Periodontics is the field of dentistry that focuses on the structures, consisting of the bones and tissues, surrounding and supporting the teeth. Periodontal diseases affect your gums and gradually damage your auxiliary dental tissues.

Plaque built-up due to poor oral hygiene is the primary cause of gum problems. Smoking, chewing tobacco, hormonal changes, certain diseases and medication can aggravate the issue.

The onset of a periodontal disease is known as gingivitis. The symptoms include swollen or inflamed gums that may bleed while brushing or flossing. If left untreated, gingivitis can extend to the bones below the gums and lead to a more acute stage of gum disease called periodontitis. It can cause bad breath, tooth sensitivity, leave an unfavourable taste in your mouth and lead to receding gums.

The inner layer of the gum pulls away, forming small spaces around the tooth. Plaque spreads below the gumline and these pockets can become infected with bacteria. If the disease progresses, the bone and connective tissues that secure the teeth are further degraded by the bacteria. This can loosen the tooth and cause deterioration of the jaw bone and eventually tooth loss.

At Kai Dental, our Dentist with special interest in periodontics can provide an assessment, design a treatment plan addressing your dental situation, manage the case, review your progress and help you to regain a state of good oral health. The periodontal treatment required could be non-surgical.

• Scaling and root planing – plaque and tartar in the periodontal pockets are carefully cleaned through a scaling process. Root debridement involves smoothing of the root to remove the bacterial toxins.

In many cases, these methods, along with regular maintenance, may successfully treat the periodontal disease. In cases of severe periodontitis or where the gum problems cannot be solely addressed by any of the above treatments, surgical methods may be required.

• Pocket reduction surgery – the gums are repositioned snugly around the tooth. This aims to reduce the depth of the periodontal pockets and decrease the areas where the bacteria can thrive.
• Guided tissue regeneration – a mesh-like fabric fragment is inserted between the gum tissue and bone to prevent unwanted extension of the gum tissue in the bone area. It is done in conjunction with a procedure that first eliminates the bacteria. It can stimulate bone and connective tissue regrowth for better tooth support.
• Soft tissue grafting – gum tissue from another area in the mouth is used to cover the roots exposed due to the receding gums. This can restore the gum line, safeguard the tooth from decay, reduce further bone loss and recession.

If you would like further information, click here or request an appointment by calling 020 7229 4033