Treatment for at A&S Key Facts:

After examining your , your dentist may rec- ommend that you see our hygienist for some inten- sive gum treatment. This is available on the NHS  Gum disease is the most common and is based on the British Periodontal Society cause of tooth loss in adults. guidelines.  Gum disease is caused by a build If you pay for treatment each phase falls within Band up of plaque. 2 of treatment so costs £45.60.  Gum disease is made worse by If you are exempt from NHS charges there is no smoking. charge for the gum disease treatment with the hy- Patient Information Leaflet gienist.  Gum disease makes your gums bleed.

Treatment for patient’s with BPE 3:  Gum disease is one of the main causes of bad breath. Periodontal If you have a BPE score of 3 you will receive an in- tensive course of treatment split up into 3 phases over a 6 month period. Disease Your dentist will then review your gum health after this course of treatment. If you have any further questions please speak to your dentist or hygienist at your next appointment.

Treatment for patients with BPE 4:

DENTAL SURGEONS

If you have a BPE score of 4, you will receive 65 Duckworth Lane an intensive course of treatment split up into 5 phases over a 12 month period. Bradford BD9 5EU Your dentist will then review your gum health A brief explanation of gum disease after this course of treatment. Phone: 01274 541643

Email: [email protected] How do we detect gum dis- How do I prevent gum disease? Periodontal Disease ease?  Brush your teeth well twice a day; At each check-up your den- What is periodontal disease? tist or hygienist will check - removes the film of bacteria from the teeth the state of your gums by Periodontal disease, or gum disease, is the  Clean between your teeth every day. swelling, soreness and/or infection of the tis- probing around the teeth sues supporting the teeth. As the gums become and recording a BPE score. - removes bacteria and food particles from between inflamed they pull away from the tooth forming If there are any deep pock- the teeth, where a can't reach a ‘pocket’ between the gum and the tooth. (see ets present then you will picture below). Measuring a periodontal need some periodontal  Visit your dentist regularly; pocket treatment, either from the dentist or our hygienist. - regular dental checkups and professional cleaning is essential What is a BPE score? How does smoking affect my teeth and gums? Caption describing picture or BPE stands for ‘basicgraphic. periodontal examination’ and it is an indication of how healthy your gums are. Scores Smoking causes more plaque and disease to progress of 1 and 2 mean you have whilst 3,4 and 5 more rapidly. Also the gums don’t heal as well due to mean you have a type of periodontal disease. a lack of oxygen in the bloodstream. What is gingivitis? Gum Disease Flowchart Gingivitis is the inflammation of the gums caused by As the disease gets worse the bone anchoring a build up of plaque. It is reversible, but if untreated BPE Score the teeth in the jaw is lost, making the teeth will turn into periodontal disease. loose. How do we treat gum disease? 0 Healthy Mouth What is the cause of gum disease? You’ll need one or more ‘deep cleans’ from your den- Plaque is the main factor that causes gum dis- tist or hygienist depending on how severe your gum Reversible ease. Plaque is a film of bacteria which forms disease is. After this it is up to you remove 1 Gingivitis on the surface of the teeth and gums every day. plaque and keep your teeth as clean as possible Other factors include smoking, diabetes, stress by brushing and flossing. 2 and some medications. What happens if it’s not treated? Am I likely to suffer from gum disease? If not treated, your teeth may eventually fall 3 Periodontal disease Irreversible Most people suffer from some form of gum dis- out. In fact, more teeth are lost through perio- 4 ease. However, the disease develops very dontal disease than through tooth decay. slowly in most people, and it can be slowed 5 down to a rate that should allow you to keep Are there any side effects of treatment? most of your teeth for life. If treatment is successful your gums may re- Increasing Severity cede as they heal.