Millennium Centre: 
Periodontics
Periodontal Treatment & Regular Gum Care
Gums are the fundamental grounds of your teeth
- Regular professional debridement or root planing is required with diligent home care.
- Periodontal disease can cause chronic or acute bacterial infections which permanently damage your gums or bone around the teeth.
- The bacterial infection can circulate in your blood stream and is often associated with other health conditions.
With progression of Gum disease you will note:
- Bleeding and sometimes pus from your gums.
- Swelling or inflammation.
- Gaps between teeth or receded gums causing food pack and sensitivity.
- Halitosis – bad breath with sometimes a foul taste.
- Tender pain when biting.
- Mobility or drifting of teeth.
Our dentists are thorough and will assess your gum condition during each appointment to ensure periodontal disease is prevented or treated early. Periodontal condition can be,
- Local or generalised.
- Mild, moderate, severe.
- Fact: The most common reason for tooth loss is periodontal disease.
- Smoking is one of the most significant risk factors associated with the development of gum disease.
- Additionally, smoking can lower the chances for successful treatment.
- Diabetes condition is associated with higher risk of gum disease and slower healing.
- Hormonal changes cause more redness, swelling of the gums as it is more prone to gingivitis.
- Other conditions or medications. There are hundreds of prescription and over the counter medications that can reduce the flow of saliva. and some medicines can cause abnormal overgrowth of the gum tissue; this can make it difficult to keep teeth and gums clean.
- Genetic susceptibility. Some people are more prone to severe gum disease than others.
Treatment
- Understanding your diagnosis or periodontal condition is most important.
- Deep cleaning or root planning removes subgingival calculus, plaque and infected tissues on the surface of the roots.
- Often 2-4 visits are required for full mouth debridement under local anaesthetic as it can be uncomfortable or painful to treat.
- Review appointment is required to check healing and to review pocket depths.
- Appropriate oral hygiene care instructions should be followed daily.
In some cases we may advise
- Periodontal surgery for better results.
- Use of soft tissue lasers for removal of infected tissues.
After treatment…
- Bleeding, sensitivity, and tenderness is expected.
- Sensitivity can last few weeks to few months in some cases and need to be managed with desensitising agents.
- After 2-6 weeks healing the gums will appear healthier in colour, and become firmer but gaps will appear as a result
- After treatment daily home care is crucial to maintain health or stable condition.
- Periodontal conditions are not curable but managed similar to conditions such as diabetes. Stabilisation of periodontal disease and maintenance is the key so further bone loss does not result.
