The leading cause of tooth loss within the UK is actually gum disease rather than tooth decay. Fortunately, gum disease is preventable and treatable. Our dedicated dental hygienists will undertake professional debridement of the plaque biofilm and removal of plaque retentive factors. Not only will this reduce gum pocketing, making it easier for you yourself to remove plaque from the gum margins, it will also reduce bleeding, facilitate healing of the gums and can treat the causes of bad breath.
A comprehensive examination at your initial hygiene appointment will help us to understand your lifestyle, symptoms, diet and more. This, in conjunction with notes from the dentist and assessment of bone levels on radiographs, will provide a clearer picture of your oral health in relation to your gums. It will also identify risk factors for gum disease which can be discussed with you.
Following your initial examination and discussion our hygienist will then:
As with the dentist, regular appointments with the hygienist are strongly advised. The interval between visits, as with your dentist, is based upon your personal preference, effectiveness of plaque removal at home, pocketing scores and other risk factors, such as a history of gum disease, smoking or diabetes.
Six monthly hygiene visits are advocated for most patients but three monthly attendance will be recommended where there is a higher risk or history of gum disease, particularly when combined with coexisting risk factors such as family history, smoking or diabetes.
We believe in transparency and do not seek to profit from recommending or selling certain products which is why we sell all oral healthcare products not-for-profit. This extends to electric toothbrushes and high-fluoride toothpaste (Duraphat 2800 and 5000) toothpaste. Research strongly supports the effectiveness of Duraphat toothpaste in individuals at high risk of tooth decay and Duraphat 5000 has been clinically proven to be over 40% more effective than other fluoride toothpaste in preventing further decay.
Periodontitis is the most severe form of gum disease and affects around 30% of the population. Risk factors include genetic predisposition, smoking and diabetes although anyone can be affected. Characteristically, it presents as bursts of inflammation at varying intervals throughout life and often without symptoms. The breakdown products of this inflammation result in loss of the bone and reduced attachment of the roots of teeth to this bone. Invariably, this will result in gum recession and loss of the soft tissue between the teeth, creating areas of plaque stagnation and food trapping. Exposure of the root surfaces of the teeth can also make them sensitive and more prone to decay around the gum margins. If left untreated or in cases which respond poorly to treatment, teeth can become mobile and drift. This can not only affect function but may make them more difficult to clean and adversely affect the appearance.
Ideally, treatment will completely halt progression of the disease. More commonly, it will slow it down so that it is less likely to cause severe bone loss and loss of teeth. The aim of treatment is to remove soft and calcified plaque from within gum pockets; the sites that you will find it most difficult if not impossible to clean at home. Often, this will be done a section of your mouth at a time and with local anaesthetic as it can be uncomfortable otherwise. As a general rule, those who experience periodontal disease will benefit from frequent maintenance with the hygienist every three months.
The gold standard treatment for periodontal disease would be referral to a specialist periodontist. This is particularly true where response to treatment has been poor and in more severe cases, but anyone with periodontal disease should consider this option. Your periodontist will have access to treatment options and a wealth of expertise that ordinary dentists do not, offering the best treatment prognosis. It is by no means a guarantee that you will not lose teeth but you can be assured that you have taken all reasonable steps and received the highest level of expertise to prevent you doing so. If you wish to be referred to a specialist, this is something we will happily arrange.
If you are looking for professional hygienist services in the Woodbridge area, please call the team at Woodbridge Dental Care on 01394 334555 to arrange your appointment.
