Gum Disease

What is Periodontal Disease?

Periodontal disease affects the gums and bones supporting your teeth. It develops when plaque accumulates on your teeth and gums.  This causes your gums to become inflamed and the bone underneath to resorb, resulting in deep gum pockets around the teeth or exposing the roots of the teeth. Teeth with periodontal disease may become loose, sensitive and prone to infection.

Factors such as smoking, diabetes, age, and diseases that weaken your immune system may increase the likelihood of getting periodontal disease.

What is Periodontal Treatment?

Periodontal treatment involves deep cleaning of the tooth surfaces to remove the build-up of plaque and tartar causing the inflammation.

Overly loose or infected teeth will need to be removed and replacement can be considered once the gum condition is stable.

What’s involved?

A routine scale and clean is usually done every 6 months with your dental examination.

If you have sensitive teeth or more advanced periodontal disease, we can anesthetise the areas for comfort.

More than one appointment may be required for moderate to advanced periodontal disease.

Sensitivity and some bleeding may occur in the first few days after periodontal treatment. Desensitizing toothpaste and fluoride treatments can be used to relieve sensitivity.  Mouth rinses or salt water rinses can also help to subside inflammation.

What is the long term prognosis?

With good oral hygiene, healthy lifestyle factors such as smoking cessation and regular professional dental care, your periodontal health can become stable and under control.

Should you have any queries about periodontal treatment, please feel free to ask your Gentle Dentist at Mt Warren Park.