Most adults in the UK have gum disease to some extent. It’s more common with age, and the leading cause of tooth loss in adults, which is why its treatment and control is the single most important factor in dental care.
Gum Disease Treatment in Weybridge, Surrey
Gum disease is the swelling, soreness or infection of the tissues supporting the teeth and there are two main types: gingivitis and periodontal disease. Two symptoms of gingivitis, the early stage of gum disease, are bleeding when brushing and bad breath.
If gingivitis isn’t treated, periodontitis can develop. This affects tissues that support the teeth and hold them in place. If this goes untreated the bone in the jaw may be damaged and small spaces can open up between the gum and teeth, allowing teeth to become loose and eventually be lost.
What Causes Gum Disease?
Gum disease usually develops painlessly so it’s easy not to notice the damage it is doing. If the disease is left untreated for a long time treatment can become more difficult.
The problem is the build-up of bacteria in the mouth, which together with its by-products is called plaque. If plaque isn’t removed from the teeth it builds up and irritates the gums, leading to bleeding, swelling and soreness. When plaque hardens into a substance called calculus or tartar, it can only be removed with professional cleaning. For the very best treatment for gum disease in Surrey, we’re the people to call.
This process is continuous, which is why a regular professional cleaning with a hygienist is a good way to keep gum disease in check, especially as you get older.
How to Treat Gum Disease
Mild cases of gum disease can usually be treated by maintaining a good level of oral hygiene, which means brushing at least twice a day and flossing regularly. It’s a good idea to attend regular dental examinations so problem areas can be spotted early before there’s permanent damage, and hygiene appointments can be arranged to follow on from these appointments to make life easier.
We will perform a thorough clean and remove any calculus, and we’ll show you how to clean your teeth effectively to help prevent plaque from building up in the future. You may be advised to visit us more frequently if you’ve had problems with gum disease in the past or if you have an increased risk of developing gum disease in Surrey, for example, if you smoke or have diabetes, so your teeth and gums can be closely monitored.
If severe gum disease is found then further dental treatment might be needed and, in some cases, surgery might be required. Our dentists in Weybridge and team of hygienists work together closely to stop and reverse the effects of gum disease. We regard this as the foundation of your oral health.
Periodontics in Weybridge, Surrey
Periodontitis is a serious gum infection that is the biggest cause of tooth loss in over-40s. It is an advanced stage of gum disease where sufficient amounts of the bacteria biofilm known as plaque accumulates at the spot where teeth come through the gums, infecting the tissue and bone that support the teeth.
As the tissue starts to break down, pockets form in the gum around the teeth, which allow more plaque to form. This is known as chronic periodontitis and has been linked to increased inflammation in the body, which may lead to increased risk of stroke and heart disease.
The first stage in periodontal treatment is a non-surgical cleaning of the pockets below the gum line. In deeper areas a treatment called root planing or deep scaling is used which cleans deep pockets and removes plaque and tartar from the tooth roots. This procedure may require local anaesthetic and several visits to the practice.
Pocket depths greater than 5-6mm that remain after initial therapy indicate continued active disease and will likely lead to further bone loss. This is especially true in molar tooth sites where areas between the roots have been exposed. Where non-surgical therapy is unsuccessful, periodontal surgery may be needed to stop progressive bone loss and regenerate bone where possible.
A post treatment maintenance regimen involves regular check-ups and detailed professional cleaning every three months to prevent the accumulation of periodontitis-causing micro-organisms, and to closely monitor affected teeth so that early treatment can be given if disease comes back.
Your clinician will demonstrate in detail how to achieve consistently excellent levels of oral hygiene at home with a range of different tools and techniques.
Benefits of periodontal treatment
- Save teeth that may otherwise be lost
- Halt the spread of infection and inflammation in your mouth, which has been linked to stroke, diabetes and Alzheimer’s
- Stop bone loss in your jaw
- Protect your long term oral health
GUM DISEASE FAQ’s
Although gum disease in Weybridge is incredibly common, so often the earliest symptoms are overlooked because people are unsure of what to look out for. However, catching gum disease when it is in its earliest stages (known as Gingivitis), can help to prevent more serious Periodontal disease and tooth loss.
The common signs of Gingivitis include:
- Swollen or puffy gums
- Bad breath
- Receding gums
- Tender gums
- Gums that bleed when you brush or floss
More often than not, treating these earliest symptoms is straightforward and easy, so be sure to contact us as soon as you notice an issue.
Although gum disease can exist for several years without causing very serious issues, over time gum disease that is left untreated can lead to tooth and bone loss, as well as more serious health issues.
Research has shown that gum disease can lead to respiratory issues developing, such as COPD and pneumonia, although these are very rare and severe cases.
To avoid the risk of any further health issues occurring, it’s best to get seen by your dentist as soon as you can.
There is more than one stage of gum disease, so the time it takes for you to completely treat it can vary depending on how severe your case is. For example, if you only have mild gum disease, known as gingivitis, you can usually seek to treat it in one sitting with the dentist. In more severe cases though, you may need several dental procedures and ongoing treatments to repair the damage done.
More often than not, your dentist will be able to advise you on how long it will take to treat your gum disease in Surrey. They will perform a thorough examination of your teeth and gums and put in a plan of action to treat them straight away.
Although gum disease can exist for several years without causing very serious issues, over time gum disease that is left untreated can lead to tooth and bone loss, as well as more serious health issues.
Research has shown that gum disease can lead to respiratory issues developing, such as COPD and pneumonia, although these are very rare and severe cases.
To avoid the risk of any further health issues occurring, it’s best to get seen by your dentist as soon as you can.
