Periodontics
Gums and bone are the foundations of your teeth. Treating them means addressing the cause before repairing the consequences.
The tissues that hold your teeth
A healthy tooth stays in place thanks to a set of invisible tissues: the gum and the bone around it. Periodontics is the discipline that looks after this supporting structure — and in the great majority of cases, it is what allows natural teeth to be kept rather than replaced.
- Gums that bleed when brushing
- Persistent bad breath
- Red, swollen or receding gums
- Teeth that look longer than before
- Sensitivity to hot and cold
- Any looseness, however slight, in one or more teeth
- 01
Gingivitis and periodontitis: the difference
When the gum bleeds, swells or reddens, that is inflammation: gingivitis. At this stage the damage is still reversible with the right cleaning.
Left alone, the infection can progress until it reaches the bone supporting the tooth: this is periodontitis. The bone recedes gradually — sometimes over several decades, sometimes far faster, depending on hygiene, smoking, stress or general health. Untreated, periodontitis inevitably leads to loose teeth and then to their loss.
- Gingivitis: reversible inflammation of the gum
- Periodontitis: the supporting bone is affected
- Progression tied to hygiene, smoking and general health
- 02
Root planing
Treatment always begins with bringing risk factors under control — smoking above all — and with rigorous hygiene. Root planing follows: a deep clean of the root below the gum line, carried out under local anaesthesia with precision curettes and ultrasonic instruments. It is the foundation of any periodontal treatment and, in most cases, enough to stop the disease.
- Carried out under local anaesthesia
- Precision curettes and ultrasonic instruments
- Enough to stop the disease in most cases
- 03
Surgical debridement
When root planing is not enough, surgery gives access to the deepest areas so they can be cleaned and disinfected. Where the situation allows, lost bone can be regenerated using advanced techniques: regeneration gels and bone grafts.
- Access to the deepest pockets
- Cleaning and disinfection under direct vision
- Lost bone regenerated where the situation allows
- 04
Periodontal maintenance
Once active treatment is over, a check-up every four to eight months is essential to prevent any relapse — which is what the research shows year after year.
- Maintenance visit every 4 to 8 months
- Bleeding and pocket depth monitored
- Relapse prevented
- 05
Gum recession and grafts
When the gum pulls back and exposes the root of the tooth, this is called gum recession. Depending on the case, a gum graft restores the lost volume, corrects an aesthetic defect or reduces sensitivity to heat, cold or brushing. Smoking remains the main enemy of a successful graft.
- Root exposed by the receding gum
- Graft to restore volume and appearance
- Less sensitivity to heat, cold and brushing
Are your gums bleeding?
A periodontal assessment measures the state of the attachment precisely and determines the right treatment.