Experienced Root Planing for Golders Green Patients

Root planing is advised when gum disease has advanced beyond gingivitis. Seek an assessment if you notice persistent symptoms that don’t improve with regular brushing and flossing. Key signs include gums that bleed when you brush, persistent bad breath, or gums that look red, swollen and tender. Some patients notice gum recession or teeth that feel loose. This treatment halts the progression of periodontitis and helps prevent tooth loss. For many patients, it reduces the risk of needing invasive gum surgery.

Your treatment is thorough and designed for comfort. First, you have a 45‑minute consultation with a detailed exam of your gums to measure pocket depths. Before the procedure, the area is fully numbed with local anaesthetic. The treatment has two stages: scaling to remove plaque and tartar from above and below the gumline, and planing to smooth the tooth roots. This smoothing helps prevent future bacteria from sticking and supports proper gum healing. The procedure lasts 60 to 90 minutes per session and, depending on severity, is split into 2 to 4 appointments. We schedule a follow‑up at 4 to 6 weeks to check your healing.

After root planing, you experience some sensitivity and mild tenderness for a few days as the anaesthetic wears off. This is managed with over‑the‑counter pain relief. For the first 24 to 48 hours, follow a soft food diet and avoid very hot, spicy, or crunchy foods to let your gums settle. Continue brushing and flossing, but be gentle around the treated areas for the first week. Long‑term success depends on excellent home care and regular hygiene appointments every 3 to 4 months. A Golders Green patient reported sensitivity subsiding within three days and no gum bleeding within two weeks. Red flags during office hours include severe or increasing pain after three days, persistent swelling, or fever.

While root planing is highly effective, it helps to understand alternatives. For very mild gum inflammation, a standard professional hygiene appointment and improved home care may be enough to reverse the condition. Deeper pockets require different approaches. For advanced periodontitis with significant bone loss, we may need to refer you for surgical treatments to restore health. The goal is the least invasive option first, with root planing as the strongest non‑surgical method for active periodontitis. During your consultation, we explain where you fit on this spectrum and why a specific course is recommended.

To choose what fits you best, here are essential questions to ask any dentist near Golders Green: How many root planing treatments have you performed? Based on my gum pocket depths, what success rate can I realistically expect? What is the long term maintenance plan after the initial treatment? Does the quoted cost cover all necessary appointments including the follow up visit? What signs show the treatment is working? At what point would you refer for surgical treatment?

Private root planing in London typically ranges from £200 to £400 per quadrant. The final cost depends on how extensive the disease is and how many sessions are needed. A full mouth treatment could be in the region of £800 to £1,600. This fee covers the local anaesthetic, the procedure, and post‑treatment advice. Follow up appointments and ongoing hygiene maintenance are usually priced separately. As a private practice, NHS services are not offered here, but we accept dental insurance plans from providers including Max Bupa, Denplan, and Cigna. You receive a clear, itemised treatment plan with no hidden fees.