Gum disease

Most people think it is normal to have bleeding gums.

They have been told to ignore this and just brush more regularly, get a clean or scaling done more often or use a mouthrinse. Likewise, receding gums are usually not discovered until too late. Even one episode of sore or swollen gums is not to be taken lightly. The movement of teeth out of alignment is also another sign of gum disease. According to the 2009 New Zealand Oral Health Survey, one in 3 (33.5%) adults aged 18 years and above has early periodontitis (irreversible gum disease). One in ten (10.5%) has moderate periodontitis and 5.1% have advanced periodontal disease. Gingivitis, which is a reversible form of gum disease, is present in 50-80% of the population.

Gum disease is preventable and treatable.

There is no reason to lose a tooth from gum disease if it is detected early and treated appropriately. The difficulty, though, is that gum disease is silent and presents no symptoms in the early stages. The only way to detect this disease is for the dental professional to do a full gum pocket measurement and take X rays. Dental hygiene visits should include this as well as a thorough under-the-gum clean with preferably the use of magnification, the latest ultrasonics and 4-handed dentistry to improve vision.

Christchurch Periohygiene employs all the above and more.

We are dedicated to providing an effective yet gentle treatment to relieve symptoms of gum disease and stopping it. We have experienced hygienists who are trained to provide the first stage of gum treatment under the supervision of a dentist who is a Singapore-registered Periodontist. This allows us to provide effective gum treatment at a reasonable cost. The quality of gum treatment is enhanced as the hygienists can clean the plaque and tartar via direct vision instead of by feel which is the norm. We achieve this by having a dedicated assistant, loupes and light. We also provide oral sedation for our anxious patients even for hygiene visits as we recognize that every patient is different. Everyone deserves to have healthy gums and the only way is for regular and effective hygiene visits with good home care.

Teeth Whitening – Bleaching

There are many reasons why teeth discolour.

Stains can be caused by coloured food or drink, smoking or certain bacteria. Teeth can also yellow with age. There are some teeth though which exhibit stains that are found inside the tooth structure. These could be due to certain antibiotics taken while the permanent teeth were still developing, too much fluoride taken at an early age, due to teeth decay or leaking fillings.

Teeth whitening can help with most types of stains but not all.

A proper diagnosis is needed before embarking on this procedure. A note of caution though, teeth whitening can cause sensitivity in some cases and worsen sore and infected gums.

There are 2 types of teeth whitening procedures.

One is home bleaching, and this again can be divided into home kits which are available over-the-counter in pharmacies or those that use a customized delivery system available only through dental clinics.

The other type is in-house bleaching which is done by a dentist or hygienist at the dental clinic.

Home Bleaching
Home bleaching as well as in-house bleaching use either carbamide peroxide or hydrogen peroxide to whiten teeth. Home bleaching is generally thought to be the more effective method as it uses a customized concentration of bleaching agent for a longer period of time to achieve a longer lasting and sustainable result with less sensitivity. This can only be achieved using customized bleaching trays and agents available from your dental professional.

In-house Bleaching
In-house bleaching though, suits those who do not want to adhere to a daily regime of applying the bleaching agent for 2-3 weeks as in the home bleaching system. However, as they receive only 1 round of treatment, usually the highest concentration of bleaching agent is used which may cause sensitivity in some patients. Also, to sustain the result, they should also continue with the home bleaching system for a short time to sustain the results further.

The use of LED light to activate the bleaching agent during the in-house system may not make a difference according to published research. As such, systems not requiring the use of light will usually be less expensive for the patient as up front costs are reduced for the dental clinic.

We provide both the home bleaching and in-house bleaching systems.

The home bleaching system will last for 2-3 weeks and starts at $299 for a 2-week course. If a third week is needed, patients will only be required to buy the extra syringes of bleaching agent at a nominal cost. Whitened teeth can be expected to last 6-12 months depending on the diet of the person. Patients can also do their own touch ups with the extra syringes during that time if they feel the need.

With us, the first consultation is free, and special discounts are given if a professional clean is needed before bleaching, should the patient require this. In-house bleaching will start at $599-799 depending if the patient would like a home bleaching kit for touch ups after this procedure.

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Gum disease and teeth whitening