Periodontal Care
Professional, personalised care for periodontal disease, helping you understand your gum health, manage existing problems and protect the foundations that support your teeth.
Periodontal Treatment
Periodontal disease can progress without significant pain, which is why appropriate assessment, treatment and ongoing maintenance are so important.
At OHHH, our approach combines professional care with clear education, prevention and long-term support, helping you understand what is happening and what you can do to protect your oral health.
What Is Periodontal Disease?
Periodontal disease is a condition affecting the gums and other supporting structures that help hold your teeth in place.
It develops when inflammation associated with dental plaque and biofilm extends beyond the gums and begins to affect the tissues supporting the teeth.
In its earlier stages, gum inflammation may be described as gingivitis. Gingivitis does not involve the loss of the supporting structures around the teeth and can often be successfully managed with appropriate professional care and effective daily oral hygiene.
Periodontitis is more advanced. It involves damage to the tissues and bone supporting the teeth and requires appropriate professional assessment and ongoing management.
Periodontitis can progress without significant pain, so some people may not realise there is a problem until changes become more noticeable.
The earlier periodontal problems are identified and appropriately managed, the better the opportunity to protect your oral health over the long term.
Signs Of Periodontal Disease
Periodontal disease does not always cause obvious symptoms, particularly during its earlier stages.
Signs that may warrant professional assessment include:
- Gums that bleed regularly
- Red, swollen or tender gums
- Gum recession
- Teeth appearing longer than before
- Persistent bad breath or an unpleasant taste
- Changes or increasing spaces between teeth
- Sensitivity around the gumline
- Pus or discharge around the gums
- Changes in the way your teeth meet when you bite
- Teeth that feel loose or appear to have moved
Having one of these symptoms does not necessarily mean that you have periodontitis, but persistent changes should not simply be ignored.
If you’re concerned about your gums but don’t know whether you need periodontal care, that’s completely fine. Contact OHHH and we’ll help you determine the most appropriate place to start.
Understanding Your Periodontal Health
Before deciding on appropriate care, we first need to understand what’s happening.
Periodontal care begins with a thorough assessment of your gum health and the supporting structures around your teeth.
Depending on your individual circumstances, this may involve examining your gums, measuring periodontal pockets, assessing gum recession and tooth mobility, reviewing relevant dental and medical history, and considering other factors that may influence your periodontal health.
Existing dental X-rays or further imaging may also be relevant where clinically appropriate.
We’ll explain our findings clearly, including:
- What we’ve identified.
- What it means for your oral health.
- What care may be appropriate.
- What you can do at home to support your periodontal health.
The aim is for you to understand your condition and the reasons behind any recommendations we make.
Periodontal Care Is Personal To You
There is no single treatment plan that is appropriate for every person with periodontal disease.
The type and extent of care you may need will depend on factors including the nature and severity of the disease, the areas of your mouth affected, your general health, previous treatment and your individual risk factors.
Your personalised care plan may include a combination of:
- Professional biofilm and deposit removal
- Cleaning below the gumline where clinically required
- Personalised oral hygiene instruction
- Guidance on effective interdental cleaning
- Management of relevant risk factors
- Guided Biofilm Therapy where appropriate
- Periodontal treatment according to your individual needs
- Monitoring of your response to care
- Ongoing periodontal maintenance
Where care outside the scope of OHHH is indicated, we’ll explain this and recommend appropriate referral or further assessment.
Managing Biofilm And Inflammation
Dental biofilm plays an important role in the development of gum inflammation and periodontal disease.
Effective management therefore involves more than what happens during a professional appointment.
At OHHH, we’ll work with you to improve the way biofilm is managed both professionally and at home.
This may involve professional biofilm management, including Guided Biofilm Therapy (GBT) where clinically appropriate, together with personalised advice on brushing and cleaning between your teeth.
The objective isn’t simply to leave your teeth feeling clean after an appointment. It is to help create an effective routine that you can maintain between visits and support healthier gums over the long term.
Treatment Is Only Part Of The Journey
Periodontitis is a condition that requires ongoing attention.
Completing an initial course of periodontal treatment doesn’t necessarily mean that periodontal care is finished. Long-term maintenance and monitoring can play an important role in helping to manage the condition and reduce the risk of further progression.
Following active care, we’ll recommend an appropriate maintenance programme based on your individual needs and risk profile. This may include:
- Regular periodontal reviews
- Professional biofilm management
- Monitoring of gum health and periodontal measurements
- Reinforcement or adjustment of your home-care routine
- Ongoing management of individual risk factors
Consistency matters.
The work you do at home, together with appropriate professional maintenance, forms an important part of protecting your periodontal health over time.
Your Gum Health And Your Overall Health
Your mouth isn’t separate from the rest of your body.
Research has identified important associations between periodontal disease and wider health, including a particularly well-established two-way relationship between periodontitis and diabetes. Research also continues into associations with areas such as cardiovascular health and pregnancy.
These relationships are complex. Having periodontal disease does not mean that it will cause another health condition, and we should be wary of oversimplifying the science.
What the evidence does reinforce is the importance of viewing periodontal health as part of your overall health and wellbeing.
At OHHH, our role is to help you understand your own periodontal health and provide evidence-based guidance relevant to your individual circumstances.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is periodontal disease?
Periodontal disease affects the gums and other structures that support your teeth. Periodontitis is a more advanced form of gum disease in which these supporting tissues can become damaged.
What is the difference between gingivitis and periodontitis?
Gingivitis involves inflammation of the gums without loss of the tissues supporting the teeth. Periodontitis involves damage to those supporting structures and requires appropriate professional management.
Is periodontal disease painful?
Not necessarily. Periodontitis can develop and progress without significant pain, which is why symptoms such as persistent bleeding, gum recession or changes around the teeth shouldn’t be ignored simply because they don’t hurt.
Can periodontitis be cured?
Periodontitis is generally regarded as a chronic condition that can be treated and managed rather than simply “cured”. Appropriate periodontal treatment, effective daily oral hygiene and ongoing professional maintenance can help control the disease and reduce the risk of further progression.
Can periodontal disease cause tooth loss?
Advanced periodontal disease can damage the tissues and bone that support the teeth and, in severe cases, can contribute to tooth mobility and tooth loss. Early identification and appropriate management are therefore important.
How often will I need periodontal maintenance?
There isn’t one interval that’s appropriate for everyone. The frequency of maintenance appointments will depend on your periodontal health, response to treatment and individual risk factors. We’ll recommend an appropriate schedule for you.
Does smoking affect periodontal disease?
Smoking is an important risk factor for periodontal disease and can also affect how the tissues respond to treatment. If relevant to you, this can form part of the discussion around your individual periodontal care.
Can diabetes affect my gum health?
There is a well-established two-way relationship between diabetes and periodontal disease. Diabetes can influence periodontal health, while periodontal inflammation can also make diabetes management more challenging. Your general health is therefore an important part of understanding your periodontal risk.
I'm worried about my gums but don't know if I have periodontal disease. What should I do?
You don’t need to diagnose the problem yourself. If you’ve noticed bleeding, recession, swelling, movement or another change in your gums or teeth, contact OHHH. We can help determine whether a Gum Health Assessment or another form of professional care is the appropriate place to start.
Take The Next Step For Your Gum Health
If you’ve been diagnosed with periodontal disease, have previously received treatment for gum disease or are concerned about changes in your gums, we’re here to help.
Appropriate periodontal care can help you understand your condition, manage existing problems and protect the foundations that support your teeth.
You don’t need to have all the answers before making an appointment.
Talk to OHHH and we’ll help you understand the most appropriate next step for your gum health.