Gum disease is a very common (but, luckily, preventable!) problem. It starts off as red, swollen gums and has the scientific name of gingivitis.

Gingivitis can be caused by bad oral hygiene that leads to tooth decay, which then causes infection. But it can also be caused by certain medications, health conditions like diabetes, poor diet, smoking or even simple old genetics.

What is periodontal disease?

Periodontal disease is a bit nastier than gingivitis. It can cause pockets in your gums, making your teeth wobbly. They might even fall out!

But don’t worry, we take steps to keep gingivitis at bay, which means periodontal disease won’t even come near you. Keeping your mouth nice and healthy, visiting us regularly, hygiene visits and talking about your medications with your doctor can all help to stop gum disease from rearing its head.

Treatment for periodontal disease

If you already have periodontal disease, you’ll need help managing it. Infected teeth might need root canal treatment to get rid of any infection in the pulp. This is an easy peasy procedure and you can get a shiny new crown, inlay or onlay to bring strength back to the treated tooth.

Surgery for periodontal disease includes reducing those gum pockets, as well as tooth lengthening procedures and gum tissue grafts.

As a last resort, you might have to have a tooth taken out. This will only happen if there’s no chance of saving it. But there are tons of great tooth replacement techniques, from crowns and bridges to amazing dentures screwed in with dental implants!