Gum Treatments (Periodontal Treatment)
Our hygienist are committed to maintaining your clean, healthy smile. They are able to tailor individual oral hygiene advice to each patient, remove buildup of tartar and stains to improve the appearance of the teeth, but also provide supportive professional cleaning for patients with gum disease.
With gum disease, prevention is key! The main factor in progression of gum disease is dental plaque, and so maintaining good plaque control is essential. The most important prevention techniques are regular brushing and cleaning between the teeth with either floss or interdental brushes. Our hygienist can discuss the best methods for you.
Poor plaque control can lead to bad breath, bleeding or inflamed gums, and eventually gum recession and tooth loss. Unfortunately, gum disease does not usually cause pain as it gets worse so you do not notice the damage it is doing. However, the bacteria are sometimes more active and this makes your gums sore. This can lead to gum abscesses, and pus may ooze from around the teeth. Over a number of years, the bone supporting the teeth can be lost. If the disease is left untreated for a long time, treatment can be more difficult.
In recent years, gum disease has been linked with general health conditions such as diabetes, strokes, cardiovascular disease, poor pregnancy outcomes and even dementia. More research is needed to understand how these links work but there is more and more evidence that having a healthy mouth and gums can help improve your general health and reduce the costs of medical treatment.
Treatment for gum disease is split into mantaining a thorough home cleaning routine, which we can discuss you, and regular cleaning with a dentist or hygienist to remove plaque and tartar. At Colchester Dental Surgery, we are able to offer scaling and polishing, and more comprehensive treatments such as local antibiotic application. If you are concerned about gum disease, contact the practice to arrange a consultation with our hygienist.