01932 783 208

Periodontal services, providing care for your gums

Healthy gums are the foundation of a beautiful, lasting smile, and at Sunbury Dental, we are dedicated to helping you maintain them. Whether you are concerned about persistent gum disease, receding gums, or simply want to improve a "gummy" smile, you are in safe hands with our expert team. We offer a comprehensive range of specialist treatments, from traditional gum grafting and deep cleaning to the revolutionary, minimally invasive Chao Pinhole® Surgical Technique, which restores your gum line without the need for scalpels or sutures.

If you are looking for a specialist Periodontist in Sunbury, our practice provides a calm and professional environment where your comfort is our priority. Our clinicians use the latest regenerative techniques to repair bone loss and secure the long-term health of your natural teeth. We understand that taking the first step toward specialist dental care can feel significant, which is why we invite you to book a consultation with us today. Let us help you regain your confidence with a healthy, comfortable, and beautiful smile.

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Crown Lengthening

You may have asked your dentist about procedures to improve a "gummy" smile because your teeth appear short. Your teeth may actually be the proper length, but they're covered with too much gum tissue. This can be corrected by performing a dental crown lengthening procedure.

During the dental crown lengthening procedure, excess gum and bone tissue is reshaped to expose more of the natural tooth. This can be done to one tooth to even your gum line, or to several teeth to expose a natural, broad smile.

A dental crown lengthening may also be recommended to make a restorative or cosmetic dental procedure possible. Perhaps your tooth is decayed, broken below the gum line, or has insufficient tooth structure for a restoration, such as a crown or bridge. Crown lengthening adjusts the gum and bone level to expose more of the tooth so it can be restored.

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Gum Grafts

Exposed tooth roots are the result of gum recession. Gum graft surgery will repair the defect and help to prevent additional recession and bone loss.

Gum grafts can be used to cover roots or develop gum tissue where absent due to excessive gingival recession. During gum graft surgery, your gum tissue is taken from your palate or another donor source to cover the exposed root. This can be done for one tooth or several teeth to even your gum line and reduce sensitivity.

The benefit of a gum graft is that it can reduce further recession and bone loss. In some cases, it can cover exposed roots to protect them from decay. This may reduce tooth sensitivity and improve the aesthetics of your smile. Whether you have a gum graft to improve function or aesthetics, patients often receive the benefits of both: a beautiful new smile and improved periodontal health – your keys to smiling, eating and speaking with comfort and confidence.

Non-Surgical Treatment

Scaling and root planing is a careful cleaning of the root surfaces to remove plaque and calculus from deep periodontal (gum) pockets and to smooth the tooth root to remove bacterial toxins. Scaling and root planing is sometimes followed by adjunctive therapy such as systemic antibiotics, as needed on a case-by-case basis.

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A breakthrough treatment for gum recession

What is gum recession?

Gum recession refers to the loss of gum tissue along the gumline. This can occur as a result of periodontal disease (gingivitis, periodontitis, advanced periodontitis), the natural aging process, or abrasive habits when it comes to brushing the teeth.

Why should gum recession be taken seriously?

When gum recession occurs, the root structure of the tooth becomes exposed. This means that tooth decay and other problems can affect the teeth along the gumline and beneath it. Since healthy gums are essential for a healthy mouth, getting gum recession treated is important for lasting dental wellness.

What is the Chao Pinhole® Surgical Technique (PST)?

The Chao Pinhole® Surgical Technique is a minimally invasive option for treating gum recession. Unlike traditional grafting techniques, PST is incision and suture free. The Chao Pinhole® Surgical Technique/ Pinhole Gum Rejuvenation® was invented and patented by John Chao, D.D.S.

How does the Chao Pinhole® Surgical Technique (PST) differ from traditional gum grafting?

Traditional gum recession treatments involve the use of donor tissue or soft tissue grafts in order to rebuild the gumline. This soft tissue would be sutured in place and would join with existing gum tissue as it healed.

While this traditional grafting treatment is very effective, comparable results with a better patient experience can be achieved through the Chao Pinhole® Surgical Technique.

How is Chao Pinhole® Surgical Technique (PST) performed?

This procedure is performed by making small holes with a very fine needle in the gum tissue. Through this pinhole using specially designed instruments, the gum tissue is loosened and guided over the receded part of the tooth.

The technique simply involves the adjustment of the existing gum tissue. Since there is no cutting or stitching, patients can expect minimal post-operative symptoms (pain, swelling and bleeding). Most patients also are pleasantly surprised by the instant cosmetic improvement.

What are the benefits of Chao Pinhole® Surgical Technique (PST)?

The benefits of the Chao Pinhole® Surgical Technique are many:

  1. 1Less discomfort for the patient after treatment
  2. 2Faster recovery for the patient than traditional grafting
  3. 3No need for uncomfortable sutures
  4. 4No need for scalpels or invasive surgical tools
  5. 5No need to take donor tissue from the patient’s palate
  6. 6Excellent, natural-looking, long-lasting results
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Surgical Treatment

A periodontal pocket reduction procedure is recommended because you have pockets that are too deep to clean with a daily at-home oral hygiene and a professional care routine. During this procedure, your gum tissue is folded back and the disease-causing bacteria are removed before securing the tissue into place. In some cases, irregular surfaces of the damaged bone are smoothed to limit areas where disease-causing bacteria can hide. This allows the gum tissue to better reattach to healthy bone.

Reducing pocket depth and eliminating existing bacteria are important to prevent damage caused by the progression of periodontal disease and to help you maintain a healthy smile. Eliminating bacteria alone may not be sufficient to prevent disease recurrence. Deeper pockets are more difficult for you and your dental care professional to clean, so it's important for you to reduce them. Reduced pockets and a combination of daily oral hygiene and professional maintenance care increase your chances of keeping your natural teeth – and decrease the chance of serious health problems associated with periodontal disease.

With newer surgical techniques and instruments, periodontal surgery tends to be more conservative and minimally invasive. Surgery is usually reserved for the worst affected areas of your mouth.

Surgical Treatment – Growing back the lost bone (regenerative procedures)

When the bone supporting your teeth has been destroyed due to periodontal disease, a regenerative procedure can reverse some of the damage by restoring lost bone and tissue.

During this procedure, your gum tissue is folded back and the disease-causing bacteria are removed. A membrane (filter), bone grafts or tissue-stimulating proteins can be used to encourage your body’s natural ability to regenerate bone and tissue.

Eliminating existing bacteria and regenerating bone and tissue helps to reduce pocket depth and repair damage caused by the progression of periodontal disease. With a combination of daily oral hygiene and professional maintenance care, you’ll increase the chances of keeping your natural teeth – and decrease the chances of other health problems associated with periodontal disease.

Frequently Asked Questions

The fastest way to find a highly qualified periodontist is to start by asking your general dentist. Here at Sunbury Dental, we have highly skilled and experienced dentists, including a registered specialist endodontist, and restorative dentist, and a dentist with a special interest in periodontology. Our dentists are registered on the General Dental Council (GDC) website.

Reading patient reviews and checking the clinic’s website for advanced treatments, like the Chao Pinhole® Technique, can also give you peace of mind that you are choosing a practice that prioritises both modern technology and patient comfort.

While regular dental check-ups are important, you should consider seeing a gum specialist if you notice persistent symptoms such as red, swollen, or bleeding gums, especially if they bleed when you brush or floss. Other "red flags" include receding gums that make your teeth look longer, persistent bad breath, or teeth that feel slightly loose. If your general dentist mentions that you have deep "pockets" around your teeth or signs of bone loss, a periodontist is the best person to help stabilise your oral health and save your natural teeth.

Your first visit is all about gathering information and making you feel comfortable. Our periodontist will carefully review your medical history and perform a thorough examination of your gums using a small instrument to measure the space between your teeth and gums (known as "pockets"). They may also take digital X-rays to check the health of the bone beneath the surface. After the assessment, we will sit down with you to explain our findings and create a personalised treatment plan tailored to your specific needs.

The frequency of your visits depends entirely on the current health of your gums and your history of gum disease. If you are currently undergoing treatment for periodontitis, you may need to visit every three to four months for supportive periodontal therapy to ensure the infection doesn't return. For those whose gum health is stable, a twice-yearly visit is often recommended. Our team will work with you to determine a schedule that keeps your smile secure and prevents future issues from developing.

Address

Sunbury Dental,
145 Green Street,
Sunbury on Thames,
Middlesex, TW16 6QL

Phone

01932 783 208

Email

reception@sunburydental.co.uk

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Opening Hours

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