Diagnosis and treatment of Gum Disease for referred patients
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The New Forest Dental Referral Centre - Lymington - Hants - UK
Tel 01590 672986 Fax 01590 678567.
Training
and Experience
Dr. Shaun Greaves trained for 5
years at the London Hospital Dental School in Whitechapel and
qualified in December 1992. He then spent a year as a trainee in
a practice in Cranleigh, Surrey. During this year Dr. Greaves
successfully completed part one of the FDS RCS (the Fellowship of
the Royal College of Surgeons).
Following this he commenced the two years Master's Degree
Postgraduate course in Periodontology (diagnosis and treatment of
gum disease) at Guy's Hospital Dental School in London. The
course involves practical training in the diagnosis and
management of gum problems, together with the advanced surgical
techniques sometimes needed to treat the condition. The course
also involves academic study together with the production of a
written thesis. On completion of the course Dr. Greaves was
awarded the Degree of Master of Science (Periodontology) in 1994.
Dr. Greaves now provides specialist periodontal treatment for
referred patients at Solent House Dental Surgery.
Treatment
Offered
Periodontitis (or gum disease) is a condition affecting the
supporting tissues of the tooth i.e. the gum and the bone. It is
caused by an adverse interaction of the plaque, found in
everyone's mouth, and the body's defence system. In its early
stages it is largely symptomless. However, as the disease
progresses and bone is lost around the tooth, the gums recede,
pockets form and the teeth may become loose and abscesses can
occur. This process may take many years.
The treatment available at this practice involves an initial
screening to ascertain the extent of the disease and the
prognosis of each tooth. This allows us to draw up an individual
treatment plan for each patient
Initial treatment comprises of two stages. The first is to
achieve the high standard of oral hygiene necessary for treatment
to be succesful. The second involves the mechanical removal
(scaling under local anaesthetic) of the plaque and calculus from
the diseased sites. This initial treatment is designed to
eliminate the areas with early to moderate disease. Areas where
attachment loss is more severe will often need more than one
course of treatment and in some cases may need surgery in order
to return the supporting tissues to a healthy condition.
Even once active treatment is complete it is essential that all
patients are carefully monitored so as to reduce the risk of
relapse. To this end, we aim to see all our patients on a three
monthly basis as part of a maintenance regime.
Other treatment which we offer involves recontouring of the gum
tissues (crown lengthening) in order that satisfactory
restorations can be placed on fractured/broken down teeth. We can
also arrange to remove untreatable roots, on multi-rooted teeth
which otherwise have a favourable future.
How to
arrange an appointment with Dr. Greaves
Your dentist will arrange to refer
you to see Dr. Greaves. Please ask them if he or she thinks that
you would benefit from specialised gum treatment. If you do
not have a dentist of your own, you may contact the surgery
direct for an appointment but you should make arrangements to
find a dentist to provide general dental care. Patients referred
to Dr. Greaves must continue to return for check-ups to their
regular dentist as it is essential to maintain general dental
care.
Patients referred to Dr. Greaves for periodontal care will
not, under any circumstances, be accepted for routine dental
treatment at Solent House Dental Surgery.
For a map showing how to find us, please click here
The New Forest Dental Referral Centre - Lymington - Hants - UK
Tel. 01590 672986 Fax. 01590 678567.
Email perio@dental-referral-centre.co.uk
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