What Is Gum Treatment?
Gum treatment refers to any dental treatment relating to the soft, pink tissues in the mouth that we call the gums. The technical terms for these tissues include gingiva, attached gingiva, keratinised gingiva and mucosa. The technical differences between them are not especially relevant for most people. Among dentists, however, it is very important to understand the relative balance of the two types of tissue so that we can keep the mouth healthy.
The gums sit over the bone to ensure that the teeth stay stable in the mouth long term. If the gums are lost or recede, the teeth become loose, look longer and worse, and become more sensitive. It is in all our interest to maintain our gum health for as long as possible.
Teeth are only designed to last about 50 years, so dentistry has to come up with some clever methods to make sure they last a lifetime, which in the UK is up to about 83 years according to lifespan data.
Hygienist Treatments
The first aspect is hygienist treatment. A hygienist is an expert at cleaning teeth and maintaining the gums. This is the bare minimum of maintenance, and most people would benefit from seeing a hygienist every 6 to 12 months, or more often depending on their risk level.
The aim is to debride, or professionally clean, the areas of the teeth and gums that the toothbrush cannot reach. This can be just below the gum line, or in areas that are difficult for a toothbrush to get to, such as crowded teeth or areas with complex dental work.
Specialist and Cosmetic Gum Treatment
The next stage up is seeing a gum specialist or a cosmetic dentist for gum treatment. We can help with all of these types of treatment at Marylebone Smile Clinic, because our team includes a gum specialist and cosmetic dentists who understand what the gums need to be healthy and how to keep them looking good for as long as possible.
Gum disease: If you need gum treatment beyond a hygienist, this could be specialist treatment for gum disease. Gum disease is a bacterial infection in the gums that destroys the bone and makes the teeth wobbly. It is very important to treat it early, because it can accelerate the loss of teeth. Certain medical conditions can accelerate it, as can lifestyle factors such as smoking.
Crown lengthening and gummy smile makeovers
Another gum treatment is crown lengthening, also known as a gummy smile makeover. This is for people who have an excess of gum that they would like to reduce. We have a dedicated section on this that describes these treatments in detail.
Gum recession surgery and grafts
If you have had gum recession, then depending on the cause you may be a suitable candidate for a gum graft, which reverses the process and brings the gum back to its original position. It works very well because it is minimally invasive, uses your own tissue and has a very high success rate.
Get in Touch
If any of these apply to you, whether that is hygiene therapy, specialist gum treatment, a gummy smile makeover or a gum recession graft, give us a call at Marylebone Smile Clinic and we will be happy to help.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a gum specialist better than a cosmetic dentist for gum treatment?
For gum treatment relating to pathology, meaning bacterial infections around the gum, a gum specialist is the best person to see. For hygienist therapy, it depends on the training and particular skills of your hygienist team. When it comes to aesthetics, gum lifts and gum recession treatments, cosmetic dentists tend to be better, purely because they understand the aesthetic side of gum treatment.
If this applies to you, give us a call at Marylebone Smile Clinic and we will be happy to help.
Dentist at Marylebone Smile Clinic and an Accredited member of the British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry.
GDC number: 258353. Last reviewed: 9 November 2026