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Everyday dentistry · Gum health

Healthy gums, the foundation of everything.

Gum disease treatment at Sardinia House in Holborn starts with a detailed assessment of your gums, then a course of deep cleaning carried out by our hygiene therapists, with our periodontist for the cases that need more. It suits anyone whose gums bleed or have receded, or whose teeth have begun to feel loose. Treatment is usually spread over two to four visits, followed by regular maintenance. Assessment from £150.

The EMS Airflow One unit

Guide fee

Assessment from £150

Visits

Usually 2–4, then maintenance

Technology

Guided Biofilm Therapy with EMS Airflow

With

Our periodontist and hygiene therapists

Who it is for

Signs your gums need attention

Bleeding when you brush

Gums that bleed when you brush or floss are inflamed, not fragile. It is the earliest and most common sign of gum disease, and the stage at which it is easiest to reverse with good cleaning at home and with us.

Gums that have pulled back

Teeth that look longer than they used to, or gaps appearing at the gum line, suggest the gum and the bone beneath it have receded. Charting exactly where this is happening tells us how far it has gone.

Bad breath that will not shift

Persistent bad breath, a bad taste, or a tooth that has started to move or drift are signs of deeper pockets below the gum where bacteria collect. These need cleaning that a toothbrush cannot reach.

A family history, or diabetes

Gum disease runs in families and is closely linked with diabetes, smoking and stress. If any of these apply to you, a periodontal assessment is worth having even when nothing feels wrong yet.

The difference

What makes the difference

A full picture before we start

We measure the pocket depth around every tooth, record bleeding and recession, and take digital X-rays to see the bone. The chart becomes the baseline against which every later visit is compared, so progress is measured rather than assumed.

Guided Biofilm Therapy

Our hygienists use the EMS Airflow system, which lifts the plaque biofilm away with a fine warm powder and water before any scaling begins. Disclosing dye shows you where the plaque is, so you can see what we see.

Deep cleaning under local anaesthetic

Where pockets are deep, the root surfaces are cleaned below the gum line with the area numbed, one quadrant at a time. It is thorough rather than quick, which is what allows the gum to settle back against the tooth.

Dentist and hygienist, together

Your dentist, the hygiene team and, where needed, our periodontist review your charting between them, so the plan is agreed rather than handed over. Where a tooth cannot be saved, or a periodontal opinion is sensible, we say so early.

The process

How gum treatment unfolds

01

Assessment and charting

A periodontal assessment measures the depth of the pocket at six points around each tooth, plus bleeding, recession and mobility. With X-rays, this tells us the stage of the disease and how it should be treated.

02

Home care, first

No amount of cleaning here lasts without cleaning at home. We show you the brushes and technique that suit your mouth, then check at the next visit how the gums have responded before deeper treatment begins.

03

Deep cleaning

The root surfaces below the gum line are cleaned, usually a quadrant or two per visit with local anaesthetic. Over the following weeks the inflammation reduces and the pockets begin to shrink.

04

Review and re-chart

Around two to three months later we measure every pocket again and compare it with the baseline. Most respond well. Any that have not may need a further visit, or a periodontal opinion.

05

Maintenance

Gum disease is managed rather than cured, so regular hygienist visits, typically every three months to begin with, keep the pockets clean and catch any return early, before bone is lost again.

Afterwards

Aftercare

Your gums may feel tender, and the teeth a little sensitive to cold, for a few days after deep cleaning. Keep brushing twice a day and clean between the teeth every day with the brushes we have shown you; this part of the treatment is yours. Some recession can become visible once the swelling settles. Keep your maintenance appointments, and tell us if a tooth feels loose.

Guide fees

Periodontal consultation£150
Extensive gum assessmentfrom £150
Pocket chartingfrom £100
Deep scalingfrom £150
Periodontal treatment, per quadrantfrom £450

Guide fees. Nothing is started until your plan, with every fee written down, is in your hands. See all fees

Who provides it

Gum treatment is provided by our hygiene therapists, with our periodontist for advanced cases

Good to know

The questions we are asked most

Can gum disease be cured?+

Early gum disease, gingivitis, can be reversed completely with good cleaning. Once bone has been lost, which is periodontitis, the disease can be stopped and kept stable, but it needs ongoing maintenance. The earlier it is caught, the more there is to save.

Does gum treatment hurt?+

Deep cleaning below the gum line is done with local anaesthetic, so it should feel like pressure rather than pain. Guided Biofilm Therapy with Airflow is kind to teeth and gums; most patients find it far easier than an ordinary scale and polish. Some tenderness afterwards is normal and short-lived.

How much does gum disease treatment cost in London?+

At Sardinia House the periodontal consultation is £150, deep scaling from £150 and periodontal treatment from £450 per quadrant. The fee turns on how many areas need treating, and it is confirmed in a written plan before we begin.

Will my gums grow back?+

Gum that has receded does not usually grow back on its own. Treatment stops further loss and settles the inflammation, which is what protects the teeth. In selected cases a gum graft can cover exposed roots, and we will tell you if that is an option for you.

How often will I need to come?+

During active treatment, every few weeks. Once the gums are stable, most people with a history of gum disease do well with hygienist visits every three months, reviewed by your dentist at your routine check-ups.

Is gum disease linked with my general health?+

There is a well-established association between gum disease and conditions including diabetes and heart disease. Treating the gums is part of looking after the rest of you. If you have diabetes, let us know, as it affects how the gums heal.

Can I lose teeth from gum disease?+

Yes. Gum disease is a common reason for tooth loss in adults, and it often causes no pain until a late stage. Regular assessment, and treatment at the first sign of bleeding or pockets, is how that is prevented.

What are the early signs of gum disease?+

Gums that bleed when you brush or floss, redness or puffiness along the gum line, persistent bad breath and a bad taste are the usual early signs. Gum disease is rarely painful until it is advanced, which is why bleeding should be checked rather than ignored. A gum screen is part of every check-up here.

Can I recover from years of poor dental hygiene?+

In most cases, yes. Plaque and tartar can be removed, inflamed gums heal once they are kept clean, and the progression of gum disease can be halted even when it has been present for years. Bone that has already been lost does not return, so the earlier treatment starts the more there is to keep.

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Known by name, from your first visit to your last.

Book online at any time, or call and speak to someone who will remember you.

Call or WhatsApp020 7404 8600
Emailinfo@sardiniadental.com
OpenMon–Thu from 8am, late on Wednesdays, Fri from 8.30am
Nearest stationHolborn, around 5 min
Part ofDental Group