthetics and modern techniques make periodontal treatment more comfortable now than ever before. Effective medications (although often not necessary) are available to give you comfort after treatment. As with other aspects of periodontal treatment, considerations for your comfort during and after treatment will be tailored to best suit your individual needs.

Just because you have started to see a Specialist in Periodontics doesn’t mean you should stop seeing your general dentist. Once your treatment is complete, you’ll still need to work hard on a daily basis to maintain your oral health, by cleaning your teeth as instructed. Because Periodontal Disease can recur even after active treatment, it is very important to professionally monitor your oral health to fend off any signs of disease. Your Specialist and general dentist will work together to co-ordinate your maintenance plan following periodontal treatment.