Bleeding and/or swollen gums, bad breath, and sensitivity when brushing are common early indicators.
Periodontal treatment is essential for restoring and maintaining the health of your gums and the surrounding bone that supports your teeth, ensuring a strong foundation for your overall oral health.
The treatment involves removing plaque and calculus, disinfecting gum pockets, and providing guidance on how to improve oral hygiene habits to help maintain long-term gum and tooth health. Advanced cases may require guided biofilm therapy, root planning, or various surgical approaches including: bone grafting and regenerative procedures.
Our team focuses on a preventative, minimally invasive approach to protect your teeth and overall health. The assessment itself can include:
Prevention of Tooth Loss: Healthy gums are the foundation of strong teeth.
Improved Oral Health: Reduces bad breath, gum sensitivity, and swelling.
Enhanced Aesthetics: Achieve a cleaner, healthier smile.
Systemic Health Benefits: Lower risks of heart disease, diabetes complications, and other conditions linked to gum disease.
First Treatment Visit – Exam
Olive Tree Dental stand out as a practice that really takes the time to listen to its patients; we feel it’s really important to get to the heart of what you’re looking for from your chosen treatment(s). Your treatment will never be rushed, as we will always make sure you are happy before proceeding to the next stage of the process.
If you’re new to Olive Tree Dental or haven’t seen a dentist in the last 6 months, we recommend starting with a new patient exam. Similarly, if you were referred over 6 months ago (but haven’t acted on it yet), this exam helps confirm if the treatment plan is still suitable for your current needs.
If you’re happy with your current dental practice, you can see our Periodontist and continue care there. However, we also welcome patients seeking a smoother transition and continuity of care at Olive Tree Dental.
You may need to return for a second appointment for the Periodontal Assessment. Alternatively both can often be arranged on the same day.
Second Treatment Visit – Periodontal Assessment
Here’s what you can expect during the assessment:
– Medical and Dental History Review
We’ll discuss your medical and dental history, including any concerns, symptoms, and risk factors such as smoking or diabetes, which can influence periodontal health.
– Clinical Examination
We examine your gums in detail using state-of-the-art diagnostic tools.
This stage will involve a non-surgical approach where both manual and ultrasonic specialised instruments are used to clean the root surfaces of your teeth. This is done under local anaesthesia to minimise any discomfort.
Using a periodontal probe, we’ll measure pocket depths around each tooth to assess gum attachment levels. This involves gently inserting the probe between the tooth and gum to measure the depth of the space, indicating the health of the supporting structures.
We’ll also evaluate gum recession by measuring the distance from the gum margin to the tooth’s root, check for bleeding on probing, and assess tooth mobility and furcation involvement (bone loss between roots of multi-rooted teeth).
– Radiographic Examination
Dental X-rays may be taken to assess bone levels and detect any bone loss around the teeth, providing a comprehensive view of the supporting structures.
– Diagnosis and Treatment Planning
Based on the findings, we’ll diagnose your periodontal condition and discuss the results with you, explaining the current state of your periodontal health. A personalized treatment plan will be developed to address your specific needs, aiming to restore and maintain your gum and bone health.
– Initial Therapy
Treatment often begins with non-surgical periodontal therapy, such as scaling and root planning, to remove plaque and calculus from tooth surfaces and beneath the gums. This procedure is typically performed under local anaesthesia to ensure comfort.
Third Treatment Visit – Maintenance & Monitoring
Regular follow-up appointments will be scheduled to monitor healing and determine if further treatment is necessary.
Following your treatment and outcome, patients are placed on a maintenance programme where you will be seen by a hygienist every 3-4 months.
Being seen regularly ensures your gums remain healthy, preventing recurrence.
Aftercare / Review
Maintaining the long-term health of your tooth is key to keeping your smile strong and healthy. We recommend a one-year clinical and radiographic review with the periodontal specialist to ensure everything is on track, followed by ongoing maintenance of your oral health.
Think of it as an opportunity to invest in your future smile! Our team will provide tailored advice to help you care for your teeth day-to-day, but it’s up to you to implement these small steps—your efforts now will lead to a healthier, brighter smile for years to come.
This comprehensive approach ensures that all aspects of your periodontal health are considered.
Bleeding and/or swollen gums, bad breath, and sensitivity when brushing are common early indicators.
Most treatments are minimally invasive and can be performed comfortably under local anaesthetic. We do offer conscious IV Sedation for nervous patients or those who suffer from dental phobia.
The duration of each appointment depends on the severity of gum disease, ranging from one treatment session lasting for 60 (on average) to a series of appointments over weeks or months in order to see significant improvement.
With proper care, your gums can regenerate significantly, but maintaining excellent oral hygiene is essential for long-term success.
Patients with a history of gum disease are advised to have assessments every 6-12 months, depending on their risk level.
The duration depends on the severity of gum disease, ranging from one session to a series of appointments over weeks or months.
EMS hygiene with GBT is a preventative and maintenance treatment designed to remove biofilm and surface tartar, focusing on protecting healthy gums and teeth.
Periodontal treatment, on the other hand, targets active gum disease, addressing deeper gum pockets, bone loss, and inflammation. While EMS is ideal for routine care, periodontal treatment is essential for treating and managing more advanced gum conditions.
Hygienists are highly skilled in preventative care, such as routine cleaning and GBT, but a periodontist specializes in diagnosing and treating complex gum and bone conditions. If your gum disease is advanced, a periodontist can provide expert care to stabilize and restore your oral health.
A periodontist offers tailored treatments that go beyond routine cleanings, focusing on halting disease progression, preventing tooth loss, and addressing systemic health concerns linked to gum disease. With their expertise, you’ll receive advanced care to ensure long-term oral health.
Depending on the severity, this may involve further non-surgical treatment, guided biofilm therapy, or various surgical interventions. We will work with you to reach a resolution that is tailored to your needs and will benefit your oral health long-term.
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