Gum Disease Treatment

Gum (periodontal) disease is one of the leading causes of adult tooth loss in the UK, yet in its earliest stage — gingivitis — it is largely reversible. Structured gum disease treatment in London at our Wimpole Street practice focuses on removing the bacterial deposits above and below the gum line that drive inflammation, then helping to keep them from returning through a personalised maintenance plan. The aim is straightforward: to help stabilise the condition and protect the teeth and bone you have.

Common signs that may suggest gum problems include bleeding when brushing or flossing, persistent bad breath, gums that look red or puffy, gum recession, and teeth that feel slightly loose or have drifted. These signs can have several causes, so they are not a diagnosis in themselves — but they are a good reason to arrange an assessment. Some people, particularly smokers, notice very little bleeding even when disease is active, which is why regular checks matter.

Risk factors include plaque accumulation, smoking, diabetes, certain medications, stress and a family history of periodontitis. Anyone can develop gum disease, but people with one or more of these factors tend to benefit most from early, structured care. Suitability for each stage of therapy is always confirmed at an in-person consultation with a GDC-registered dentist, who will consider your medical history alongside your gum condition.

Assessment begins with a Basic Periodontal Examination (BPE), the standard UK screening tool that scores each area of the mouth from 0 to 4. Where scores indicate established disease, we move to detailed six-point pocket-depth charting of every tooth, recording bleeding, recession and mobility, often supported by X-rays to assess bone levels. This gives us — and you — a clear baseline against which progress can be measured.

Treatment then follows the staged approach recommended in current UK and European periodontal guidelines. Step one addresses the causes: tailored oral hygiene coaching, professional cleaning above the gum line and advice on risk factors such as smoking. Step two is root surface debridement — careful deep cleaning of the root surfaces below the gum, performed under local anaesthetic where needed so the visits themselves are comfortable.

After an appropriate healing period, usually around eight to twelve weeks, we re-chart the pockets and compare the results with your baseline. Many sites respond well to this non-surgical phase. Where deep pockets persist, we discuss further options, which can include repeated targeted debridement or, in selected cases, referral for periodontal surgery. Nothing is rushed, and each stage is explained before you commit to it.

Our structured course of periodontal therapy starts from £850, and you will always receive a written, itemised quote before treatment begins. The final cost depends on how many teeth are affected, the depth and number of pockets, whether repeat visits are needed and the frequency of supportive maintenance afterwards. Being clear about cost drivers at the outset means there are no surprises part-way through.

It is worth being honest about alternatives. A standard hygiene visit polishes above the gum line and is excellent for prevention, but it does not treat established periodontitis. Doing nothing is also a choice — though untreated gum disease may put teeth at risk over time as bone support is gradually lost. For complex or aggressive cases, referral to a specialist periodontist is sometimes the most appropriate route, and we will tell you if we believe that applies to you.

Limitations matter too. Periodontitis can be stabilised in most cases with good compliance; it cannot be cured, and bone that has already been lost does not regrow with cleaning alone. Some tenderness, temporary sensitivity and slight gum shrinkage as inflammation resolves are normal after deep cleaning. Individual results vary, and outcomes depend heavily on home care and attendance at maintenance visits.

That is why aftercare is built into the plan from day one. Periodontal disease is managed, not cured — maintenance is lifelong. Most patients settle into supportive periodontal care with our hygiene team every three to four months, with periodic re-charting so any relapse is caught early. Daily interdental cleaning at home does as much for your long-term result as anything we do in the chair.

Home care is the other half of the treatment, and we spend real time on it. Effective daily plaque control means brushing twice a day with a technique suited to your gum anatomy, plus interdental brushes or floss sized correctly for each gap — one size rarely fits a whole mouth. We demonstrate the technique in your own mouth, write down the sizes that fit you, and refine things at each visit. Many patients find that once the routine becomes habit, it takes only a few extra minutes a day, and the difference it makes to bleeding scores at review can be striking. Small, consistent habits are what keep pockets stable between professional visits.

Nervous patients often ask what happens if they have avoided the dentist for years and fear being told off. The honest answer is: nothing of the sort. Gum disease is common, it is rarely anyone’s fault alone, and our job is to assess where you are today and plan forwards, not backwards. Appointments are unhurried, everything is explained before it happens, and local anaesthetic is offered whenever deep cleaning might otherwise be uncomfortable. If anxiety has kept you away, telling us at booking means we can allow extra time and pace the visits to suit you.

If gum disease is left untreated, the typical pattern is gradual rather than dramatic: pockets slowly deepen, bone support reduces, and teeth may in time become loose or drift. Progression varies widely between individuals — some people remain stable for long periods, others progress more quickly, particularly smokers and people with poorly controlled diabetes. That variability is exactly why baseline charting and periodic re-measurement matter: they replace guesswork with evidence, and let us intervene early where change is detected rather than waiting for symptoms.

Getting to us is straightforward from almost anywhere in London. The practice sits on Wimpole Street in Marylebone, a short walk from Bond Street, Oxford Circus and Regent’s Park underground stations, so patients travel to us easily from the City, from west London and from mainline stations for regular maintenance visits. Because periodontal care involves a series of appointments over months and years, that accessibility is a practical part of making the plan sustainable.

Choosing where to have periodontal care matters, because it is a long-term relationship rather than a one-off procedure. At our Wimpole Street practice in Marylebone, near Harley Street, you will see a consistent clinical team who track your charting over years, not visits. If you have noticed bleeding gums or have been told you have pockets, we would be pleased to assess you at our central London practice and set out your options clearly.