Gum disease (also called periodontal disease) is an infection of the tissues that hold your teeth in place. It is caused by a build-up of plaque — a sticky film of bacteria — along and below the gum line.
In its early stage, known as gingivitis, gum disease causes redness, swelling and bleeding when you brush. Gingivitis is fully reversible with professional treatment and improved home care.
If left untreated, gingivitis can progress to periodontitis, where the infection spreads deeper and begins to destroy the bone and tissue supporting your teeth. This can ultimately lead to tooth loss — but with prompt treatment, we can stop the disease in its tracks and help you keep your teeth for life.
Gum disease is the leading cause of adult tooth loss in Australia. Early treatment protects the bone and tissue that hold your teeth in place.
Gingivitis is fully reversible. Even advanced periodontitis can be managed effectively to prevent further bone and tissue loss.
Research links untreated gum disease to serious health conditions including heart disease, stroke, and diabetes complications.
Treating gum disease eliminates the bacteria causing persistent bad breath, leaving your mouth feeling clean and fresh.
Step 1
We measure the depth of gum pockets, check for bleeding, and take X-rays to assess any bone loss. This tells us the extent of disease and informs your personalised treatment plan.
Step 2
We remove plaque and tartar from the visible surfaces of all teeth. For mild gingivitis, this is often enough to reverse the infection and restore gum health.
Step 3
For more advanced disease, we clean below the gum line using specialised instruments, removing deposits from the root surfaces to reduce pocket depth and allow gums to heal.
Step 4
We guide you on the best brushing and flossing technique for your situation, and may recommend interdental brushes or other tools to keep bacteria under control between visits.
Step 5
We review your gum health after treatment to measure pocket depth reduction and assess healing. Further treatment is planned if needed based on your response.
Step 6
Gum disease requires long-term management. We schedule maintenance visits every 3–4 months to keep the disease under control and prevent it from progressing further.
We understand that gum disease can feel overwhelming. Our team takes the time to explain everything clearly and support you every step of the way.
We work with care and precision to ensure your gum treatment is as comfortable as possible from start to finish.
We explain exactly what we find, what it means, and what your options are — in plain language, with no jargon.
We welcome patients of all ages from Macleod, Rosanna, Watsonia, Bundoora, and surrounding suburbs.
A routine scale and clean is generally comfortable for most patients. For deeper treatment such as scaling and root planing, we use local anaesthetic to ensure the area is completely numb before we begin. You may experience some tenderness and sensitivity in the days following your appointment, which typically settles within a week. We always check in with you throughout and work as gently as possible.
In its earliest stage — gingivitis — gum disease is fully reversible with professional treatment and improved home care. More advanced periodontitis cannot be completely cured, but it can be very effectively managed to stop it progressing further. With the right treatment and regular maintenance visits, most patients with gum disease are able to keep their teeth for life.
Common signs include bleeding gums when you brush or floss, gums that look red or swollen, persistent bad breath, and gums that appear to be pulling away from your teeth. However, gum disease can also be painless and symptom-free in its early stages, which is why regular check-ups are so important — we assess your gum health at every appointment.
This depends entirely on the severity of the disease. Mild gingivitis may be resolved in a single professional clean combined with improved home care. Moderate to advanced periodontitis typically requires multiple appointments for deep cleaning, followed by a reassessment and ongoing maintenance visits every 3–4 months. We will give you a clear treatment plan and timeline at your initial assessment.
Regular cleans remove the plaque build-up that causes gum disease before it takes hold.
When advanced gum disease causes irreversible damage, we guide you through extraction and replacement options.
Experiencing a sudden dental abscess or painful swelling? We offer same-day emergency appointments.
Don’t ignore bleeding or sore gums. The sooner gum disease is treated, the better the outcome. Book your appointment at Macleod Dental today.
