Gum disease treatment nhs

[shinook123]

Hi I'd like to know what treatment you have had by a nhs dentist for gum disease.
I've just had a dentist's appointment yesterday and I'm really not happy with the treatment I have received.
I live in an area where it's incredibly hard to find a nhs dentist.
When I say incredibly hard,impossible is more correct.
To cut a long story short we moved here 7 years ago.
Couldn't find any dentist taking on patients.
Phoned the helpline and was told no nhs dentist in a 70 mile radius was taking on new patients.
We was put on a waiting list of about 20 local nhs dentists.
5 years later(So 18 months ago) we had a letter that a new dentist's had opened and we were down as new patients.
Went for my appointment,generally expecting no problems as I wasn't having any issues.
The dentist did xrays and a lot of prodding and said she'd refer me to the hygienist as she thought I had gum disease.
She asked if I'd had any bleeding or pain and I said no as I hadnt.
The earliest hygienist appointment was 4 months later.
Hygienist only works Wednesday's at the surgery.
I wasn't too worried as from what Is heard bleeding when you cleaned your teeth was the main symptom of gum disease.And I'd had no bleeding.
I've always been a religious flosser,daily and clean my teeth twice a day sometimes more.Ive never had a filling either.
About 2 months after this I developed an infection in a wisdom tooth.
Phoned up,the nhs dentist was off sick but as an emergency I could see the private dentist at the same cost as nhs.
He was really thorough,referred me to the hospital to have the problem wisdom tooth extracted and prescribed anti biotics.
Then he discussed the extent of my gum disease.
Told me that it looked severe and to buy a water pik.
I bought the water pik.
And did a lot of googling!
From googling I was under the impression that root planing is the standard treatment for deeper pockets.
Went to see the hygienist and she did a pocket chart.
All my teeth were mostly 4-5 a few 6 but had two molars that were 7 and 9 on my right side.
She told me I only needed a thorough descale as that was enough to help reduce my pockets.
That was in April this year.
Had a follow up dental check up in August.
Dentist said everything was looking great and it was clear things were improving.Told me to come back in November for a check up and a referral back to the hygienist to get my pockets assessed.
Had my lower wisdom tooth removed in October.

I went yesterday for that appointment and the dentist told me the hygienist waiting list is so long that she (the dentist) will do the pocket chart.
All's great(must be the waterpik)all my pockets are down to 1 and 2.
I'm feeling so happy and relieved and the dentist is saying how great this is.
Then comes the news that the two molars that had pockets originally of 7 and 9 now have pockets of 12 and 14.
The dentist tells me I need no treatment,no tartar or plaque that my oral hygiene is excellent.
But tells me that I will probably lose these teeth but that they are not loose yet.
Tells me to come for a check up in 6 months time.
I ask her if I can book with the hygienist but I'm told she's not taking any appointments as the list is too long.
I've been looking online for hours and it definitely seems standard procedure to do root planing on pockets that are 6mm or more.
I'm thinking if this was done originally maybe my two molars might not be so far advanced now.
It says online that a descale won't do anything for deeper pockets than 6mm.
Sorry this is long but can any share their treatment stories that they had done on the nhs for periodontal pockets.
I think it's too late now to try and save my two teeth by going private (I couldn't afford it anyway)
Is root planing done on the nhs?
I'm only relieved that two teeth I'll lose are my top right wisdom tooth and the molar next to it.
I forgot to mention I had to have blood tests taken as the hygienist told me that my oral hygiene is so good that she can't understand how I had gum disease.
She thought I had an underlying health issue.
Blood tests came back normal and there's no history in my family.

excellent breakdown OP ..very easy to read

My husband had it done privately ..he assumed it wasn't available on the NHS ..but that doesn't seem right surely?? He has some problem with his gums that makes him prone to gum disease and has to be fanatical about flossing etc. HIs is genetic thing and my son has it as well..no idea if there is a name for it but he was just told he had it ..dont think he had a blood test ..but it was years ago.

A year or so ago I was told I was showing signs of early Gum Disease-Scared me to death!
I had to go to 3 monthly appointments and have them cleaned etc and the pockets measured-I think my deepest one was 6!
I was given some special toothpaste(can't remember the name)and mouthwash and told to actually dip the interdental brushes into the wash and then use between my teeth.
If the pockets didn't improve then I would need a deep clean-I dreaded this because just the normal cleaning really hurt my teeth/gums.
I have very sensitive teeth and my gums did bleed a lot.
Thankfully the Dentist decided I only needed to be seen every 6
On my last Visit I was told I was developing some pockets again near my molars but they have adopted a "wait and see" approach.
I have also bought a water pik (i love it) and am hoping it will make a difference.

Thank you for your replies.
Was your treatment with a nhs dentist charliebear?
Waterpiks are brilliant but takes a little while to master it lol.
I'm not too sure where to go from here.I know I won't find another dentist.
To be fair this new surgery Ive been with has already an excellent reputation.
The same dentist is excellent with my children,referred them for the orthodontist.
She also did my girls extractions before their braces were fitted.
The hygienist at the practice is a visiting hygienist who is also private so Id see the same hygienist on the nhs or if I was a private patient.
I'm just wondering if there's a big difference in the treatment of gum disease on the nhs than if your private.
I am a paying patient on the nhs but could never afford private dental treatment.
It only seems to be my two back molars on one side that have any pockets.
But as they were 7 and 9 to begin with all the info online states that pockets this size are too deep for a scaling etc to get to.That you'd need root planing to reach a pocket deeper than 6-7mm.

It was on the NHS yes.
Some of it I didn't pay for as my child was under one at the time of starting treatment.
I now pay again.
The first time I used the water Pik most of it went on the ceiling lol.
I have my next appointment in Feb so hoping the pockets have not got worse...
I was told a deep clean would be needed for me,under the gum line-is that the same as root planing?
TBH the whole idea of something like that terrifies me,as I said my teeth are sensitive(not as bad now as at first) and the scaling etc really hurts especially the molars (where my pockets are at their worse)

I am not too sure if a deep clean is the same as root planing.
I find a scale quite painful around certain teeth and the dentist/hygienist applies numbing gel around these areas which definitely helps and less painful than numbing injections.
Root planing is usually done in quadrants over 4 visits.
You'd definitely need numbing injections for a root planing.
At diagnosis most of my teeth had pockets of around 4,a few were 6 and my two back molars were 7 and 9.
I had a good descale on one visit by the hygienist.
I've maintained a routine of cleaning (But I always did before).
Now all my pockets are 1 and 2 with the exception of the two back molars which are drastically worse.
The dentist has told me there is no plaque or tartar on my teeth or gums.So it has to have gone in under the gum.I think possible the wisdom tooth is the culprit as it's impacted. (Though never given me problems).
My wisdom tooth numbers were at the front,4,4,6 and at the back 5,6,15.
The tooth next to it reads at the front 3,3,4 and at the back 3,5,12.
So the problem is at the back of these teeth and the highest numbers are where the two teeth meet.
Obviously I'm cleaning my teeth fine as there's no plaque etc and the pockets are now 2 on my other teeth.The dentist told me this is an excellent result.
My cleaning routine is morning clean with my electric toothbrush and half hour later rinse Listerine.
Mornings are hectic no time for flossing,water pik.
I clean my teeth again after dinner early evening.
Before bed I floss,then brush,then use internal brushes dipped in Listerine,then use waterpik.
Took ages to start but it's around 5 minutes now.
Once a week I clean my teeth with bicarbonate of soda and after that I do a rinse of Apple cider vinegar diluted with water. (I've no idea if this helps but it's supposed to be great).
I think I should have had root planing done at least to my two back molars when the pockets were 7 and 9 in April this year.
But I've no idea if they do root planing on the nhs.
Just stick with a good hygiene plan for cleaning your teeth and it can be reversed.
I only have bone loss on my two problem teeth thank god but obviously the bone loss is much worse now.

That sounds like a great dental routine..
One thing to note, My OH works for a dental firm-he is not a Dentist! However he did have a meeting and a Dentist did tell everyone there that mouthwash is not recommended nor needed and that teeth after cleaning should not be rinsed.
So I am thinking I should probably use my Water Pik before brushing-I just like using it after to see what bits the brush missed!!!
Do you think your gums have receded?
I do think mine have slightly on my front teeth.

Hi my dentist and hygienist recommend waiting at least 30 minutes before using mouthwash.They say it washes the effects of the toothpaste away else.Thats why I only rinse with Listerine in the mornings.
Just dip the interdental brushes in them at night.
Yes my gums have receded slightly on 3 teeth my molars.
I'd recommend gengigel mouthwash for this.
It's about £8 a bottle and a bottle lasts a week.
Too expensive to use daily but about every 2 months I buy a bottle and rinse 3 times a day with it.
It's great stuff,contains ingredients that makes gums heal and produce more cells.
Boots sell it As does Amazon.
I'd still use the waterpik after brushing.
I was also told never to rinse toothpaste away so I've stopped doing that since.
You could always brush,then use the waterpik then lightly clean teeth with toothpaste straight after.That way the toothpaste is left on to work.
Also I've read that whitening toothpaste and arm and hammer is far too abrasive if you have receding gums and can actually make it worse.
Colgate total is a toothpaste highly recommended online for receding gums so I try to stick to that too.
Bloody teeth,after never having a filling in my life and no trouble.
Good luck and try not to worry!

Thanks for that advice-I am using arm and Hammer!!! do have Colgate Total in the drawer also.
Will look on Amazon for that mouthwash.
Will know more once I have been back to the dentist.

I haven’t had treatment for gum disease, but here in Scotland you can self-refer to a hygienist at a different practice with no detriment to your registration at your existing surgery. The hygienist in my practice - which is mainly private with some NHS patients - is only available by paying privately anyway.

I had root planing on the NHS OP, my pockets were similar to yours. The dentist (NHS) couldn't/wouldnt do the root planing so referred me to the region dental hospital where it was done by dental students (under supervision).
I'm very grateful for this free treatment but it took a long time due to appointments being geared around student learning needs. and having to travel the distance was a hassle, but my gums are much improved, and in comparison my friend who has had root planing privately had to pay loads for it.
I've been left with increased tooth sensitivity issues which they did not warn me about.

I've had varying gum disease for years. Receding gums, very sensitive teeth etc. My pockets have been variable and I couldn't tolerate a water pik so I get a full numb up and deep clean every few months. I also have no underlying health problems and excellent oral hygiene. My dentist thinks some people have a predisposition to the problem, be it hereditary or due to the ph of saliva or something? Also, make sure your vitamin D levels have been checked as it's thought there may be a link.
I try not to worry. I've had a wobbly molar for years and it's not gone anywhere yet.