Periodontal (Gum) Treatment
Gum disease is the swelling, soreness or infection of the pink tissues supporting the teeth. There are two main types of gum disease: 'gingivitis' and 'periodontal disease'.
Gingivitis means inflammation of the gums. This is when the gums around the teeth become very red and swollen. Often the swollen gums bleed when you brush them. If this is left untreated, this can develop to the more serious periodontitis, which can destroy the bone and result in loss of the tooth.
Periodontal disease is never cured, it can only be stabilised slowing the destruction process down. The home care regime we will teach you, needs to be followed on a daily basis in combination with regular maintenance therapy to ensure stability of your disease.
Both diseases are treated with cleaning, either by hand or using ultrasonic instruments. If your disease is advanced, then deep cleaning under local anaesthetic will be required over several visits, and sometimes gum surgery is required to remove deeper pockets or regenerate bone with synthetic materials.
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GLOSSARY
Prosthodontics – A prosthodontist is a dental specialist who is skilled in the replacement of missing teeth and the restoration of natural teeth. They are registered on the general dental council’s specialist list, and have had at least 4 years of postgraduate training within a teaching hospital. This type of specialist is trained to deal with complicated and simple restorations of the whole mouth as well as treating facial deformities. Common procedures treated by a prosthodontist may include dentures, fixed bridges, crowns, implants, veneers and more.
Endodontics – An endodontist is a dentist that specialises in the care and treatment and diagnosis of the dental pulp, tooth root, and surrounding tissues and in the associated practice of root canal therapy. Patients are referred to an endodontist when their nerve becomes infected.
Periodontology - A periodontist is a dental specialist that has completed an additional 4 years of specialty training in diagnosing, preventing and treating gum disease. Periodontists can also place dental implants as well as perform cosmetic periodontal treatments.
Dental Implant – A dental implant is a small screw that acts as an artificial tooth root when placed into the jawbone. It is made of titanium, a metal well-accepted by the body and one that can form a strong bond with the bone to create a stable foundation, to create an anchor for the placement of a crown, bridge or denture.
Hypodontia – Is the dental term for missing teeth. Sometimes teeth do not form, it is generally a genetic problem and often occurs in families.
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