What is gum disease?

Gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, is caused by an infection developing in the gaps between your gums and teeth due to a build up of plaque. It is a painless disease in the early stages that can affect people without their knowledge, but can be recognised by red, swollen gums that bleed when brushed.

If you are diagnosed with gum disease and decline treatment, it is highly likely that the infection will develop and ultimately cause tooth loss. We can treat gum disease by preventing this development over three components; improving your teeth cleaning at home, helping your immune system resist infection and performing a professional clean.

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What is Guided Biofilm Therapy?

Our gum disease treatments are different to a traditional ‘scale and polish’. We use a technique called Guided Biofilm Therapy which involves warmed water, a cleaning powder spray, and less scraping. Compared to historical hygiene techniques this is far less painful and far more effective.

Learn more about Guided Biofilm Therapy: view the GBT Patient Brochure.

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Routine preventative hygiene therapy

Even if you are not diagnosed with gum disease, a routine hygiene therapy appointment is crucial to prevent gum disease developing, improve your general health (gum disease has been linked to several systemic diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease), and remove staining from your teeth. We recommend these visits at least 6 monthly for all patients even in the absence of gum disease.

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Active gum disease therapy

If you have active gum disease, we will provide an action plan to stabilise your gums. After your new patient health assessment with the dentist, you will be advised to book a comprehensive perio assessment with our hygiene therapist. At this appointment they will provide an accurate plan and quote for the work required. In a very small number of patients we will also need to seek advise from a specialist periodontist. Stabilising gum disease is a lifelong battle and it is likely that you will need to attend the hygiene therapist every 3 months for the rest of your life.

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Appointments

  1. Book a new patient preventative dental health check.
  2. Let us assess the condition of your mouth.
  3. Let us stop your teeth from becoming wobbly.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is gum disease?

    Gum disease (also known as periodontal disease or pyorrhea) is gradual deterioration of the support of your teeth. It is caused by an infection developing in the gap between your gums and teeth, which often causes bleeding from the area. It is a painless disease that can affect people without their knowledge. The end stage of the disease involves the teeth becoming wobbly and falling out.

  • Why have I got gum disease?

    Preventing gum disease involves stopping infection from developing in the gap between your gums and teeth. In the vast majority of cases, infection develops because teeth and gums are not brushed and interdentally cleaned as often as required.

    10% of the population however seem to develop gum disease even when they are cleaning their teeth to a high standard. This is often because of a deficiency in the ability of that persons immune system to resist this infection. Examples of this include uncontrolled diabetes, stress, and smoking.

  • How do I know if I have gum disease?

    Unfortunately gum disease is often painless. Visual indicators that your gums are deteriorating can include bleeding when brushing, bad breath, an unpleasant taste, redness in your gums, shrinking gums, or loose teeth.

    The dentist is able to more effectively assess whether you have gum disease with techniques such as using x-rays to measure the loss of bone support.

  • Why do people lose teeth?

    People lose teeth for two main reasons. Firstly a gum infection can cause a tooth to become wobbly and fall out. This is a very slow process that can almost always be prevented with proper treatment. Secondly an infection of the inside of a tooth can cause severe pain which can be resolved by removal of the tooth. This pain can develop quickly but can almost always be prevented with proper treatment.

  • How is gum disease treated?

    Gum disease is treated by preventing infection developing between your gums and teeth. This prevention has three components; improving your teeth cleaning at home, helping your immune system to resist infection, and undertaking professional cleaning.

    Professional cleaning involves removing debris from around your teeth, and flushing away infection.

  • Is gum disease treatment painful?

    In some situations teeth suffering from gum disease can be more sensitive to cold. It is not normally necessary but if this is the case we can apply some numbness to any sensitive teeth.

  • How successful is gum disease treatment?

    Gum disease treatment is not a one-off treatment. Maintaining your teeth for the rest of your life requires regular attendance to see the hygienist every 3-6 months. It also requires you to maintain your cleaning at home. If both can be maintained in the long term, then it is highly likely that we can stop you from losing teeth.

  • Can I see a hygienist even if I don’t have gum disease?

    Even if you are not diagnosed with gum disease, a routine hygiene therapy appointment is crucial to prevent gum disease from developing.

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Welcoming new patients

We would love to invite you to our practice for aesthetic treatments, advanced treatments, or the highest quality routine family dentistry.

27 Western Terrace,
Falmouth, TR11 4QL

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