Gentle Gum Disease Treatment in Finchley

You should book an assessment if you notice signs of gum disease, gingivitis in its early stages and periodontitis when advanced. Common symptoms include gums that bleed during brushing or flossing, appearing red and swollen, or feeling tender to the touch. Persistent bad breath or an unpleasant taste in your mouth are indicators. As the condition progresses, you might see your gums receding, teeth appearing longer, or teeth becoming loose. Many patients in Finchley seek our help when they first see blood on their toothbrush, which signals the need to act and prevent more serious issues.

The process begins with a 60-minute consultation. We perform a thorough examination, including measuring the small pockets between your teeth and gums to assess the stage of the disease. We then create a personalised treatment plan. For early gingivitis, a professional hygiene appointment to remove plaque and tartar might be enough. For established periodontitis, the next step involves deep cleaning called scaling and root planing. This procedure lasts 45 to 60 minutes per session and is done under local anaesthetic to keep it painless. We gently remove hardened plaque from below the gum line and smooth the tooth roots to help the gums reattach. Most courses involve 2 to 4 sessions spaced a few weeks apart. Finally, a follow-up appointment is scheduled 6 to 8 weeks later to check healing.

After a deep cleaning, you may experience mild tenderness and sensitivity for a few days. This can be managed with over-the-counter painkillers like ibuprofen. We recommend a soft food diet for the first 24 to 48 hours and avoiding very hot or cold drinks. Your main task is to maintain excellent oral hygiene at home with the techniques we show you. Long-term success depends on brushing twice daily, using interdental brushes or floss, and attending regular hygiene appointments. Red flags requiring contact: Call our practice during office hours Monday, Wednesday, Friday 9 am to 5 pm, Tuesday and Thursday 11 am to 7 pm if you experience severe or increasing pain after day 3, significant swelling, or signs of infection. For out-of-hours emergencies, call 111 or visit your nearest A&E.

A routine hygiene appointment is preventive, focused on removing plaque and tartar above the gum line. It supports healthy gums. In contrast, deep cleaning by scaling and root planing is a therapeutic treatment for active gum disease, cleaning deep below the gum line to stop progression. A Finchley patient with healthy gums may only need a routine clean every six months. But a patient with bleeding, sore gums and deep gum pockets needs a course of deep cleaning to restore health. We will always recommend the most conservative treatment that will be effective for you.

For advanced or aggressive periodontitis, the best course may be a referral to a Periodontist—a dentist with extensive postgraduate training in gum diseases. While we manage the majority of cases here, our prevention-first philosophy ensures you receive appropriate care, even if it is elsewhere. During your initial assessment, we determine whether your case can be treated here or requires a specialist.

As a fully private dental practice, we do not offer NHS gum disease treatment. The cost depends on the severity of the condition and the number of deep cleaning sessions required. After your initial consultation and assessment, we provide a clear treatment plan with all costs up front. We accept several private insurance plans, including Max Bupa, Denplan, and Cigna. Please tell our team if you have coverage you want to use, and we will help you understand your benefits.

To help you make an informed choice about your care, whether with us or another practice in North London, here are key questions to ask: What stage of gum disease do I have? Is a standard clean enough, or do I need deep cleaning (scaling and root planing)? How many appointments will the treatment take and what is the total cost? What specific techniques or tools do you use to keep the treatment gentle and comfortable? What is my role in preventing the disease from returning after treatment? How often will I need maintenance appointments?