Hygiene Services and Periodontal Treatments
At Glencairn Dental, our dentists work closely with our hygienists and therapists to help manage and treat gum disease. “Gingivitis, periodontitis and peri-implant diseases are chronic, inflammatory gum diseases that affect a significant number of adults in the UK” (British Society of Periodontology)
Hygiene Services and Periodontal Treatments
Common characteristics of gum disease can include swollen, red, bleeding gums, bad taste, bad breath and tooth loss, however a patient may not identify these signs easily. Often the disease can be painless and is this why regular dental hygiene appointments can help detect, treat and help manage gum disease.
There are certain factors that can increase an individuals’ risk of gum disease, these include:
- Pregnancy
- Smoking
- Diabetes
- Family history of gum disease
- People who do not attend the dentist regularly
Each of our patients will have their gum health assessed and depending on their gum health status, a tailored treatment plan and supportive care programme devised. The early stages of gum disease, also known as gingivitis, can be quite treatable and even reversible. Periodontitis is more severe because there has been loss of the supporting bone around the teeth. In advanced cases teeth may become loose and this may result in early tooth loss.
Patients’ homecare plays a crucial role in gum disease prevention and treatment. At Glencairn Dental Practice we are passionate about gum disease prevention and patients will be given a personalised oral hygiene homecare plan when visiting one of our hygienists or therapists. Patients are shown how to keep their mouths healthy with an effective homecare regime. With the right treatment and management, we can help patients stabilise their gum disease and maintain a healthy mouth.
Treatment
A visit to the hygienist can often be associated with fear and pain. We aim to make our hygiene and periodontal treatments as comfortable as possible.
The dental profession has known for some years that it is the day- to- day bacterial biofilm that lives in the mouth that causes dental diseases.
At Glencairn we utilise the most modern approach in biofilm disruption (removal) which makes hygiene visits more comfortable when compared with conventional methods. By using gentle powders alongside air pressure and water, we effectively remove the biofilm from the tooth surface and soft tissues. Scaling is then carried out where necessary in the mouth meaning we take a minimally invasive approach to treatment. Additionally, our air polishing machines are an excellent alternative to help remove surface stain.
