Oral Hygiene

We always aim for optimum oral hygiene, as a team we will guide you on how to achieve the best results. We operate a team approach to make sure you’re well equipped to build and maintain the best oral hygiene, from tooth brushing to diet. Dora will do routine cleans (with the use of an airflow – for your comfort, as well as hand and ultrasonic scalers if you prefer).

Our nurses can provide expert advice, demonstrations and with the help of our scanner we can show you in 3D simulated imaging the areas you can improve on. Our patient care coordinator is dedicated to building your confidence to help prevent tartare build up, bleeding gums and tooth sensitivity.

Gum Disease

There is no shame in needing help or advice with dental health, we aim to empower and educate our patients. Gum disease and the advancement of periodontal disease is the leading cause of tooth loss, which is completely preventable with the right knowledge. Regular dental visits, and a consistent routine are the basis of a beautiful smile.

What Causes Gum Disease

The main cause of periodontal (gum) disease is PLAQUE, a soft sticky film building up on your teeth containing millions of bacteria. If not removed regularly by brushing and flossing, it leads to tooth decay and gum disease. If left for too long it turns into calcified plaque (tartar) making successful removal even harder to achieve. It does not take long to develop bleeding gums and subsequent gum disease as a result.

Further causes and risk factors include

• POOR NUTRITION AND OBESITY

  Because periodontal disease begins as an infection, poor nutrition can worsen the condition of your gums. In addition, research has shown that obesity may increase the risk of periodontal disease.

• SMOKING

  Apart form its link to many serious illnesses such as cancer, lung disease and heart disease, as well as numerous other health problems smokers also are at increased risk of periodontal disease. Tobacco use may be one of the most significant risk factors in the development and progression of periodontal disease.

• CLENCHING OR GRINDING YOUR TEETH

  Clenching or grinding your teeth can put excess force on the supporting tissues of the teeth and could speed up the rate at which periodontal tissues are destroyed.

• MEDICATIONS

  Just as you notify your pharmacist and other health care providers of all medicines you are taking and any changes in your overall health, you should also inform your dental care provider, because some medication could have a serious adverse affect on the progression of gum disease.

• STRESS

  Yes, stress also is a risk factor for periodontal disease, making it more difficult for the body to fight off the infection of periodontal disease.

• OTHER SYSTEMIC DISEASES

  Other systemic diseases including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and rheumatoid arthritis may interfere with the body’s inflammatory system and worsen the condition of the gums.

• AGE

  Older people have the highest rates of periodontal disease, but tend to respond more favourably to treatment. If you are younger than 30 years suffering for the symptoms mentioned on this page, you should seriously seek advice if your teeth are important to you.

• GENETICS

  Some people may be genetically susceptible to gum disease.
  Important! Despite all the above factors, plaque remains the number one culprit. Once you are able to achieve optimum plaque control, you may be subjected to any of the above factors.

If your gums bleed during tooth brushing even after several visits to your dentist or oral hygienist, it is time for a second opinion. Please call 01249 445111 and make a free informative consultation to discuss the matter and take control. Its never too late!

Gum Disease Symptoms

If you happen to have the following signs of gum disease please consult your dentist ASAP:

• Red gums, swollen, tender or bleed during flossing/brushing
• Loose teeth
• Bad breath
• Exposed root surfaces

Periodontal (or gum-) disease can affect your overall health seriously. Remember, this is also called the “silent disease” for a particular reason: You are not aware of it since you do not necessarily experience any pain! Only when your gums are healthy you can safely proceed with any further important treatment. Your dentist should be able to provide you with all the options of treatment varying from preventative, restorative or cosmetic care. The patient should always be in the fortunate position to make informed choices about the dental treatment required.

How to cure gum disease

In the real world you and your partner, your dentist, can achieve complete gum health. A perfect smile is not the highest priority whilst suffering from gum disease. First achieve healthy gums, which is relatively easy, and only then attend to that important smile. Remember, the “razzle dazzle” part of dental treatment is the cherry on the cake and with healthy gums you will most likely retain that smile for a lifetime.

Good oral hygiene after completion of a treatment course will ensure that the 6- or 9-monthly visits to the dentist is only to confirm that all is OK. Dental Health for Life is fact – not fiction.

Did you know that gum disease has been linked in studies with diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and arthritis.

In a British study, men ranked bad teeth as the No. 1 turn-off. And yet, men are notoriously more likely than women to ignore their oral health!

Breaking News Heart Disease

Did you know there’s a link between periodontal disease and heart disease? Researchers have found that people with periodontal disease are almost twice as likely to suffer from coronary artery disease as those without periodontal disease.

Stroke! Additional studies have pointed to a relationship between periodontal disease and strokes.

Check out this page on www.perio.org about: GUM DISEASE AND HEART DISEASE Test yourself with a few Risk Factors:

• Are you older than 35?
• Do you avoid dental care?
• Do you smoke?
• Have you ever smoked?
• Do you have diabetes?
• Do you have high blood pressure
• Do you have rheumatoid arthritis?
• Do you have bad breath?
• Do your gums bleed?

If you find yourself answering YES to two or more of the above questions, you should visit your dentist as soon as possible.

You may not know if you have gum disease without visiting your dentist, but gum treatment can halt the progress of gum disease very effectively and can reverse its effects. Combined with a good routine of home care, you can have a fresh, wholesome, attractive smile in no time. We encourage you to enjoy the benefits of excellent oral health and to be free of decay and gum disease. We want you to feel good about your smile as well as your health.

General Periodontal Treatment

Generally gum disease treatment is only a thorough cleaning and de-scaling, widely available to patients from both NHS and private dentists and dental hygienist and usually performed routinely as part of a six month check up.

Gum disease treatment for the more advanced peridontitis, however, is rather more complex, and may not be as widely available on the NHS. To begin with, the patient will require far more intensive de-scaling, which may take several sessions and include the use of local anaesthetics. Following this, some cases may require surgery to allow access to plaque that has invaded the base of the tooth, far beneath the gum line.

Sometimes a dentist has no choice but to refer their patients for more involved gum disease treatment as it simply may not be feasible to perform these procedures at their own practice.

Nigel Carter, Chief Executive of the British Dental Foundation recently went on record to say that “”Plenty of NHS dentists can perform this gum disease treatment, technically; the trouble is they can’t afford to. If gum problems take a dentist three hours to treat, the current fee structure means they might get paid around £40, which roughly equates to just over half an hour of work; so over two hours, or up to five sixths of the job are on the house. Altruism has its limits.”

Dentists

You may be a private dentist who does not provide this service to your patients or, an NHS dentists that are squeezed by the new fee structure introduced in recent years and simply unwilling to undertake such complex work. We will gladly look after those patients for you.

Although we continue to offer periodontal treatment to patients of dental practices around Wiltshire and neighbouring counties, we also offer full treatment plans for orthodontic problems.

If you wish to refer patients, please phone our reception directly at 01249 445111. Once we have the patient details we will arrange an appointment for a consultation. We currently offer a free informative consultation to all referred patients.

If there are specific issues needing additional specialised treatment we will contact you so we could work together towards achieving the best outcomes for your patient.

For further information or to book an appointment, contact us on 01249 445111.

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