Periodontal Treatment in London: When to See a Specialist
Your dentist mentions deep pockets, or bone loss, or a referral. Suddenly there is a second dentist involved, and it helps to know why.
Periodontal treatment usually involves assessment, active treatment and ongoing maintenance. You may see a specialist at the start or later on, depending on how complex your gum problems are.
Before you book a periodontist in London, it helps to know two things: how a specialist can help and when your dentist may refer you.
Periodontics in London: The Benefits of Seeing a Specialist
A specialist periodontist has further training and focused experience in treating the gums, the bone and the other tissues that hold your teeth and implants in place. That means you can have a detailed assessment and, if you need it, both non-surgical and surgical treatment for complex gum problems. You may also see a general dentist and a hygienist, and each has a different role:
| Who | What they do | When you see them |
|---|---|---|
| General dentist | Diagnoses gum disease, treats the early stages, refers you to a specialist | Routine assessment, treatment and shared ongoing care |
| Dental hygienist | Cleaning below the gum line, oral hygiene coaching | Alongside either of the others |
| Specialist periodontist | Detailed assessment, non-surgical and surgical treatment of complex gum problems | From the start for complex cases, or after referral |
For the periodontal treatment we offer in London, see our gum treatment page.
When Does Gum Disease Need a Specialist?
A referral can help with advanced disease, complex gum problems or areas that have not responded to earlier treatment. A periodontist can also assess you before any cleaning begins. Treatment for periodontitis has four steps, and you can see a specialist at any of them.
The four steps run in this order:
- Self-care. Oral hygiene, and controlling the things that make gum disease worse.
- Non-surgical treatment. A thorough clean below the gum line, usually over more than one visit.
- Further treatment, including surgery. Persistent deep pockets may need additional treatment after reassessment.
- Supportive care. Maintenance, tailored to your own risk and repeated at intervals.
UK health guidance puts it simply: your dentist will check your teeth and gums, and they may also refer you to a specialist for further tests and treatment. For more on the disease itself, read our gum disease guide.
The Non-Surgical Route: Periodontal Gum Treatment
For periodontitis, treatment normally starts with home care and non-surgical cleaning. Surgery may be considered later for areas that still need it. Other gum problems, such as recession, need their own assessment and treatment plan.
- Assessment. Pocket depths at every tooth, X-rays, and the risk factors that apply to you.
- Root surface debridement under local anaesthetic. The clinical name for a deep clean below the gum line. The area is numbed first, and the cleaning is usually split across appointments.
- Review. Weeks later, your clinician checks pocket depths, bleeding and your home care to see how your gums have responded and decide what happens next.
Many areas improve with non-surgical care. A specialist can provide that care as well as advise on further treatment when needed. If your gums have already receded, that is a separate question; for more, read our receding gums guide.
Helpful Tip: Tell the team about any medications and medical conditions at the assessment. Both affect how your gums respond to treatment.
Laser Periodontal Treatment & Gum Recession Options
Waterlase and the Chao Pinhole technique address different gum problems. We are among the very few UK practices offering both.
Waterlase laser. We use it to help manage periodontitis and peri-implantitis, an inflammatory condition affecting the tissues and bone around an implant. The system is minimally invasive, with fast healing times.
The Chao Pinhole Surgical Technique. A minimally invasive option for suitable gum recession cases. Through a small opening, existing gum tissue is loosened and repositioned over exposed roots, without conventional scalpel incisions or stitches.
Other gum surgery we offer in London includes open flap debridement (lifting the gum to clean the roots), pocket reduction and regenerative surgery for appropriate cases.
Waterlase can be used alongside non-surgical cleaning or as part of further treatment. Recession treatment is planned separately after gum inflammation is controlled. Waterlase is also used for crown lengthening, a separate treatment.
Gum Surgery London: TKC Dental
We offer gum surgery and periodontal treatment at our two clinics in London. Treatment begins with a full assessment rather than a cleaning, and we take referrals from other practices as well as from our own dentists.
Periodontitis can usually be controlled to limit further bone loss, with ongoing care to keep it stable. Lost supporting tissue does not simply grow back, although regenerative treatment may help in some cases. TKC Dental’s clinics in Knightsbridge and Kensington are conveniently located just 2 miles from the world-renowned Harley Street.
Frequently Asked Questions – Periodontist Visits
Most questions about periodontal treatment cover how a specialist can help and how long the care goes on.
What to Remember Before Seeing a Periodontist
Choose a clinician who can assess your gums and explain a treatment and maintenance plan that suits your needs.
Four things worth knowing before you book:
- Treatment follows a step-by-step plan, and you may see a specialist at the start or later on.
- For periodontitis, non-surgical care comes first. Many areas improve at this stage.
- Check specialist status and relevant experience. The GDC register confirms who is on the Periodontics specialist list.
- Periodontitis needs ongoing maintenance. Early gingivitis can clear up, but if the tissues supporting your teeth are damaged, you will need long-term care.
An assessment shows which step you have reached.
Book Your Periodontal Consultation at TKC Dental
Book a consultation and ask for our periodontist. An assessment measures every pocket and tells you which of the four steps applies to you. A specialist periodontist consultation is £220. For more on what other periodontal treatments cost, read our fee list.
Information Sources
Specialist Lists (General Dental Council)
UK Periodontitis Treatment Guidelines (British Society of Periodontology)
Gum Disease (nhs.uk)
Contact Our Team Today
Whether you’re dealing with gum problems, thinking about veneers, or both, complete the short form below. Our team will get back to you promptly to talk through your concerns and arrange a free e-consultation at a time that suits you.
TKC Dental combines specialist periodontics with cosmetic expertise, so we can care for the health of your gums and the look of your smile together. Interest-free payment options help make treatment accessible. You can enquire today and our team will provide honest, personalised guidance.