Family Friendly & Specialty Dentists in London, UK
Scaling and root planing is the deep cleaning used to treat gum disease. It removes plaque and hardened tartar from the root surfaces beneath the gum line so the gum can heal back against the tooth. We assess how many visits you need, and how long each will take, at your initial consultation.
Led by Dr Ope Sodeinde.
Bleeding, receding gums and tartar that does not shift with brushing are the usual signs of gum disease. Once deposits sit below the gum line, a toothbrush cannot reach them and the infection continues. We provide periodontics in London, and non-surgical periodontal therapy is the first line of treatment: removing the tartar below the gum line and reducing the bacterial load so that gum reattachment can happen.
Teeth loosen when the bone around them is lost to infection, so the earlier the infection is cleaned out, the more bone is kept. We work diagnosis first, so you have the treatment your stage of disease calls for and nothing more. If you have acute symptoms, we also provide gum abscess drainage.
Treatment is not a one-off. Once the infection is under control, we move you onto a periodontal maintenance programme overseen by Dr Ope Sodeinde. A consultation establishes whether you are suitable and gives you an itemised quote before any treatment begins.
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We provide this treatment for gingivitis, where the gums are inflamed, and for periodontitis, where the infection has reached the bone. Many people arrive anxious about dental visits or embarrassed by the state of their gums. We deal with the clinical problem, not the history behind it.
Dr Ope Sodeinde, our GDC-registered specialist periodontist, assesses whether deep cleaning is enough or whether you also need pocket reduction surgery. After the procedure, our gum disease aftercare guide sets out how to keep the result. Your consultation determines the exact requirements for your case.
We measure the depth of the pockets around each tooth. Pockets deeper than a healthy gum can reach are what tell us scaling and root planing is needed. You get a clear explanation of the findings and a plan for the infection.
Under local anaesthetic, we remove plaque and hardened deposits from above and below the gum line and smooth the root surfaces so the gum can reattach. Depending on how many teeth are affected, this may take more than one visit.
The area is numbed before we start, and sedation is available if you are anxious. Because this is non-surgical, there is no incision and no stitches.
After the cleaning, we re-measure the pockets to see how the gums have responded. Where attachment has been lost, we may discuss guided tissue regeneration. We also give you a breakdown of gum disease treatment costs in London for your records.
Gum disease returns if it is not managed, so we place you on a maintenance programme. Regular professional cleaning stops new tartar forming below the gum line.
Your treatment begins with a review of your medical history and an examination of the gums by Dr Ope Sodeinde, specialist periodontist (GDC No. 104071). He carries out the subgingival cleaning and root debridement himself, and for some patients adds gum irrigation between visits to reduce inflammation.
Healing depends on consistency. Follow-up appointments are scheduled so we can check how the gum tissue is responding, because regular maintenance is what keeps periodontal treatment working.
Gingivitis, the early stage, is reversible, and gingivitis treatment usually resolves it. Once bone has been lost the damage cannot be undone, but the disease can be halted. Dr Ope Sodeinde measures your pockets to tell you which applies.
Removing the bacteria and tartar that drive the infection stops it progressing. Keeping it stopped depends on a maintenance programme and your home care.
Scaling and root planing removes the source of the infection from beneath the gum line. Whether the condition resolves fully depends on your individual response and on how well the gums are kept clean afterwards.
Lost gum tissue does not grow back on its own. Treatment firms the remaining tissue and lets it reattach more securely to the tooth, which reduces further loss.
Whether you need this treatment is settled at a clinical examination, where we measure your periodontal pockets and decide how best to protect your teeth. We explain what happens at your first periodontal consultation and how to book so you know what to expect.
At your assessment Dr Ope Sodeinde confirms whether this procedure is needed, explains the process and gives you a clear breakdown of costs. Related care on this site includes:
Dr Ope Sodeinde provides a written plan and itemised quote that you own and can take to any other practice. Arrange your assessment with the specialist periodontist to find out whether this treatment is right for your gums. Call 020 7589 7792.
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111 Regent's Park Road, Primrose Hill, London NW1 8UR
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