Periodontal Treatment
Periodontal disease affects the gums and bone that hold your teeth in place. It often develops quietly, with little or no pain in the early stages, which is why many people don’t realise anything’s wrong until it’s already progressed. Caught early, it’s straightforward to manage. Left untreated, it’s the leading cause of tooth loss in adults, which is why we treat it as a priority, not an add-on to a routine clean.
We provide periodontal care at our Elephant & Castle practice, from early gum disease through to more advanced cases that need surgical treatment. Every patient starts with a full assessment, since how far treatment needs to go depends entirely on how advanced things already are.
How to spot it
Gingivitis: gums turn red and slightly swollen, and bleed when you brush. This stage is reversible with proper cleaning.
Moderate periodontitis: gums start to recede, teeth look longer, and tartar builds up below the gumline.
Advanced periodontitis: bone loss increases, teeth loosen, and without treatment they can eventually be lost.
Conditions like diabetes and smoking are known to raise your risk, which is why we ask about your general health before starting treatment, and may need to loop in your GP if something needs managing alongside it.
How we treat it
Treatment builds in stages, and how far you go depends on how advanced things are.
Non-surgical treatment
The first step is removing the bacteria and tartar causing the infection, using manual, sonic or ultrasonic instruments to clean below the gumline. This is often done in stages, one area of the mouth at a time, and we reassess your hygiene routine as we go.
Surgical treatment
Where non-surgical treatment isn’t enough, surgical treatment may be needed, carried out by our Specialist Oral Surgeon, who has a special interest in periodontology. This can include removing periodontal pockets, or gum and bone grafts to regenerate tissue that’s been lost.
Restoring your smile
Once the disease is under control, we address anything it’s left behind, replacing missing teeth with implants or a fixed prosthesis, or straightening teeth that have shifted, so your bite is fully restored.
Keeping it under control
Periodontal disease can come back, so maintenance visits are part of the plan, not optional. How often you’re seen depends on how your gums respond and how well things are holding.
Book a Consultation
Noticed bleeding gums or gum recession? The earlier it’s caught, the simpler it is to treat. Book an appointment and we’ll assess where things stand.