• A Credit to her Profession

    RE: Jill Mitchell Dental Hygienist. I have been Jill's patient for the past twelve years and I have always been extremely satisfied with the excellent treatment she has given me over that that time. Jill's expertise together with her caring sympathetic approach and calm and friendly manner creates a very relaxed atmosphere which puts the […] Full Testimonial

  • years of professional caring service

    Dear Jill, After years of receiving your professional caring service, we feel it is time we expressed our appreciation. We have never had any qualms about our visits, but feel sure if we had they would quickly be dispelled. Yours sincerely, Reg & Ena Fuller […] Full Testimonial

  • It has been Really First Class

    Dear Mr Scott Just a note to inform you that we are moving to York in the next few days. I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for all the help and assistance you have given me whilst I have been under your dental care - it has been really first class […] Full Testimonial

  • A note to say “Thank You”

    Dear Sarah, Just wanted to drop you a note to say "Thank You". I have no trepidation or nerves associated with my visits to the dentist as I know that I shall be in a relaxed environment and treated with care and attention. As a Dental Hygienist, you have the (no doubt from time to […] Full Testimonial

Periodontal Disease Treatment

Gum Disease is generally divided into:

  • Gingivitis – the gums are often red and swollen and bleed when you brush them.
  • Periodontal Disease – gingivitis that has been present for some time can progress to attack the other tissue and bone that support the teeth. There are several types that show different rates of progress. But, all if left untreated will cause loss of the tooth supporting bone and eventual loosening and loss of the teeth.

 

What Causes Gum Disease?

Dental Plaque.

Some of the bacteria present in plaque cause gum disease. Some people respond worse to the presence of plaque than others, and smokers are generally more susceptible to gum disease than non-smokers.

 

How is gum disease treated?

All of the treatment of is designed to both remove plaque from all the surfaces of the teeth and any exposed root surface and to enable and show you how to remove the plaque at home with good oral hygiene.

This can take a number of appointments with the hygienist to fully complete.

After thorough cleaning of your teeth it may be necessary to clean further areas of the roots if they are not responding to initial cleaning. This is called root planing and my require the area to be numbed to treat it adequately, and it may be uncomfortable for a day or two afterwards.
We may also recommend the use of antibiotics and antiseptic pellets placed under the gum line of severely affected teeth.

 

What is the long term outlook if I have Periodontal Disease?

Unfortunately periodontal disease isn’t ever really cured. We aim to stabilise it and to then keep it under control, which is achieved by you maintaining excellent dental hygiene at home and by having the teeth professionally cleaned on a regular basis – commonly every three months.

 

Signs you may have gum disease

The first time people are often aware that they have a type of gum disease is when we point it out to them at a dental examination when the gum health is checked.

The signs you should check for at home are

  • blood on your toothbrush when cleaning
  • blood in your mouth when eating
  • swollen or tender gums
  • bad tastes in the mouth
  • bad breath
  • looseness or increased movement in your teeth

If you think you have any of these signs we would be happy to assess your gum health. Please contact us for a gum health assessment.