Professional Gum Disease Treatment
Eliminate gum disease and periodontitis with professional gum disease treatments and care before it’s too late. Early signs of gum disease include swollen, red, or tender gums and bad breath. Receding or bleeding gums are signs of more advanced periodontitis which requires urgent action. Act soon to save your teeth! Freshen your breath and maintain a healthy-looking smile for life with regular preventative dental care.
Dentist Reviews
"Probably the best dentist and dental hygienist I have been to! No pain, gave me back a great smile and healthy gums! Thank you Michael and Sam!"
Gum Disease Treatment
Professional gum disease treatment is necessary to prevent tooth loss and bone loss. Gum disease, and more serious stage known as periodontitis, are caused by a build-up of plaque around the teeth and below the gumline. Most people don’t realise that the plaque we constantly produce contains acid forming bacteria, and that regular maintenance is necessary to keep our teeth and gums healthy. Healthy gums are the foundation of a healthy mouth and body, but unfortunately, gum disease is a common problem affecting a large portion of the New Zealand population. Thompson Dental provides effective rehabilitation gum disease treatment and support for preventative care to help you save and keep your teeth for life.
Therapeutic Gum Treatment
- antibiotic pocket therapy
- reattachment procedures
- root planing
- root surface debridement
- scaling and polishing
Preventative Care for Gums and Teeth
- Regular dental check ups and professional cleaning
- Ongoing support and encouragement with regular reminders
- Teeth remineralising fluoride treatments
Signs of Gum Disease
- Bleeding gums
- Gums feel tender when touched
- Inflamed puffy gums
- Loose teeth
- Pink-tinged toothbrush after brushing
- Persistent bad breath
- Receding gums
- Swollen gums
Swollen Gums
Swollen gums are your bodies inflammatory response to bacteria caused by a buildup of plaque around your gum line. Mild inflammation, known as gingivitis, is the first stage of gum disease. Early stages of gum disease are often painless, but if left untreated can progress to more serious periodontitis.
Bleeding Gums
Bleeding gums and bad breath are signs of periodontitis, a more serious stage of gum infection that can lead to tooth and bone loss if left untreated.
The Cause of Gum Disease
Gum disease is caused by plaque, a fine film of bacteria that breaks down the attachment between the teeth and gums. The infected plaque-filled pockets cause inflammation and can destroy the tissues that support the teeth, including the gums, periodontal ligaments and tooth sockets. If left untreated, infections below the gum line can cause irreparable damage to teeth, tissues in the gum pocket and bone. This pervasive condition can aggressively damage your entire oral health system resulting in tooth loss and bone loss. We provide periodontal treatment that addresses early and advanced cases of gum disease, eliminating the risk of losing your teeth and overall oral integrity. Our dentists will educate you on optimal hygiene to keep your teeth for life.
Take action soon to save your teeth. Regular dental hygiene is effective for preventing gum disease and a dental examination and series of gum disease treatments will be necessary to treat gums that bleed. Our friendly dentists and staff have expert experience in saving patients from prevalent gum disease. Act Soon.
4 Stages of Gum Disease
- Gingivitis
- Moderate/Chronic periodontitis
- Aggressive periodontitis
- Necrotising periodontitis
Gingivitis
Gingivitis is a mild form of gum disease that can be reversed with early treatment. Without proper treatment your gums can become more infected and can lead to more serious periodontitis, putting you at the risk of losing your teeth. With proper dental care, inflammation can clear up after 10 to 14 days. Discover how to spot gingivitis and the easy steps to treating and preventing the early stages of gum inflammation from spreading.
Periodontitis
How does periodontitis develop?
Periodontitis is a result of untreated gingivitis caused by a build-up of plaque. Most moderate/chronic periodontitis cases develop after the age of 35, and the disease can silently go unnoticed for years until it reaches the more aggressive stage, which can develop into serious necrotising periodontal disease.
Signs of periodontitis
- bleeding gums,
- inflamed swollen gums,
- loose teeth and constant bad breath,
- pus between your teeth,
- receding gums.
Chronic periodontitis
Chronic periodontal disease is more common, less severe and can be fixed with proper treatment.
Aggressive periodontitis
Aggressive periodontal disease is less common and forms very rapidly. It usually starts in childhood or early adulthood. It is crucial that you take immediate action to avoid the risk of both bone and tooth loss.
Necrotising periodontitis
Necrotising periodontal disease often affects people with compromised immune systems. It is a serious condition causing severe infection causing the death of gum tissue.
Gum Disease FAQs
Gum disease can lead to severe infections below the gumline that can cause complications in other parts of the body as well. If left untreated periodontitis can increase your risk of various health complications such as stroke, diabetes and heart disease. Recent research shows a clear link between periodontal disease and the risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke, heart attack, uncontrolled diabetes in adult diabetics, premature birth with low birth weight babies and an increased risk of pneumonia, particularly in elderly patients.
Periodontitis is more severe than gingivitis. If you have gingivitis your gums may be irritated, red, and swollen but your teeth should be firmly in place. If one or more teeth are loose, it is more likely that you have periodontitis.
Gum disease can spread aggressively without professional treatment. Professional scaling and root planing can reverse the early stages of gingivitis. More aggressive gum disease requires advanced therapeutic treatments to save your smile. Home care remedies will not reach deep enough to reverse this process.
Regular maintenance to control the build up of plaque and tartar is essential to preventing gum disease.
- Brush twice a day with a soft toothbrush.
- Floss at least once per day.
- Oral irrigators are more effective at preventing gingivitis than flossing.
- Use an interdental brush to clean hard-to-reach places.
- Visit the dentist every 6 months to check-up for early signs of tooth decay and inflammation.
- Visit the oral hygienist every 6 months for a deep dental clean.