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HEALTHY GUMS FOR A HEALTHY LIFE
BY SANDSTONE DENTAL PRACTICE
Tooth decay can be a painful experience and dental check-ups can help
to pick up small cavities early on, before they become an issue. Did you
know that when you attend your regular examination appointments we
also screen you for signs of gum disease? This vital check may benefit
you in more ways than you realise!
Why is it relevant to me?
Great gum health is important for your wellbeing, your comfort, your
smile, your confidence and quality of life.
Gum disease, or periodontitis, is the 6th most common disease throughout
the world. It is seen in more than 50% of the British population. It can lead
to the loss of sometimes completely healthy teeth and can also affect your
general health and wellbeing.
The first sign of gum disease is inflammation, or gingivitis, which is
caused by bacteria in plaque build-up. At this early stage, gingivitis can be
diagnosed and treated and no irreversible damage has been caused. If left
untreated, this can, in some cases, progress to periodontitis. This is where
‘pockets’ form as the gums begin to pull away from the teeth, allowing the
bacteria to spread below the gum line.
Sadly this disease is often ‘silent’ so you may not be aware that it is present,
sometimes by the time you notice the signs of trouble, such as looseness,
movement of teeth or pain, and the disease may have progressed quite
significantly, to the point where it is difficult for us to treat and to save your
teeth. Your dental team can spot and diagnose early signs of gum disease
during your regular check-ups.
Uncontrolled gum disease can have a detrimental effect on the body
too as there are documented associations between the disease and other
conditions such as diabetes, chronic kidney disease and cardiovascular
disease which could have an impact on your general wellbeing.
How do I know if I am affected?
Persistently bleeding gums are not a healthy sign and generally indicate
poor gum health. You may see blood in your saliva when brushing your
teeth and contrary to what you may think, this is usually not happening as
a result of brushing too hard or damaging your gums. If you see bleeding,
visit your dentist as soon as possible for a check-up, diagnosis and advice.
What should I do about it?
It is your choice what to do; however the good news is that gum disease is
preventable and treatment is generally effective in controlling the disease,
resulting in teeth for life, which may improve confidence, self-esteem and
quality of life.
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How can we help?
If you are concerned about your gums or would like some advice, why not
come and be cared for by someone who is an expert in their field? The
majority of patients need some very simple advice and treatment and our
team would be delighted to see anyone who is concerned, no matter how
small or big that concern may be.
If you do require specialist level treatment, our team are able to offer this
in house at Sandstone Dental Practice. Ask your dentist to refer you, or
contact us directly for more information
We have a dedicated team to care for our patients at the very highest level,
including a periodontist, who has undergone extensive additional training,
in the areas of prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of periodontal disease.
A periodontist usually completes at least three additional years of education
beyond dental school.
A periodontist is familiar with the latest techniques for diagnosing and
treating periodontitis and will work collaboratively with a hygienist helping
to improve and maintain your oral health to ensure that periodontitis is
under control.
Our team will take the time to examine your gums and teeth carefully, we
will ask about your general health and any habits such as smoking which
may impact upon treatment, we may take some X-rays to help with making
a diagnosis.
Can it be cured?
Early gingivitis can be treated and cured. However, periodontitis cannot be
cured but can be controlled if detected on time and managed appropriately.
Whether periodontitis is stabilised, slowed, or gets worse depends a great
deal on how well you care for your teeth and gums every day, from this
point forward. Once a diagnosis has been made, we will then formulate a
bespoke treatment plan to get you on the road to recovery.
The most important part of this plan is to ensure that your daily routine is
perfected and once we have done this, we will undertake some careful and
gentle cleaning of your teeth and gums, which will disrupt the bacteria,
which are instrumental in causing the disease. It is important that you
are able to maintain this clean environment once the cleaning has been
done, this is why your daily routine is absolutely key to the success of the
treatment.
We will then bring you back to the practice for careful follow up care, which
ensures that the treatment continues to be successful. Our aim would be to
help you to keep your teeth for life.