Periodontal disease problem

If you put Periodontal disease treatments into Google Scholar you will see several options discussed there. If you filter it to (say) the last few years you will see the direction of new research.

These are all treatments as far as I can see... maybe have a look and then discuss further with your dentist.

Scaling and Root Planing (SRP)
​Antibiotics (Topical or Oral)
​Flap Surgery (Pocket Reduction Surgery)
​Bone Grafting
​Soft Tissue Grafts (Gum Grafts)
​Guided Tissue Regeneration (GTR)
​Extraction (for unsalvageable teeth)

Maybe you need things in combination?

I'm sorry I'm not more use.

I paid for root planing about 20 years ago to save my teeth after my NHS dentist was neglectful and kept saying my gums were ok despite my telling him they kept bleeding.

Then he moved abroad and a locum asked me if I'd come to terms with losing my teeth. I came out in floods of tears, found a private dentist for some advice, cashed my Premium Bonds and had root planing under sedation, one quarter of my mouth at a time.

It cost me about £2,000 back then but obviously will be much more now. However, I still have most of my teeth decades later, and have only lost a couple from right at the back (due to grinding my teeth at night). My front teeth are all fine. I am really glad I had it done.

Thank you so much thats all very useful indeed

Thats very interesting, I will definitely consider thst

I had deep cleaning in 2021 at a cost of just under £900.
I had two sessions, half of my mouth each time. Lots of injections and each session about an hour. It wasn't pleasant but has made a huge difference.
I see the hygienist every 3 months and use the small brushes and an electric toothbrush.
For me it was worth it but I wouldn't want to go through it again.
I didn't have sedation as it would have been an extra £300 per session.
I hope you make the right decision for you.

I wish I’d had the money and gumption years ago.

Thank you thats very enlightening

My daughter had periodontal disease treatment in her late 30's (at vast expense!) . She had to travel miles to a specialist clinic and in the end the clinic admitted the treatment wasn't working and her teeth were starting to become loose. In the end, she had all her teeth removed and again (at vast expense!) had implants and it's completely changed her life in a positive way. Although I can't be sure, I've always wondered whether the peridontal treatment she had was just a rip-off.

Im wondering about the long term effects too

2 years ago I went to my dentist as I had toothache. An X-ray revealed a gum infection and he advised me to see the periodontist who visits his practice one a week. She was marvellous. So kind and reassuring. She did half of my gums followed by the other half a couple of weeks later. I had a lot of injections so there was no pain, just some discomfort. She prescribed antibiotics afterwards. I go back to see her once a year and so far all is well. I have to follow a strict cleaning routine routine. Yes it was expensive but it has really helped me. I advise you to ask for recommendations and compare costs.

You won’t get infection from the treatment. Your periodontal tissues are already ones Ted, that’s the problem. Unless you have specialist treatment you will inevitably lose teeth.

Just make sure that the person you are seeing is a specialist. Go on the GDC register and if they are fully trained with all the specialist qualifications their name will be on the Specialist Register.

There are too many people doing specialist treatments who aren’t Specialists.

Final note. Anyone here who smokes - stop now!

TeddyDog

I suffer from periodontal disease, I religiously clean my teeth twice a day with tepe brushes, floss, waterpik irrigator then electric toothbrush, still need to see my dental hygenist every 12 weeks. The dentist says I really ought to go to a specialist periodontist for a deep clean.
It sounds horrible from what I have researched resulting in gum and tooth sensitivity and possible infection, it also costs around £1000 or more.
Have any of you grans had this procedure done ? Was it as ghastly as I fear and did it actually help the disease regress in the long run. Some of the latest research seems to suggest avoiding such invasive treatment. Sometimes I think oh to hell with it all, just get dentures and be done with it.
I worry about the possible relationship between suffering from gum disease and heart disease and Alzheimers as I have also been told by the dentist.
Thanks ladies

Teddydog ,
I can attest to this as , yes I have the very same .
When I was first told of this it reduced me to tears . I had ongoing issues with gums bleeding on & off for years . But I had Hygienist appointment regularly, moved house moved dentists & continued with the Hygienist.
It wasn’t until I moved back to my home town same surgery different dentist that she suggested I attend a periodontist specialist.
Fast forward & I have had many many months of treatments doing all of which you have mentioned.
The initial treatments was the invasive deep cleaning which gets down into the gums . Yes invasive, the injections are the worst in the roof of the mouth .
But you have to keep on top of it , I have a brilliant periodontist who is 40miles or more from my home . I am no longer under the local dentist & wish that someone had picked up on this many years prior .

I have spent a lot of money , my hygiene appointments are £140 . Periodontal appts £250 when you include X-rays .

I wish you well & if you have the money go ahead . I had a small dental plate made as I needed a problematic tooth extracted , that was worth it as I kept my smile . But 5 years on it started making me gag ( I have a bad gag reflex) & as I wasn’t using it my teeth have moved ( as they do ) & I can no longer use it .
That makes me annoyed as that amounted to a huge expense.

And yes dental health is paramount to our health in general &it should be a fact that is more well known / publicised .
BTW my pooches name is Teddy 🐶

As far as I'm aware they will suggest you have things done at extraordinary prices if you have access to finance.
Once your clear that you don't they just tell you to use chlorohexidine mouthwash every day.
You can get it from £1.00 to £5.00 depending on where you shop.

And if you insist that you want to keep your teeth as long as possible then they have to agree to leave them in your head. But it's up to you of course.
The issue is that of consent.

Thank you that's an interesting viewpoint, I was thinking of sticking to my plan of holding out on intensive treatment, I just wonder once you start this deep clean treatment it just needs doing more often due to gum recession

Just get some dentures.