GUM DISEASE – IT’S NO LAUGHING MATTER
Have you been diagnosed with Periodontal Disease?
90% of adults in the UK will have gum disease at some point in their lives.
10% of adults are severely affected
Do you suffer from:
- Red and swollen gums
- Bleeding when brushing or flossing
- Bad breath
- An unpleasant taste in your mouth
Without treatment, gum disease can lead to tooth loss, but
At Contemporary Dental, we can help.
With regular treatment and expert intervention you can achieve a healthy mouth with a great smile.
And if you’ve been told you can’t have dental implants, well – there usually is a solution that’s right for you. So come and see us soon and let us make the difference.
What is Periodontal Disease?
Our mouths are full of bacteria! Most of the time the bacteria do a great job of beginning the process of digestion, so that by the time food reaches our stomach and intestine, the extraction of nutrients has begun. Gum disease is caused by a build-up of plaque in your mouth. Plaque contains harmful bacteria, which, if not removed by a good oral care routine, can cause gums to become irritated and inflamed.
Periodontal Disease is inflammation of the tissues which support the teeth and attach them to the jaw. Where inflammation only involves the soft gum tissue, it is called gingivitis. Where inflammation reaches the bone, it is periodontitis.
Treatment of gingivitis can reverse the condition. If the disease process is allowed to continue then bone loss can occur, eventually leading to loosening of the teeth.
The purpose of hygiene therapy is to stop the disease process and prevent it from progressing any further. We will involve you in the success of your treatment, by helping you understand the disease process and how you can be proactive in managing your oral health.
If your gums are a little swollen and you sometimes notice bleeding when you brush your teeth, a few appointments with our Hygienist, Sarah, may be all you need to get your mouth healthy again. You can book on line or call us on 01392 490949 to arrange an appointment.
Intensive Hygiene Therapy
If your gums are sore and swollen, you experience bleeding regularly, and you notice a bad taste in your mouth, you may need to see our hygienist for a series of longer appointments. Sarah will assess the level of disease and thoroughly clean your teeth, including removing any plaque build-up below the gum-line.
In some instances, we may place a tiny chip into your gum, in a location which is particularly troublesome. Over a period of 12 weeks, this slowly delivers a dose of antiseptic called chlorhexidine to discourage the bacteria from reproducing.
If your teeth are beginning to feel mobile
This would probably mean you have advanced gum disease or “periodontitis” – but all is not lost. Along- side hygiene therapy, we have options of antibiotic treatment and we’ve seen excellent results using PRGF endoret to treat the most affected areas.
This technique uses a small sample of your own blood to isolate and extract platelet rich plasma, which is rich in growth factors. These growth factors are a set of proteins present in our blood, responsible for repairing tissues naturally. The use of this technology has been a revolution in the field of dental medicine that means we can offer solutions with quicker and more predictable healing.
Gum disease affects over 80% of the adult population in the UK and, in over 45’s, is the biggest cause of tooth loss. It has been shown to contribute to the development of type 2 diabetes, stroke and heart disease. It has also been associated with Alzheimer’s, Rheumatoid Arthritis, and low birth weight babies.
But help is at hand
Treating and controlling Periodontal disease will improve your overall health, as well as giving you a better, brighter smile. Once we have helped you to stabilise the condition of your gums, we will arrange regular hygiene therapy with continuing oral health advice. You will need to see our hygienist between two and four times a year to keep those bacteria from getting the upper hand.
If you have already lost some teeth
We have good options for filling gaps, from bridges and partial dentures to Dental Implants. Even if you have Periodontal Disease you can still consider an Implant solution. Periodontal disease can lead to bone loss around a tooth, so we may need to build up that bone as part of your Implant treatment. A consultation with Dr Brazenall will help you make an informed choice as to which is the best treatment for you.