Gum Disease Treatment in Dubai

Key facts

• Gingivitis (early gum disease) is reversible with a professional clean and better daily cleaning.
• Periodontitis (later stage) is managed with deep cleaning under the gums, usually under local anaesthetic, then maintenance visits, typically every three to four months.
• Cost: see the cost table above and the factors further down this guide.

Symptoms: why gum disease is easy to miss

Gum disease rarely hurts in its early stages, which is exactly why it progresses. Signs to watch for:

• gums that bleed when you brush, floss or bite into hard food
• red, puffy or tender gums
• gums pulling back, so teeth look longer
• persistent bad breath or a bad taste
• pus between the teeth and gums
• teeth that feel loose, drift apart or start trapping food
• a change in the way your teeth meet when you bite

Causes and risk factors

The cause is plaque, the sticky film of bacteria that forms on teeth every day. Left along the gumline, it hardens into tartar, which only a dental professional can remove. Risk rises with:

• Smoking: a major risk factor that also reduces gum bleeding, hiding the warning signs.
• Diabetes: particularly when blood sugar is poorly controlled.
• Hormonal changes: pregnancy, puberty and menopause make gums react more strongly to plaque.
• Medications: including steroids, some anti-epilepsy drugs, some calcium channel blockers and medicines that dry the mouth.
• Genetics, stress and crowded teeth that are harder to keep clean.

How gums are assessed

A gum assessment typically includes periodontal charting: your dentist gently measures the pocket between gum and tooth at six points around every tooth. Healthy pockets are usually 1–3 mm deep; deeper readings, bleeding and loose teeth help stage the disease. X-rays are usually taken when bone loss is suspected.

Treatment by stage

Treating gingivitis

Because the bone and gum attachment are still intact, gingivitis is reversible. A thorough professional teeth cleaning removes plaque and tartar at and just below the gumline. With consistent home care, bleeding often settles within a few weeks.

Treating periodontitis without surgery

Scaling and root planing, often called deep cleaning, is the standard first treatment. It typically involves:

1. Local anaesthetic to numb the section being treated.
2. Scaling with ultrasonic and hand instruments to remove tartar and bacteria from the roots inside the pocket.
3. Root planing to smooth those roots so the gum can tighten against the tooth.
4. Treatment by section: usually one or two quadrants per visit, so a full mouth often takes two visits.
5. Re-evaluation around six to eight weeks later, when pockets are measured again.
6. Periodontal maintenance, typically every three to four months, because periodontitis is controlled, not cured.

Your dentist may also recommend an antiseptic mouthwash or, in some cases, antibiotics.

When specialist periodontal care may be needed

Pockets that stay deep after re-evaluation, significant bone loss or recession needing a graft may call for surgery. Pocket-reduction surgery, regenerative procedures and gum grafts are usually carried out by a periodontist. Paradise Dental Clinic's dentists are DHA-licensed general dentists who assess gum health and provide non-surgical care; complex cases may be referred to a specialist.

Gum disease and your general health

Most of these links are associations rather than proven cause and effect:

• Diabetes: the link runs both ways. Diabetes raises gum disease risk, and gum inflammation can make blood sugar harder to control.
• Pregnancy: gum disease has been associated with preterm birth and low birth weight.
• Heart disease and stroke: studies show associations, but they have not shown that gum disease causes them.

If you have diabetes or a heart condition, or are pregnant, tell your dentist.

Recovery after deep cleaning

First 24–48 hours: expect mild tenderness and cold sensitivity. Eat soft foods once the numbness wears off, rinse gently with warm salt water from the next day, and keep brushing the treated area gently.

Days 3–14: sensitivity usually eases as the gums tighten, and a sensitivity toothpaste can help. As swelling settles, teeth may look slightly longer.

Call +971 58 520 9623 (open daily 10:00–20:00) if you have:

• bleeding that does not stop with gentle pressure
• pain that worsens after the third day
• spreading swelling or a fever

Outside opening hours, or if swelling spreads towards the eye or neck or makes it hard to swallow or breathe, go to a hospital emergency department straight away. Our guide to swollen gums explains which swelling is urgent.

A Dubai-specific tip: hydrate deliberately. Saliva helps clear bacteria from freshly cleaned roots, and between summer heat and air-conditioned offices it is easy to drink too little water.

Keeping gums healthy at home

• Brush twice a day for about two minutes with fluoride toothpaste, angling the bristles towards the gumline; spit rather than rinse.
• Clean between your teeth daily. Our comparison of interdental brushes and floss explains how to choose.
• Treat mouthwash as an extra. It cannot reach plaque under the gums; use it at a different time from brushing.
• Stop smoking. It slows healing and weakens the response to treatment.
• Keep recall visits. Regular dental check-ups catch recurrence before more bone is lost.

What affects the cost

The cost table above shows the indicative range for a full-mouth deep clean. Your own cost depends on:

• Stage: gingivitis usually needs only a professional clean; periodontitis needs deep cleaning.
• Extent: one or two quadrants, or all four.
• Diagnostics: whether X-rays are needed.
• Additional care: antibiotics, or referral for surgery.
• Maintenance: visits, usually every three to four months, are part of the long-term cost.

Insurance contribution depends on your policy's dental cover, so check with your insurer first. Current ranges are on our price list.

Gum health comes first

Implants, veneers, crowns and orthodontic work all depend on stable gums, so gum disease is treated before cosmetic or restorative work begins, and treated early it is simpler to control.

Sources

• Gum disease — NHS
• Gum disease — ADA MouthHealthy
• Gum disease information — American Academy of Periodontology