Gum disease treatment in Malta for gums that bleed, recede or no longer hold teeth firmly
Your gums and the bone under them are what hold your teeth in place. When that support starts to break down it is often quiet at first, which is why gum problems are worth catching and treating early.
Gum disease: what it is, and who it affects
Gum disease is inflammation and infection of the gums and, as it progresses, of the bone that holds the teeth in place. It starts with plaque, the soft film of bacteria that builds up on teeth every day. Plaque that is not cleaned away hardens into tartar along and under the gum line, and the gums react to the bacteria by becoming red, swollen and prone to bleeding. Because it is usually painless, gum disease is easy to miss, which is why your gums are checked at every check-up.
Gingivitis and periodontitis: the two stages
The early stage is gingivitis: inflamed gums that bleed when you brush or floss, without any loss of the bone underneath. At this stage it can be reversed with a professional clean and better cleaning at home. Left alone, it can progress to periodontitis, where the inflammation spreads below the gum line, the gum comes away from the tooth to form a pocket, and the bone that supports the tooth is gradually lost. Lost bone does not grow back by itself, so treatment then aims to stop the disease going further and keep it under control. Untreated, periodontitis can loosen teeth until they move, drift apart or are lost.
Bleeding gums: what they are telling you
Healthy gums do not normally bleed when you brush. Bleeding gums are the most common early sign of inflammation, usually caused by plaque and tartar along the gum line, and they are worth taking seriously even when nothing hurts. The natural reaction is to brush more lightly or avoid the area, but that lets more plaque build up. Keep brushing gently but thoroughly, clean between the teeth, and book a check-up and hygiene clean. If the bleeding settles within a couple of weeks, it was probably gingivitis; if it carries on, or comes with receding gums, bad breath or loose teeth, your gums need a proper assessment. Smoking can hide bleeding, so in smokers gum disease may be further along than it looks.
Who is more at risk
Anyone can develop gum disease, but some things make it more likely or harder to control: smoking, diabetes, a family history of gum problems, crowded teeth or old dental work that is hard to clean around, and hormonal changes such as pregnancy, when gums can bleed more easily. It also tends to go further in people who have not had a professional clean for a long time. If any of these applies to you, tell us, and we will set your check-ups and cleans to suit. Regular check-ups are how it is caught early.
Why gum health matters
Gum disease creeps up slowly. It usually starts as bleeding when you brush and, left alone, can progress to the bone that anchors the teeth shrinking back — at which point teeth loosen and can eventually be lost. The earlier we pick it up, the more support we can save, and in the early stages a thorough clean and better home care often turns it around.
Checking gums for early signs of disease
Deeper cleaning and treatment when needed
Protecting the bone that holds teeth in
Important before and after bigger treatment
Gum disease treatment at Apex Dental, from a clean to laser therapy
What your gums need depends on how far the disease has gone. These are the stages of treatment, and each is explained and priced before it starts.
A full gum assessment
We check the gums around every tooth, including the depth of any pockets, and take X-rays where needed to see how much bone support has been lost (€20 for a small X-ray, €70 for a panoramic one). That tells us whether a clean is enough.
A professional clean
For gingivitis, a thorough scale and polish removes the plaque and tartar irritating the gums, and with good cleaning at home the gums usually settle. A routine hygiene session is €50.
Deep cleaning under the gum line
Where pockets have formed, tartar and bacteria are cleaned off the root surfaces below the gum line, where gum disease does its damage. The area can be numbed so it is comfortable.
Laser gum treatment
Where the gums need more, our periodontal laser is used to treat the inflamed gums, usually over about four sessions. Perio laser treatment is €220 per session.
Maintenance cleans
Once the gums are under control, regular maintenance cleans stop the disease creeping back. The interval is set for your gums, and is often shorter than the usual six months.
Gums around implants and bridges
Implants and fixed bridges need healthy gums too. A full-arch bridge on implants is taken off at the clinic, cleaned and fitted back (€80), and inflamed gum around an implant is treated early.
Get it under control, then keep it there
Gum disease is rarely cured once and forgotten — it is managed. After the initial treatment, regular maintenance cleans keep it from creeping back. This matters as much for implants as for natural teeth, since the same infection that loosens teeth can affect the gum and bone around an implant.
Catching problems before they spread
Regular upkeep to hold the result
Applies to implants as well as teeth
Looking after gums for the long run
Treatment Process
What to expect, step by step
Step 1: Checking the gums
We check the gums around each tooth and take X-rays where needed, to see how much support has been lost.
Step 2: A thorough clean
Tartar and bacteria are cleared from the teeth and from under the gum line, where gum disease does its damage.
Step 3: Laser treatment if needed
Where the gums need more, laser gum treatment follows, usually over about four sessions.
Step 4: Keeping it there
Regular maintenance cleans stop it creeping back — for natural teeth and implants alike.
Gum disease treatment in Malta: time, aftercare and what to expect
How long treatment takes
Early gingivitis can often be settled with a professional clean and a couple of weeks of good cleaning at home. Periodontitis takes longer: deep cleaning may be spread over more than one visit, laser treatment where it is needed usually runs over about four sessions, and we then check how the gums have responded once they have had time to settle. After that, gum disease is managed rather than cured, so maintenance cleans continue for the long term at an interval set for your gums. We explain the plan, the number of visits and the cost before anything starts.
Your part at home
Treatment in the clinic only works if plaque is kept off between visits, so home care is half the treatment. Brush twice a day for two minutes with a fluoride toothpaste, angling the brush towards the gum line; clean between the teeth every day with floss or small interdental brushes, which reach where most gum problems start; and if you smoke, stopping is one of the best things you can do for your gums. We show you the brushes and techniques that fit your mouth, and our dental hygiene page has more on keeping teeth clean at home.
Side effects, risks and limits
A routine clean is usually comfortable, and deeper cleaning under the gum line can be done with the area numbed. Afterwards the gums can feel tender for a few days, and teeth can be more sensitive to cold for a while. As the swelling goes down the gums tighten and can sit a little lower, so teeth may look slightly longer or small gaps may show between them; that is the inflammation settling. Treatment cannot regrow bone that has already been lost, and where the disease has gone far, some teeth may still be loose or need to come out. That is why it is worth acting early, while there is more support to save.
Do you need a periodontist?
A periodontist is a dentist who has specialised in the gums and the bone around the teeth. Many people looking for a periodontist in Malta do not need a specialist, because most gum disease is assessed, treated and maintained in general dental practice. At Apex Dental our dentists assess and treat gum disease, from the first clean to laser treatment and long-term maintenance. If your gums need specialist care beyond what we provide, we will tell you plainly.
Gum disease, implants and missing teeth
The same infection that loosens natural teeth can affect the gum and bone around an implant, which is why regular cleans matter as much with implants as with natural teeth, and why healthy gums come first before dental implants or other bigger treatment. Where a tooth has lost too much support to be saved, we talk you through the ways to replace it, from an implant to a bridge or a denture, once the gums are healthy.
Gum disease treatment cost Malta
What gum disease treatment costs
It depends on how far the disease has gone. For gingivitis, a routine hygiene session (€50) and better cleaning at home may be all you need. Where the gums need more, laser gum treatment is €220 per session, usually over about four sessions, and any X-rays needed to see the bone are added (€20 for a small X-ray, €70 for a panoramic one). Deeper cleaning and any other treatment are priced before they start.
Every fee is on our price list, and we tell you what your gums need, and what it costs, before anything is done.
Transparent pricing — no surprises
Laser gum treatment is priced per session and usually takes about four. X-rays are only taken when they are needed. We tell you what your gums need, and the cost, before anything starts.
View full price listFrequently asked questions
Concerned about your gums?
If your gums bleed, feel sore, or have started to pull back from your teeth, book an assessment. We will tell you where things stand and what, if anything, needs doing.