Gum disease treatment

What gum treatment will I need?

Gum treatment may involve some or all of the following:

• A hygienic phase also called non-surgical treatment

• A corrective phase called surgical treatment (we avoid gum surgery whenever possible)

• Supportive phase involving regular gum check ups

What is non-surgical gum treatment?

Most treatment of gum disease starts with non-surgical treatment. This is the hygienic phase of intensive cleaning of the roots below the gum.

This is intensive treatment below and above the gum line. Below the gum line, treatment to the infected root surface where bacterial toxins have penetrated and calculus has formed can be very difficult to perform successfully. We specialize in this area of oral health and that is why you have been referred. After your gums are numbed, a thin instrument is placed between the gum and tooth in order to remove the bacterial deposits on the root and the infected gum.

The result of this treatment is a reduction in gum inflammation (redness, swelling and bleeding).

What is surgical gum treatment?

Surgical gum treatment is where the gum is gently lifted off the tooth allowing for direct vision and for the tissues to be thoroughly debrided and sometimes reshaped. The gum is then secured with very fine stitches which are removed with ease 1 to 2 weeks later. Sometimes the best result of treatment (shallower pockets and less bleeding) can only be achieved with gum surgery, especially in those areas where there has been significant bone loss.

The advantage of gum surgery is that gum pockets can be treated and reduced immediately and your gums can then be more easily looked after by you in the future.

In most cases all that is needed to restore gum health is one round of non-surgical treatment. This is followed by regular visits to a hygienist/dentist and ensuring that you maintain a high level of oral hygiene. We will also regularly review you to support you.