Periodontology
Gum specialist and periodontist in London, Central London, Knightsbridge – Kensington and Chelsea.

What is periodontitis?

Gum disease (periodontitis) refers to an infection-induced inflammatory process involving tooth-supporting structures.

Approximately 5% to 20% of any population suffers from severe generalised periodontitis, even though moderate periodontal disease affects a majority of adults. This most common human oral disease is caused by certain bacteria which start to increase in number and virulence when the related risk factors, such as multiplying bacterial deposits, can grow undisturbed under the unreachable gum pockets while producing by-products which may stimulate the body’s defensive inflammatory response in the around the teeth. This chronic inflammatory disease may progress and cause gradual bone destruction over the years when not treated efficiently.

How can the progression of periodontitis be recognised?

The inflamed swollen gum called gingivitis may be recognised during brushing when bleeding. In some individuals, gingivitis may progress to gum disease (periodontitis) when untreated. Consequently, over time, the affected patient may experience increased gum bleeding, bad breath, drifting teeth, gum recession, and tenderness in the gum. Controversially, bleeding from the gums may be less noticeable in smokers, as nicotine has an adverse vasoconstrictive effect on blood vessels by decreasing the local blood circulation, hence reducing bleeding from diseased gum. As periodontitis is usually pain-free, it can be left unrecognised until its very progressed stages. Therefore, to treat periodontitis in a timely manner, it is paramount that dental clinicians, in particular the gum specialist or periodontist, investigate the specific clinical signs and symptoms and radiographic features of gum disease at an early stage of its progressive destruction.

How gum recession are treated?

Traumatic brush damage is a usual clinical presentation of adults, especially in women after the age of 40. Composite filling restorations are often advocated by some dentists which may at times worsen the situation and eventually cause more recession. however, gingival or gum transplant replaces the retreated gum while addresses the tooth hypersensitivity and aesthetically disturbing root exposure.

Is periodontitis correlated to other systemic chronic inflammatory diseases?

Based on the case studies, clinical research, and epidemiological studies, there are strong evidenced-based associations between chronic gum infection or periodontal disease and cardiovascular disease (CVD), Alzheimer’s disease, erectile dysfunction syndrome, low-weight child disease, and premature parturition.Read more on the correlation between Periodontal and other systemic inflammatory diseases, e.g., cardiovascular diseases.

Causes of Periodontitis

Retention or accumulation of dental plaque around the teeth may gradually enhance the number and virulence of the bacterial colonies, which may, in turn, reduce the natural defence system of the local tissue. The salivary minerals and gingival crevicular fluid may gradually cause sedimentation of growing bacterial plaque and the creation of harder deposits called tartar or dental calculus. This bacterial growth is further facilitated along the root surfaces, causing an inflammatory process which destroys the peripheral periodontal tissues via the gum pockets. This bacterial infection-induced inflammatory process, which causes progressive destruction of the tooth-supporting/periodontal tissues, is called periodontitis.

The pathologic pocket around the root surface favours the colonisation, growth and multiplication of the virulent bacteria, which are capable of destructing the tissues both directly by releasing destructing enzymes, toxins and other bi-products which compromise the body’s defence mechanisms and indirectly by inflammatory stimulation of the local immune system.

Read more about the diagnosis and treatment of periodontal disease.

Prevention of the Periodontal Disease

The risk factors involved in the emergence and progression of periodontitis could be divided into the local virulent factors, e.g., the number and type of virulent bacteria, the host factors, such as the ability of the individual’s local and systematic defence mechanisms coupled with the tissue healing capacity, the presence of the confounding risk factors which compromise the host response, e.g. smoking, certain drugs regulating the tissue response as well as inherent immune-suppressive factors such as stress, systematic disease. Factors prevailing in chronic gingivitis should be recognised and addressed during professional dental and periodontal examinations and treatment sessions.

It is scientifically well-proved that smoking adversely affects the status of the local health, healing, and immune response of periodontal tissues and the successful treatment of gum disease as a result.

Our periodontal prevention treatment services:

We can help to prevent periodontal diseases with comprehensive range of treatments personalised to the needs of each patient. Here are some key periodontal treatments you can expect to find at our practice:

1. Scaling and Root Planing: A deep cleaning procedure to remove plaque and tartar from below the gum line, preventing the progression of gum disease.
2. Pocket Reduction Surgery: Surgical procedures to eliminate pockets and reduce the space between the teeth and gums, facilitating better hygiene.
3. Gum Grafting: Restoring receding gums by grafting healthy tissue from one area to another.
4. Dental Implants: Replacing missing teeth due to severe gum disease with stable, long-lasting dental implants such as a ceramic zirconia implant.
5. Bone Grafting: Augmenting the jawbone to support dental implants or improve the structural integrity of teeth.
6. Ongoing Maintenance: Regular check-ups and cleanings with a dental hygienist to manage and prevent recurrence of gum disease. 

Treatment of Periodontitis

With careful assessment and treatment, it is usually possible to completely halt the progress of periodontitis. The key to success is to eliminate the bacterial plaque triggering the periodontal disease process and establish excellent oral hygiene practices.

At London Specialist Dentist, we provide the following periodontal specialist services:

• Clinical assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of the patient with aggressive and chronic periodontitis.
• Diagnosis and treatment planning for patients with the oral manifestation of systemic disease.
• Clinical assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of patients who require post/endodontic and/or pre-prosthodontic root amputation and crown lengthening.
• Clinical assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of young patients who require pre-orthodontic surgical tooth exposure and patients who require post-orthodontic surgical soft tissue and hard tissue regenerative procedures.
• Clinical assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of patients with clinical periodontal disease symptoms in need of occlusal re-organization by means of fixed and removable prosthodontics.
• Clinical assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of patients presenting with peri-implantitis.

We implement the innovative technology of laser-assisted periodontal therapy (LAPT) to improve periodontal health with minimal discomfort following both non-surgical and surgical periodontal treatment interventions. During endodontic treatment, LASER is utilised after preparing and rinsing the root canal in addition to the conventional treatment.

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Periodontology Case Studies

See our periodontology before and after photos from our happy patients.