Gum Disease Treatment Cost – All You Need To Know

Gum disease is dubbed the silent killer largely because of the threats it poses to your health and well-being. Gum disease affects 70-75 percent of adults and can occur in varying stages of severity.

The odds are you have gum disease but don’t know it yet or its implications for your overall health.

In various studies undertaken, severe gum disease has been linked to dementia, obesity, hypertension, stroke, blood pressure, and even diabetes.

Here’s what you need to know about gum disease and what you need to do about it.

What Is Gum Disease?

Gum disease is an infection of the gum tissues that envelope and uphold your teeth.

Gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults. Untreated gum disease can worsen and cause bleeding, tooth loss, and damage to bone and mouth tissues.

It all starts with a build-up of plaque, a colorless film that repeatedly forms on teeth when sugars and stains from food interact with the bacteria in your mouth. Plaque reforms quickly, typically within 24 hours.

If plaque stays on teeth for longer than a couple of days, it can harden under the gums, becoming tartar. Tartar hardens plaque, making it difficult to remove and creating a breeding ground for bacteria.

Tartar cannot be removed by brushing and flossing alone and requires professional removal.

Gum disease has three stages:

1. Gingivitis – This is the first stage where gums are mildly inflamed; they appear red or swollen and may bleed during brushing.
2. Periodontitis – In the second stage, gums begin to pull away from the teeth, allowing plaque bacteria to infect tooth roots, supporting fibers, and bone.
3. Advanced Periodontitis – The third stage of gum disease is where supporting fibers and bone are destroyed, teeth are loose, and need to be removed.

Because gum disease is generally painless, you may not realize it's present. You may have gum disease but show no clear symptoms. That is one reason why regular dental check-ups and examinations are important. Early detection of gum disease can prevent further dental and health complications.

What Does Gum Disease Look Like?

Knowing the symptoms can help you identify whether you are at one of the stages of gum disease.

So what do healthy gums look like? Healthy gums are pink in color, firm, and not swollen or red. Healthy gums act as a wall that stops harmful bacteria from entering your body.

Now let’s look at some common symptoms you may experience that indicate an underlying gum disease.

• Tender, swollen, or red gums
• Bleeding gums during brushing or flossing
• Gums that are pulled away from teeth,h forming pockets
• Altered teeth fit when you bite
• Persistent bad taste or bad breath

Let’s look at the symptoms at each stage of gum disease so you can identify them and take action in time to prevent further damage.

Stage 1: Gingivitis

The word gingivitis comes from ‘gingiva’ that denotes the gums, and ‘itis’ denoting inflammation, so gingivitis is inflammation of the gums.

In healthy gums, there is no redness, bleeding, or sensitivity, and the pocket depth is 1 to 3 millimeters, hugging your teeth closely with no plaque deposits.

Plaque starts building in the gums due to inadequate oral hygiene care. When bacteria start to grow in the plaque, it starts accumulating on the surface of the teeth.

If you are suffering from gingivitis, you will notice the following symptoms:

• Redness
• Inflammation
• Swelling or tenderness in the gums
• Bleeding while brushing and flossing

At this stage, gingivitis is still reversible and can be removed by a professional cleaning, followed by daily brushing and flossing.

Stage 2: Periodontitis

Periodontitis comes from ‘peri’ means around, and ‘odon’ denotes the tooth, so it’s the inflammation and erosion of the supportive structures around the teeth.

If gingivitis is not controlled and left untreated, the condition can progress to periodontitis. Periodontitis is an infection of the gums that damages the soft tissue and bone supporting the teeth.

Continuous inflammation of the gums eventually creates pockets between the gums and teeth that collect plaque, tartar, and bacteria.

Symptoms of periodontitis:

• Swollen gums
• Sensitive teeth
• Painful chewing
• New spaces develop between the teeth
• Loose teeth
• Bright red or purple coloured gums
• Tender to the touch
• Teeth appear longer than normal as gums pull away from teeth
• Pus between teeth and gums
• Bad breath
• Bad taste in the mouth
• Shift in the manner your teeth fit together when you bite
• Change in the fitting of your partial dentures

If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms, seek an appointment with a Periodontist before it advances.

Stage 3: Advanced Periodontitis

Over time, the gum pockets deepen, allowing even more bacteria to accumulate. This leads to the last stage. Advanced periodontitis is the final stage of gum disease that destroys gum tissue, causes irreparable tooth decay, and leads to the loss of one or more teeth.

All the untreated symptoms experienced during gingivitis and periodontitis lead you to this stage.

This stage can be extremely dangerous for your overall health, as plaque can enter and travel through the blood vessels, exposing you to various health risks.

Below are a few factors that increase your risk of developing gum disease.

• Genetics
• Inadequate oral hygiene
• Smoking
• Chewing tobacco
• Stress
• Hard to clean crooked teeth
• Older age
• Poor diet
• Diabetes
• Medications that lessen saliva output
• Hormonal changes due to pregnancy, use of oral contraceptives, or menopause

How Much Does It Cost To Treat Gum Disease?

Gum disease is curable if detected early; if not, its treatment can become costly and time-consuming. Advanced gum disease can be stabilized and maintained with the right treatment as suggested by your Periodontist.

The cost of gum disease treatment depends on the stage and severity of the disease.

Because gum disease varies widely in severity, it’s hard to determine an average treatment cost.

The average cost of treatment can be between £120 – £4000. Costs can be as low as £90 for a basic examination, and full-mouth treatment can start from £18,000.

Bring that beautiful, confident smile back to life with regular check-ups, examinations, and the right treatment.