Gum disease treatment in West Bromwich
Assessment, treatment and ongoing care for bleeding gums, gum recession and periodontitis.
Bleeding or receding gums can leave you unsure whether you need a hygiene visit or more involved treatment. At Medical-Dent in West Bromwich, we assess your gums and the support around your teeth before recommending care. The aim is to control inflammation and help you keep your teeth where possible.
Signs your gums should be checked
Bleeding when you brush or clean between your teeth, swollen gums, persistent bad breath and gums pulling back from the teeth all deserve an assessment. Advanced gum disease can make teeth loose, but bleeding alone does not mean you will lose teeth. Gum disease can also develop with little pain.
Our guides to bleeding gums and gum disease symptoms and causes explain what to look for. Newly loose teeth or very sore, swollen gums need prompt dental advice.
Gingivitis or periodontitis?
Gingivitis is inflammation of the gums without loss of the bone supporting the teeth. It can usually be reversed with effective daily cleaning and professional care where needed.
Periodontitis damages the supporting tissues, including bone. It can be controlled, but routine cleaning does not make lost supporting bone grow back. Treatment and continuing care aim to reduce inflammation and the risk of further damage. An examination is needed to tell these conditions apart.
How we assess your gums
Your dentist examines the gums, measures the spaces around your teeth and checks their support. X-rays may be needed to assess the supporting bone. We also ask about your health, medicines and smoking, as these can affect gum health and treatment.
The findings guide the plan: which areas need cleaning, whether deeper treatment is needed and how the response will be reviewed. Symptoms alone cannot show how deep a gum pocket is or how much support a tooth has lost.
Treatment options
Non-surgical treatment usually starts with advice on daily cleaning and professional removal of plaque and tartar. Where needed, we clean below the gum line as well as above it. Local anaesthetic can make this more comfortable. The gums are then reassessed before further care is planned. Read about the stages of gum disease treatment.
Vector® Paro is an ultrasonic cleaning tool used in periodontal care. Our listed Vector® Paro / scaler treatments cover one arch or two arches. The choice of instrument is part of the plan; it does not guarantee a cure or a painless procedure. Our Vector Paro Pro guide explains its role.
If pockets do not resolve after initial care, surgery may be considered for selected areas. Surgical periodontal treatment is listed per quarter of the mouth. It is not a routine next step for everyone and cannot promise to rebuild all lost bone. Read about treatment for advanced periodontitis.
A gum graft may help cover exposed roots in selected cases of recession. This is a different procedure from controlling active gum disease, and complete root coverage is not guaranteed. The fee list describes this as surgical coverage of exposed roots (quarter arch). See gum grafting for exposed tooth roots and gum recession surgery.
If hygiene care is all you need, the dental fee list includes hygiene visits. A scale and polish alone does not replace treatment for deeper periodontal disease.
Keeping your gums stable after treatment
Daily cleaning and professional maintenance work together. Brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and clean between your teeth every day, using the method advised for your mouth. Ask for help if cleaning is difficult or uncomfortable.
Your dentist sets the review interval according to your gum health and response to treatment. Keep attending even when symptoms improve, and report new bleeding, swelling or tooth movement between visits. Read our guides to keeping your gums healthy and ongoing care for periodontitis.
Fees
See the accompanying “Fees for this treatment” table: entries marked “from” are starting prices, and your exact cost is confirmed after an examination and treatment plan. For payment information, visit our finance page.
Visiting us from Birmingham and the West Midlands
Medical-Dent is at 353 High Street, West Bromwich, West Midlands, B70 9QG. We are open every day, Monday to Sunday, from 10:00 to 21:00.
Frequently asked questions
Can gum disease be cured?
Gingivitis can usually be reversed with effective cleaning and appropriate professional care. Periodontitis needs long-term management: treatment can control the disease, but routine cleaning does not restore lost supporting bone. Continuing home care and dental reviews remain important even when your gums feel better.
Does gum treatment hurt?
Local anaesthetic can be used when needed to make treatment more comfortable. Tell your dentist if you feel sensitive or uncomfortable. Teeth may be temporarily more sensitive after treatment, and your dentist will discuss pain control and aftercare. No cleaning device can guarantee a painless experience for everyone.
How many visits will I need?
This depends on the extent of the disease and how your gums respond. Cleaning below the gum line may need more than one appointment, followed by reassessment. Your dentist will explain the proposed course and recommend a maintenance interval suited to your needs.
Are the X-ray and gum examination included?
The listed early, advanced and surgical periodontal treatment fees include an X-ray and periodontal examination. These inclusions apply to those three entries; check your plan for what is included in any other treatment.
How much does gum treatment cost?
Use the accompanying “Fees for this treatment” table. Early, advanced and surgical periodontal treatment, and coverage of exposed roots, have prices marked “from”; the Vector® Paro / scaler entries have fixed fees for one or two arches. Your exact cost depends on the examination and agreed plan, including any continuing care.
Will I need antibiotics or surgery?
Antibiotics are not routinely needed and do not replace professional cleaning or daily plaque removal. They may be considered for selected conditions. Surgery is also reserved for selected cases, such as pockets that need further care after initial treatment. Your dentist will reassess your gums before discussing the next step.
Further reading
- Gum disease: symptoms and causes
- How gum disease is treated
- Bleeding gums: causes and care
- Gingivitis
- Periodontitis: symptoms, causes and treatment
- Advanced periodontitis treatment
- Periodontitis treatment and ongoing care
- Periodontitis treatment with Vector Paro Pro
- Gum grafting for exposed tooth roots
- Gum recession surgery
- How to keep your gums healthy
- All gum health guides