The overall goal of modern periodontal treatment is to achieve and then maintain acceptable gum health without the long-term need for specialist therapy.

After the procedure, the aim is for the patient to be able to control their predisposition to disease through a life-long home-care programme with regular home maintenance in accordance with their dental practice.

A small proportion of the population (10-20%) are genetically more susceptible to the effects of plaque and irreversible damage may be caused to the attachment between the gum and the roots of the teeth (periodontitis). This can result in the formation of gaps between the gums and the teeth (pockets) in which more plaque can collect and thus continue the disease process. As these pockets deepen, the plaque under the gums becomes more inaccessible to cleaning, more extensive and more toxic.

This leads to increasing damage to the supporting bone around the roots of the teeth. The bone is gradually destroyed and in the worst cases the teeth may eventually become loose and even be lost

Symptoms may not appear until an advanced stage of the disease. However, warning signs of gum disease include the following:

• Red, swollen or tender gums or other pain in your mouth
• Bleeding while brushing, flossing, or eating hard food
• Gums that are receding or pulling away from the teeth, causing the teeth to look longer than before
• Loose or separating teeth
• Pus between your gums and teeth
• Persistent bad breath
• A change in the way your teeth fit together when you bite
• A change in the fit of partial dentures