Gum health — the foundation of any smile
Periodontology treats the tissues that hold the tooth in the bone: gum, alveolar bone, and periodontal ligament. Periodontal diseases are the main cause of tooth loss in adults — more frequent than cavities after age 35.
Statistics: approximately 50% of adults over 30 have some form of periodontitis, and most don’t know — the disease is often painless in early stages, but progressive.
Stages of periodontal disease
1. Gingivitis (reversible)
Inflammation only at the gum level, without bone loss. Signs: bleeding when brushing, red, swollen gum. Completely curable with professional scaling and proper hygiene.
2. Mild periodontitis
Inflammation goes under the gum, forms periodontal pockets of 3-4 mm. Attachment and bone loss begins. Treatable conservatively.
3. Moderate periodontitis
Pockets 4-6 mm, significant bone loss, possible gum recession. Requires complex periodontal treatment.
4. Severe periodontitis
Pockets over 6 mm, tooth mobility, major bone loss. Real risk of tooth loss. Requires complex therapy, possibly surgical.
Alarm signs — come for consultation
- 🩸 Bleeding when brushing or eating (apples, crusty bread)
- 🔴 Gums red, swollen, sensitive
- 👃 Persistent bad breath (after brushing)
- 📏 Teeth appear longer (gum recession)
- 🦷 Tooth mobility (even minimal)
- 😖 Metallic or bad taste in the mouth
- 🦠 Pus between gum and tooth
Any of these means a periodontal consultation. Periodontal disease doesn’t heal spontaneously — without treatment, it progresses.
Treatments offered
Professional scaling + air-flow + polishing
The first step for any patient. Complete removal of bacterial plaque and tartar above and below the gum line. For recent stains and plaques we use air-flow (bicarbonate jet) which is more effective and gentler than classic scaling.
Periodontal curettage (Scaling & Root Planing)
Non-surgical procedure for cleaning periodontal pockets. Under local anaesthesia, we clean below the gum, remove tartar and infected tissue, smooth the root to prevent plaque reformation.
- Per quadrant (1/4 of the arch) — 30-45 minutes
- 4 sessions total (or 2 with more time)
- Re-evaluation at 4-6 weeks
Periodontal surgery (when necessary)
For deep pockets that don’t respond to conservative treatment:
- Access flap — we open the gum for in-depth cleaning
- Regenerative surgery — using membranes and bone grafts to rebuild lost tissue
- Gingivoplasty — gum reshaping for aesthetic + functional appearance
Gum augmentation (grafts)
For gum recession (teeth appear long, exposed root):
- Connective tissue graft harvested from the palate
- Free gingival graft
- Techniques without harvesting (xenogenic matrices)
We cover the exposed root, reduce sensitivity, and restore natural appearance.
Periodontal splinting
For mobile teeth, we temporarily or permanently solidify them with a thin wire on the inner side — distributes forces and allows healing.
Maintenance therapy
After active treatment: visits every 3-4 months for professional cleaning and monitoring. Essential — without maintenance, the disease returns.
Link with overall health
Periodontitis doesn’t stay in the mouth. Recent studies confirm direct links with:
- Type 2 diabetes — bidirectional relationship (diabetes worsens periodontitis and vice versa)
- Cardiovascular diseases — bacteria from pockets enter circulation
- Premature births in pregnant women with periodontitis
- Rheumatoid arthritis — correlation with certain periodontal bacteria
- Alzheimer’s — emerging data about P. gingivalis
Treating periodontitis = systemic health, not just dental.
Risk factors
- Smoking — the most important avoidable factor (3-6x higher rates)
- Uncontrolled diabetes
- Chronic stress — affects immunity
- Genetic predisposition
- Poor oral hygiene
- Certain medications (anticonvulsants, immunosuppressants)
Prevention — the only strategy that works 100%
90% of periodontal diseases can be prevented through:
- Proper brushing 2x/day (modified Bass, 2 minutes)
- Floss or interdental brushes daily
- Professional scaling every 6-12 months
- Regular check-ups (even if nothing hurts)
- No smoking
- Balanced diet (vitamin C, omega-3 help the gum)
Booking a periodontal consultation
At the first visit we do complete periodontal charting — measuring each periodontal pocket at 6 points per tooth. We document the current state and establish a step-by-step plan, with measurable objectives at 4-6 weeks.