TREATING GUM DISEASE

Deep Cleaning

Deep cleaning is performed on gums affected by gum disease, usually caused by plaque accumulation, deepening gum pockets and inflamed gums. Affected areas are cleaned with an ultrasonic scaler that vibrates and emits water.

What Causes Gum Disease?

Gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, is caused by plaque accumulation, deepening gum pockets and inflamed gums.

Plaque, bacteria that sticks to your teeth and gums for a prolonged period, causes inflammation and detachment of your soft gum tissues and jaw bone from your teeth. Poor oral habits and irregular dental care causes an unhealthy build-up of plaque.

Deepening gum pockets creates more space between the tooth and gums, which allows more bacteria to thrive, worsening the condition of gums. If left untreated, gum disease can develop.

Factors that Increase the Risk of Gum Disease

A few different factors can cause the development of gum disease, including:

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Having Poor Dental Care

Not brushing or flossing your teeth regularly causes plaque and tartar to build up, eventually causing gums to become inflamed. This eventually leads to gum disease.

Having Misaligned Teeth or Experiencing Tooth Abnormalities

Having crooked teeth may make it hard to carry out proper dental care such as brushing or flossing. This would lead to a buildup of plaque and tartar, increasing the risk of gum disease.

Smoking

Smoking interferes with gum tissue and causes the development of severe gum disease.

Do I Need Deep Cleaning?

You may be suffering from gum disease and need deep cleaning if:

If your gums bleed easily when brushing your teeth, flossing or eating;
You have wobbly teeth;
You have teeth drifting from their original positions;
Your gums are receding;
You experience gum soreness;
You experience gum swelling and infection;
You experience bad breath;
You experience an unpleasant taste in your mouth.

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What Happens if Gum Disease is Left Untreated?

Gum disease can make your teeth wobbly and cause them to eventually fall out (even if your teeth have been perfectly healthy with no tooth decay or tooth wear);
Your teeth drift into problematic positions, thereby disrupting your appearance and bite;
As your gum levels recede, your smile may start to look uneven;
Receding gums causes your teeth to become extra sensitive;
Bleeding gums when brushing their teeth, flossing, eating or even talking, which causes an unpleasant taste in your mouth;
Gum disease can cause more bacteria and food particles to multiply underneath your gums, leading to bad breath, tooth decay, and mouth infections;
The inflammation from diseased gums affects not just your oral health, but also your health in general, making you more at risk of medical conditions such as diabetes, or heart disease.

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Types of Gum Disease

There are two stages of gum disease: Gingivitis and Periodontitis.

Early Stage of Gum Disease: Gingivitis is the condition where your gums are inflamed. without yet any detachment of your soft gum tissues or jaw bone from your teeth. It is crucial to treat this in the early stage.

Late Stage of Gum Disease: If gingivitis is left untreated, you run the risk of developing periodontitis. You will feel inflammation in your gums where your gum tissues and jaw bone start detaching from your teeth. This can lead to the loss of teeth, bone loss and a lower gum line.

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What Does the Procedure Involve?

Stage 1: Gum Analysis

Evaluating Your Condition

We will first analyse your gum, where specific measurements and X-rays will be taken to determine the areas affected and the severity of your periodontitis.

Stage 2: Deep Cleaning

Deep Cleaning Procedure

Deep cleaning will take place over 1-2 visits of 30 minutes to 1 hour each. Affected areas will be deep cleaned with an ultrasonic scaler that vibrates and emits water to remove plaque and tartar that is trapped deep beneath your gums.

Anaesthesia

You can opt to have local anaesthesia to numb the relevant areas, to make the procedure painless and more comfortable.

This is especially recommended for patients with severe periodontitis and those who experience significant tooth sensitivity during cleaning.

Treatment for Gingivitis

The treatment for gingivitis is straightforward, comprising an extended version of scaling and polishing in conjunction with the adoption of good oral health habits as instructed by your dentist or hygienist. We will remove the tartar and bacteria from below your gum line.

Treatment for Periodontitis

The treatment for periodontitis is more extensive, comprising further gum analysis, deep cleaning, and the adoption of improved oral health habits.

In some instances of periodontitis, it is additionally beneficial to undergo gum surgery (e.g. gum contouring, gum regeneration, bone grafting) to improve the appearance further and condition of your gums and bone after your initial treatment.

In some cases, a pocket reduction surgery" might be done to remove some gum tissue so that it sits closer to the tooth with stitches in the tissue to hold it in place.

Why Choose Nuffield Dental?

Nuffield Dental is a one-stop, multi-disciplinary dental care centre. At Nuffield, we put you first. We believe in providing personalised service for each patient.

Nuffield Dental is a one-stop, multi-disciplinary dental care centre. Here at Nuffield Dental, we pride ourselves of our personalised oral care for each and every one of our patients. We need to make sure you get all the help you need to make your dental procedures more comfortable, accessible and seamless.

More about Implants

Our dentists have specialised in gum treatment and oral surgery for more than 20 years. We have accredited dental specialists who are skilled in the area of dental implant surgery.

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