Advanced Gum Infection Treatment for North London Patients

Advanced gum infection, or periodontitis, is a serious condition that goes beyond simple gum inflammation, called gingivitis. While gingivitis is reversible, periodontitis involves the irreversible loss of bone and tissue that support your teeth. It starts when plaque hardens into tartar, causing gums to pull away from the teeth and form pockets where bacteria thrive. This infection damages the bone, and teeth can become loose and require removal without treatment. In the UK, severe periodontitis affects about 10 to 15 percent of adults. Our approach uses digital imaging to measure bone loss and create a precise treatment plan. A recent patient from Highgate was worried about bleeding gums and bad breath. Examination showed early-stage periodontitis, which we treated with non-surgical deep cleaning, preventing further damage.

You should seek professional treatment if your gums bleed regularly when you brush or floss; this is an early sign. Other indicators include gums that are red, swollen, or tender to touch. If you've noticed your gums recede, making your teeth look longer, or persistent bad breath that does not improve with brushing, it's time for an assessment. More advanced symptoms include new spaces between your teeth, pus between your teeth and gums, or a change in how your teeth fit together when you bite. If any tooth feels loose, this signals significant bone loss and requires urgent attention to prevent tooth loss.

Your treatment begins with a comprehensive 60 minute consultation. During this visit, we'll perform a detailed examination, including measuring gum pocket depths and taking digital x-rays to check for bone loss. Based on this, we confirm a diagnosis and explain your treatment options. For most cases of advanced gum infection, the next step is non-surgical treatment called scaling and root planing. This deep clean is usually performed over two 60 to 90 minute appointments under local anaesthetic for your comfort. We carefully remove all plaque and tartar from above and below the gumline, and smooth the tooth roots to help your gums reattach. About four to six weeks later, you have a follow-up to check healing and set a long-term maintenance plan.

After a deep cleaning procedure, some tenderness and mild sensitivity for a few days is normal. This is managed with over-the-counter pain relief such as ibuprofen. Your gums may feel sore, but this should resolve within a week. A soft food diet for the first 24 to 48 hours is advised, and very hot or cold foods and drinks should be avoided. Maintain excellent oral hygiene as you heal, but be gentle when brushing the treated areas for the first few days. We provide specific brushing techniques and may recommend an antimicrobial mouthwash. A patient from Barnet found that rinsing with warm salt water helped soothe his gums in the first two days. Call our practice during office hours (Mon/Wed/Fri 9-5, Tue/Thu 11-7) if you experience severe pain, swelling that does not go down, or signs of infection like fever. For emergencies outside these hours, contact NHS 111.

The primary alternative to non-surgical deep cleaning is a standard hygiene appointment, but this is suitable only for preventing gum disease or treating early-stage gingivitis, not advanced infections. For very severe cases where teeth are no longer salvageable, the main alternative is tooth extraction followed by replacement with a dental implant, bridge, or denture. While this resolves the infection for that tooth, it does not treat the underlying disease affecting other teeth. The best approach is to save natural teeth whenever possible. During your consultation, we give an honest assessment of your condition and discuss whether scaling and root planing is the right choice or if other options should be considered.

The cost of advanced gum infection treatment depends on the severity of your condition and the number of appointments required. After your initial consultation and diagnosis, we provide a fully itemised treatment plan with a clear breakdown of all costs, with no hidden fees. A course of non-surgical periodontal therapy, known as scaling and root planing, is more involved than a routine cleaning and priced accordingly. We are a private practice and do not offer NHS services. However, we accept several private dental insurance plans, including Max Bupa, Denplan, and Cigna, which may cover part of your treatment cost. We recommend contacting your provider to confirm your coverage.

To make an informed choice about your care, whether with our practice in Finchley or another provider in North London, here are some key questions. First, ask what stage is my gum disease and what that means for my long-term tooth health. Also, ask about the success rate of the proposed treatment. It is important to understand the full costs, so ask whether the quoted price includes follow-up appointments and future maintenance. You should also inquire about aftercare: what specific oral hygiene routine will I need after treatment to prevent recurrence. Finally, ask how often you will need to come in for maintenance appointments to keep the condition stable.