Gum disease – also referred to as periodontal disease – is one of the most common diseases in the oral cavity. It is a long- lasting inflammatory condition affecting the gum and bone around teeth.
It is possible to have gum disease and have no warning signs. That is one reason why regular dental check-ups and periodontal examinations are very important. Treatment methods depend upon the type of disease and how far the condition has progressed.
Andrew is a 60 year old patient who was referred to London Dental Specialists by his excellent general dentist due to the severity of his gum disease (periodontitis). The patient was extremely concerned about loosing a significant number of teeth. His other concerns were the bleeding that occurs every time when he is brushing his teeth and the difficulty of chewing on his right hand side.
When Andrew met Dr Ope for the first time, he mentioned that he wanted to achieve a desired dental health in the least invasive and most cost-effective manner.
The exceptional hygienist at London Dental Specialist performed the least invasive gum treatment also named non-surgical periodontal therapy. She carefully cleaned the root surfaces of the susceptible teeth by removing the plaque and calculus from the deep periodontal pockets.
The non-surgical periodontal treatment does have it’s own limitations and periodontal surgery will be the best option to achieve dental health.
Dr Ope has strongly advised Andrew towards periodontal surgery and the patient understood the benefits of the treatment.
After a detailed examination Dr Ope concluded that Andrew had severe periodontitis . Two of his lower right molars were slightly loose and required root canal treatment.
Surgical procedure where cuts are made into the gum, the soft tissues are lifted and plaque and tartar are removed. The gum is sutured back so the tissues sit firmly around the teeth.
root canal treatment was carried out on the affected teeth on the same day by our Specialist Dr Neha Patel
Andrew understands the importance of keeping his teeth and gums healthy and he attends all his routine examinations and hygiene appointments
The outcome: Andrew is extremely happy that London Dental Specialists have managed to save his teeth. He was also impressed by having the luxury to be treated by two experts under the same roof. He is very meticulous in looking after his teeth knowing that he plays an important role for the health of his mouth.
The line in the picture represents where the gum used to be. You can see that there has been a significant amount of gum recession. The roots are now exposed and very easy to clean. Even though there was a significant amount of gum recession, the teeth became firm and are now stronger than ever!!! The white lines in the x-ray on the right shows the beautiful root canal treatments.
