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Periodontist

A periodontist is a person who specializes in treatment of gum disease. Here at Smile Cliniq, winner of Best Practice and Best Dentist, we are fortunate to have Dr Pelekos as our periodontist at our practice in Finchley, london. He is accredited as a Periodontist from the European Federation of Periodontology (EFP). George is a Senior Clinical Teaching fellow at the Eastman Dental Institute, teaching other specialists in training. Gum disease is a condition where the tissues surrounding the teeth (periodontium) have become inflamed due to bacteria. It is a very common disease and can be easily treated if action is taken in its early stages.

There are two types of gum disease: gingivitis and periodontitis. Gingivitis is when the gums are inflamed, swollen and have a tendency to bleed when flossing or brushing. If gingivitis is not treated, the gums begin to pull away from your teeth, leaving little pockets around the tooth. This pocket traps plaque that can't be reached with brushing. Plaque that is not removed hardens to tartar (calculus). Plaque and tartar build up causes further irritation. This can lead to bleeding of the gums, a funny taste and bad breath. It can also cause the gums to recede, if this occurs, dentine may become exposed and the teeth may become more sensitive to hot and cold substances. At this stage, the condition can be treated with a simple hygiene appointment with your hygienist or dentist and good oral hygiene practice at home.

Periodontitis is when gingivitis has progressed to bone loss.  Pockets are formed in between the tooth and the gums. The bone supporting the tooth can be lost causing the tooth to become wobbly. At this stage, the lost bone and tissue cannot be re-grown. The aim of the treatment for periodontitis would be to prevent further progression of the disease in order to keep as many teeth remaining in your mouth for as long as possible.

Periodontitis refers to a number of inflammatory diseases affecting the tissues that surround and support the teeth. Periodontitis involves progressive loss of the alveolar bone around the teeth, and if left untreated, can lead to the loosening and subsequent loss of teeth. Periodontitis is caused by bacteria that adhere to and grow on the tooth's surfaces, along with an overly aggressive immune response against these bacteria. A diagnosis of periodontitis is established by inspecting the soft gum tissues around the teeth with a periodontal probe and by visual analysis of radiographs, to determine the amount of bone loss around the teeth.

Periodontitis is a common problem amongst adults and is a major cause of tooth loss. It is therefore advisable to see a periodontist as soon as the problem is detected. The earlier the periodontitis is treated, the higher the chance of keeping your own teeth in your mouth for longer. Factors such as smoking or diabetes may also be contributing to the deteriorating gum condition and we will advise you if you need to make any changes in order to improve your gum condition.

Treatment of periodontitis involves an initial consultation with the periodontist to detect the main problem areas in the mouth. Accurate measurements from six points around each tooth are recorded and a panoramic full jaw radiograph maybe taken to determine which areas have suffered the most bone loss. The periodontist will then explain the findings and discuss what the cause is, what necessary action needs to take place, and explain how the treatment will help prevent further progression of periodontitis. A treatment plan is then derived and a report explaining this is sent to the patient detailing a summary of what was discussed in the consultation, the treatment that will be carried out and the costings.

Types of treatment

Root planing

Root planing is the sub gingival removal of plaque and calculus containing millions of bacteria from the root surfaces. The periodontist will use an ultrasonic scaler to remove calculus from above and below the gums, and various hand instruments to access bacteria deeper within the pockets. This is performed under local anaesthetic.
Treatment of periodontitis is a lifelong commitment. Even after having treatment with the best periodontist in the world, it cannot be stressed enough how important it is to follow a strict oral hygiene regime at home to keep periodontitis under control. More information on how to look after your teeth at home, please click on our oral hygiene guide.
All specialist treatments are carried out at the Smile Cliniq Dental surgery in Finchley, North London. If you think you require treatment from a periodontist, or want to ask a few questions about seeing one, just simply call our number on 0208 343 1133. You can also contact us via email at info@smilecliniq.com.

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