Periodontics
SAVE YOUR TEETH, RESTORE ORAL HEALTH AND PROTECT YOUR BODY FROM OTHER DISEASES
Dental Hygienists & Dental Therapists
Our Dental Hygienists and Dental Therapists are valuable members of our clinical dental team, working closely with the General and Specialist dentists and supporting you to improve your oral health through providing a range of treatments to help treat and prevent gum disease.
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At Gateway Dental, we have both clinical and health promotional responsibilities. We treat individuals holistically, as the mouth and especially gum disease such as receding gums, has a direct effect on your general health. Our health promotion role includes motivating and encouraging you to improve and maintain your oral health, including oral hygiene, dietary advice and smoking cessation.
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During your visit to the hygienist, your teeth and gums will be thoroughly examined. Plaque, tartar and surface stains will be removed by gentle scraping, polishing. We also have air flow which removes the stains from the teeth. Our hygienist will also create an oral hygiene program with you specific to your oral health needs.
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Our practice membership plan and Dental hygiene plan are available, and both offer excellent value for money and a guaranteed return on your investment in terms of protecting your health, now and in the future.
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Interested in Dental Hygiene only? Enjoy your 2 Dental Hygiene appointments & 2 Air Flow treatments every year with our hygiene plan.
How does gum disease occur?
Gum disease occurs when large amounts of bacteria stick together to form a sticky substance called dental plaque.
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This plaque lives where the gum and the teeth meet and causes extreme irritation leading to a red, swollen and tender area.
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As the area becomes more swollen the gums recede and separate from the teeth leading to the development of a pocket where more dental plaque lives and eventually damages the gum and destroys the bone around the tooth.
What should I do if I think I might have gum disease?
The best way to know if you have gum disease is to discuss with a dentist to find out the state of your gums, and oral health in general. If it is discovered that you do have gum disease, treatment can be started immediately.
Periodontal Treatment
Periodontal health should be achieved in the least invasive and most cost-effective manner. There are two types of advanced periodontal treatments:
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Non-surgical treatment
Scaling and Root Planing: The source of the infection itself, plaque and tartar, will need to be removed in order to promote healing of the gums. Our periodontist will do this via scaling and root planing. This involves going under the gumline and into the ‘pockets’ of your gums to completely clear out any bacteria and toxins. Once cleaned, the surface of the tooth’s root will then be smoothed to make it difficult for bacteria to cling on in future. This is achieved using a combination of hand scalers and ultrasonic scalers. The procedure itself is painless as it is done under local anaesthetic, but some discomfort during recovery should be expected.
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Surgical treatment
Periodontal surgery is necessary when your periodontist determines that the tissue around your teeth is unhealthy and cannot be repaired with non-surgical treatment. Here are some surgical options that:
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Pocket Reduction Surgery: Sometimes, pockets are too deep for scaling and root planing to be successful. In this case, our periodontist will surgically lift the gum away from the teeth in order to fully clean them.
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Crown Lengthening: Do you find you have a gummy smile? One option is to have your gumline improved by removing excess gum tissue to reveal more of the teeth. This procedure can also serve to lay the groundwork for restorative and cosmetic dentistry.
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Gingival Grafts: A graft can be used to cover roots or develop gum tissue where absent due to excessive gingival recession. This can be done for one tooth or several teeth to even your gum line and reduce sensitivity.
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Regenerative Measures: Some patients could benefit from the use of biomaterials that can reverse some of the damage by restoring lost bone and tissue. This is known as Guided Tissue Regeneration.
The Benefits
Deep cleaning – Periodontal surgery provides an intensive clean that helps break down bacteria and restore health to the mouth and gums. This deep clean destroys the pockets of bacteria and helps to prevent further damage.
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Prevents disease – Periodontal surgery can prevent further disease from occurring. After the deep clean treatment has taken place and the bacterial infection has subsided, this allows for regular oral hygiene to take control of the mouth once again.
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Restores function – Often, periodontal surgery is able to restore functionality to certain areas of the mouth by strengthening the teeth and gums and restoring health. Severe and uncomfortable pain can often keep parts of the mouth from functioning properly, but periodontal surgery is able to remove the bacteria causing the pain.