Gum Disease Treatment in Finchley for Healthy Gums

Book an assessment if you notice any signs of gum disease. In its early stages it is gingivitis; in advanced stages it is periodontitis. Symptoms include gums that bleed during brushing, persistent bad breath that does not improve with cleaning, and gums that look red, swollen, or tender. As it progresses, gums recede, making teeth look longer, or loosen. Many Finchley patients visit once they see blood on the toothbrush. Early intervention reverses gingivitis and helps manage periodontitis, avoiding more complex treatments later.

Your treatment starts with a 45 minute assessment to check your gum health and measure the pockets between teeth and gums. For early-stage gingivitis a hygienist cleaning with tailored home care advice is usually enough. For more advanced periodontitis the next step is scaling and root planing, a deep cleaning. This is completed over two 60 minute appointments under local anaesthetic for comfort. We clean below the gum line to remove bacterial deposits from the tooth roots. A recent patient from Muswell Hill had this treatment and returned six weeks later to confirm their gums were healing. The final stage involves regular maintenance visits every 3 to 6 months to keep the disease under control.

After deep cleaning, expect gum tenderness and tooth sensitivity for a few days. Manage this with over-the-counter painkillers such as paracetamol. Avoid very hot, cold, or hard foods for the first 48 hours. Long-term aftercare matters most. Maintain an excellent oral hygiene routine, brushing twice daily with fluoride toothpaste and cleaning between your teeth with interdental brushes or floss. For a Golders Green patient with early gingivitis, simple home routine changes stopped the bleeding within two weeks. Attend your scheduled maintenance appointments so we can monitor your gum health and prevent recurrence. Red flags requiring contact: call our practice if you experience severe pain not relieved by painkillers, significant swelling, or signs of infection like pus during office hours (Mon/Wed/Fri 9-5, Tue/Thu 11-7). For out-of-hours emergencies, please call 111.

For most patients, non-surgical scaling and root planing is the gold standard for treating periodontitis. In very advanced cases with deep pockets, other options may be discussed. Periodontal surgery involves lifting the gum tissue to gain better access for deep cleaning the root surfaces and potentially reshaping the bone. It is more invasive and reserved for severe cases that do not respond to initial therapy. Antibiotic therapy is used in some instances of aggressive infection alongside deep cleaning to help control the bacteria. This is an adjunct to treatment, not a standalone solution. During your consultation, we start with the least invasive, most effective option for your condition and focus on preserving your natural teeth.

To make an informed choice about your care whether you visit us or another practice in North London, consider these questions: What stage is my gum disease and what does that mean for my treatment plan? Will the treatment be performed by a dentist or a dental hygienist? How many appointments are needed for the initial treatment? What are the full costs including initial cleaning and follow-up visits? How often will maintenance appointments occur after the initial therapy? Which at-home care products do you recommend for my situation? Do you accept private dental insurance plans such as Denplan or Cigna?

As a private practice we do not offer NHS treatment. Our focus is on thorough, unhurried care with transparent pricing. An initial hygiene appointment starts from around £95. For more intensive scaling and root planing (deep cleaning), costs are typically priced per quadrant and detailed in a personalised treatment plan after your assessment. There are no hidden fees, and the full cost is explained before treatment begins. We accept several private dental insurance plans including Max Bupa, Denplan, and Cigna. Please have your policy details ready when you contact us so we can advise on coverage.