General Dentistry
Gum Disease Treatment in Wellington
Gum disease is common, usually painless in its early stages, and reversible if it is caught before it reaches the bone.
Gum disease starts as gingivitis: plaque along the gumline irritates the gums, and they bleed when brushed. At that stage it is reversible. Left alone, it can progress to periodontitis, where the supporting bone is lost. Bone does not grow back on its own, which is why the aim is to catch it early and stop it advancing.
What to watch for
- Gums that bleed when you brush or floss
- Red, puffy or tender gums
- Persistent bad breath or a bad taste
- Gums receding, so teeth look longer
- Teeth that feel loose or have shifted position
Bleeding gums are not normal, and they are not a sign you are brushing too hard. They are usually the first sign worth acting on.
How it is assessed and treated
We measure the depth of the pockets between your gums and teeth, check whether the gums bleed on gentle probing, and take x-rays to see the bone level. Those readings tell us whether you have gingivitis or established periodontitis, and give us a baseline to compare against later.
Early gum disease usually responds to a thorough professional clean and a change in daily technique. More advanced cases need deeper cleaning below the gumline, sometimes over several visits and occasionally with local anaesthetic. Where the disease is severe or not responding, referral to a periodontist may be the right call.
Treatment only holds if daily cleaning holds. Smoking, diabetes and some medications make gum disease progress faster, so tell us about them.
Related: professional teeth cleaning and regular checkups.
Book an appointment
We are open seven days, 8:00am – 8:30pm, at 100 Riddiford Street, Newtown, with free onsite parking.