Gum Disease Treatment in Hornchurch.

Gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss in UK adults, but caught early it's fully reversible. The right combination of hygienist work, careful at-home routine and (where needed) periodontal therapy keeps your teeth and gums healthy for life.

Book a hygienist How we treat it
Educational diagram of healthy vs inflamed gum line
★★★★★
"Bleeding gums for years and nobody had treated it properly. Three visits with the hygienist and it's gone."
Joanne D.
Stage diagram showing gingivitis vs periodontitis

The two stages of gum disease.

Gingivitis is the first stage. Plaque builds up at the gum line, the gums become inflamed, red and bleed when brushed. The bone holding the teeth is unaffected. Hygienist treatment plus improved at-home brushing reverses it within weeks.

Periodontitis is the advanced stage. If gingivitis is left untreated, the inflammation moves below the gum line and starts to destroy the bone holding the teeth in place. Lost bone doesn't regrow, but progression can be stopped with deeper hygienist work and ongoing maintenance.

How to spot gum disease.

Common signs:

  • Bleeding when you brush or floss
  • Red, swollen or tender gums
  • Bad breath that won't shift with brushing or mouthwash
  • Receding gums (teeth looking longer over time)
  • Loose or shifting teeth
  • Pus around the gum line or gum pain when chewing

The early signs (bleeding, redness) are easy to dismiss. They shouldn't be: they're the first warning that something is starting that's worth catching.

Hygienist measuring gum pocket depths during periodontal assessment

How we treat gum disease.

01

Hygienist Simple Visit

Standard scale and polish to remove plaque and tartar, plus a gum check and brushing technique advice. Right for early gingivitis or maintenance.

02

Hygienist Advanced Visit

Deeper cleaning below the gum line, used for established gum disease. Often spread across two appointments to cover the whole mouth thoroughly.

03

Airflow add-on

Adds airflow stain removal to the standard or advanced visit, particularly useful for patients with deeper staining or stubborn plaque deposits.

04

Periodontal therapy

For more advanced periodontitis, periodontal therapy is delivered over a course of appointments and may be supplemented with antibiotics.

05

Specialist referral

For the most advanced cases (severe bone loss, multiple loose teeth, regenerative procedures), we refer to a specialist periodontist within our wider group.

06

Ongoing maintenance

Once gum disease is stabilised, ongoing maintenance every 3 months (instead of the standard 6) keeps it that way.

How much does gum disease treatment cost in Hornchurch?

Members of the Hacton membership plan have routine hygienist visits included in their monthly fee.

Specialist periodontist treatment is quoted by the specialist after assessment. We offer 0% finance over 12, 24 and 36 months for larger plans.

See membership plans

Hygienist Simple Visit

£80
£105 with airflow stain removal added

Hygienist Advanced Visit

£130
£150 with airflow added; deeper sub-gum cleaning

Periodontal therapy course

Quoted at consultation
For more advanced cases, a course of appointments

The Hacton Dental Care difference.

Catch it early, fully reversible

The first stage (gingivitis) is fully reversible with hygienist treatment and improved at-home routine. Spotting the bleeding-when-brushing signs early is the single most useful thing you can do for your long-term gum health.

Hygienist-led, not surgery first

Most gum disease responds to non-surgical hygienist work plus a small change to your at-home routine. We start there for almost every patient and only escalate if needed.

Specialist referral pathway when needed

For advanced periodontitis with significant bone loss, we refer to a specialist periodontist within our wider group, with the same coordinated clinical team.

Honest about what's reversible

We will tell you straight which stage you're at, what's recoverable, and what's about ongoing maintenance rather than cure. No false promises about regrowing bone.

Linked to your overall health

Active periodontitis is linked to cardiovascular disease, worse diabetic control, pregnancy complications and possible cognitive decline. Treating gum disease properly protects more than your teeth.

Maintenance built into the plan

Once stabilised, ongoing maintenance every 3 months (instead of the standard 6) keeps it that way. This is typically the single most important thing periodontitis patients can do.

Hacton Dental Care hygienist with patient discussing gum health

Why gum disease matters beyond your teeth.

Gum disease isn't just a mouth problem. Active periodontitis is linked in published research to increased risk of cardiovascular disease, worse blood sugar control in diabetics, increased risk of complications in pregnancy, and possible links to cognitive decline.

Treating gum disease properly protects your overall health, not just your teeth. The good news is that catching it at the early stage is straightforward and the treatment itself is comfortable, gentle and well-tolerated.

Book a hygienist

Worried about gum disease?

Book a hygienist visit. We'll measure your gum health properly, treat anything we find, and put you on a maintenance schedule that suits the stage you're at.

Book a hygienist

Gum disease questions, answered.

Can gum disease be cured?

Early gingivitis is fully reversible with hygienist treatment and improved at-home routine; established periodontitis can be stabilised and progression stopped, but lost bone does not regrow.

Why do my gums bleed when I brush?

Bleeding is the most common early sign of gum disease, caused by plaque build-up at the gum line - it's almost always reversible with a hygienist visit and improved technique.

How often should I see the hygienist if I have gum disease?

Most patients with active or recent gum disease are seen every 3 to 4 months for maintenance, compared to every 6 months for healthy gums.

Will I lose my teeth if I have periodontitis?

Not if it's treated and maintained - many periodontitis patients keep their teeth for life with proper ongoing care, while untreated periodontitis is the leading cause of tooth loss in UK adults.

Can my children get gum disease?

Yes, children can develop gum disease (mostly gingivitis) and good brushing technique from an early age is the best prevention - a children's hygiene visit is £40.

Is gum disease contagious?

Gum disease is not directly contagious but the bacteria involved can be transferred between partners through prolonged close contact, so household oral health tends to be linked.

What's the difference between gingivitis and periodontitis?

Gingivitis is reversible inflammation at the gum line; periodontitis is irreversible bone loss caused by untreated gingivitis - the difference is whether the bone has been affected.

Do you offer gum disease treatment near me?

Hacton Dental Care is in Hornchurch and a ten minute drive from Upminster, Romford, Elm Park and Rainham, with free on-site parking.

Find us.

Visit us

1 Hacton Lane
Hornchurch
Essex, RM12 6PH

Get directions

Speak to us

Opening times

Monday9.00am – 6.00pm Tuesday9.00am – 5.00pm Wednesday9.00am – 5.00pm Thursday8.00am – 5.00pm Friday9.00am – 5.00pm SaturdayBy appointment SundayClosed

Closed daily 1.00pm – 2.00pm for lunch.

Hacton Dental Care location map
Looking for an NHS dentist? Our sister practice Church View Dental is 1.1 miles away and currently accepting NHS patients.
Visit Church View