What it covers
The periodontium is the name for everything that holds a tooth in place: the gums, the connective fibres and the bone. Periodontics treats their inflammation and prevents bone loss. In practice that most often means removing tartar and soft deposits, treating periodontal pockets and applying medication locally.
Inflammation confined to the gum is called gingivitis and is reversible. Once it reaches the bone it is periodontal disease, and lost bone does not come back by itself — which is why coming early matters here more than anywhere else.
Signs to watch for
- Gums bleeding when you brush or when you eat harder food.
- Red, swollen or tender gums.
- Breath that does not clear after brushing.
- A sense that the teeth are longer than before — the gums are receding.
- Teeth moving, the bite changing, or a gap that was not there before.
Bleeding gums are the commonest first sign and the easiest to miss, because they do not hurt. Gums that bleed are not normal gums.
What the treatment is like
The first step is removing tartar and soft deposits, above and below the gum line. It is done with ultrasonic and hand instruments and finished with polishing, because deposits return less easily to a smooth surface.
If there are deeper pockets between tooth and gum, they are treated by curettage, which removes inflamed tissue and deposits from the root. The price list charges this per pocket, because the number and depth differ from patient to patient. Medication is placed in the pocket where needed.
Treatment is often spread over several visits, quadrant by quadrant, and followed up with check-ups. Without a change in daily hygiene the result does not last, so part of the work stays at home — and that is the most important part.
What the patient does
A brush cleans the outer and inner surfaces but does not reach between the teeth. That is what interdental brushes or floss are for; we have written separately about choosing and using them. The dentist picks the brush size, because one too small does not clean and one too large injures the gum.
Smoking makes the state of the gums worse and treatment harder, and at the same time masks bleeding, so the problem looks smaller than it is.
How long it takes and what follows
Removing tartar usually fits into one appointment. Treating pockets is planned according to the findings and may take several visits. After treatment the gums can be tender for a few days, and the teeth temporarily more sensitive to cold.
A check-up is booked to see how the gums have responded. With periodontal disease regular check-ups continue after treatment: this is no longer a one-off repair but a condition that is kept under control.
Price
Removing tartar, treating a pocket per pocket and applying medication locally are in the “Oral medicine and periodontics” group of the price list. How many pockets will be treated is known after an examination.
- Does removing tartar damage the enamel?
- The instrument removes deposits, not enamel. Sensitivity afterwards usually comes from the necks of the teeth, covered by tartar until then, now being exposed.
- How often should tartar be removed?
- Usually once a year, and more often if you are prone to deposits or have periodontal disease. The dentist sets the exact interval according to the findings.
- Do receded gums grow back by themselves?
- No. The aim of treatment is to stop the recession. We have written about the causes and what helps in the article on receding gums.
- Can I lose a tooth because of my gums even with no cavities?
- Yes. A tooth can be free of decay and still lose its support in the bone. That is why an examination looks at the gums too, not only the teeth.
