Periodontitis is chronic inflammation of the tissues around the tooth that destroys the bone holding it. Unlike decay, it does not hurt at first — which is exactly why most patients arrive once their teeth are already loose. Periodontitis, not decay, is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults.
How periodontitis develops
- Gingivitis. Plaque collects at the gum line, the gum reddens and bleeds when brushed. At this stage the damage is fully reversible.
- Early periodontitis. Inflammation reaches the bone. A pocket forms between gum and tooth where a brush cannot reach.
- Moderate. Bone has receded, tooth necks are exposed, teeth become sensitive.
- Severe. Teeth are mobile, their position changes, gaps appear. Some teeth can no longer be saved.
Signs you must not ignore
- Gums bleed when brushing or flossing.
- Persistent bad breath or a bad taste.
- Gums have receded, teeth look longer.
- Teeth have become sensitive to cold.
- A tooth is mobile or your bite feels different.
A healthy gum does not bleed. If it bleeds, that is inflammation — not brushing too hard.
Treatment stages and prices
- Diagnostics. First consultation with imaging €30. Pocket depths are measured and bone level assessed on the radiograph.
- Professional cleaning. Scale and stain removal by a hygienist €100. Scaling a single tooth €15.
- Deep cleaning. Cleaning the pockets from the root surface, done under anaesthetic. Often split across several visits.
- Surgical stage. If needed, gingivectomy across 3–4 teeth €80 or gum surgery from €150.
- Maintenance. Check-up and cleaning every 3–4 months — without it, periodontitis returns.
Why an ordinary cleaning is not enough
Plaque at the gum line comes off with a normal cleaning. But once a pocket is 4–5 mm deep, calculus builds up on the root surface below the gum, where neither a brush nor a routine cleaning reaches. Removing it requires anaesthetic and separate instruments. That is why periodontitis treatment is its own process, not a single hygiene visit.
What treatment realistically achieves
Lost bone cannot be regrown — the aim is to stop the inflammation and preserve the bone that remains. Timing is therefore critical: treatment started early keeps teeth for decades; started late, it saves some of them.
Periodontitis and implants
Implants are not placed in a mouth with untreated periodontitis. The same bacteria cause peri-implantitis and an implant is lost faster than a natural tooth. Periodontitis has to be brought under control first.
Risk factors
- Smoking — raises the risk several times over and masks bleeding, so the disease is found later.
- Diabetes, especially poorly controlled.
- Genetic predisposition.
- Irregular cleaning between the teeth.
If your gums bleed, do not wait — book an appointment at Unidenta in Tallinn. At an early stage one thorough cleaning and hygiene instruction (€10) is often enough.