Gum treatment in the south of Tenerife
Periodontitis — commonly known as "pyorrhoea" — is the major silent cause of tooth loss in adults. Two truths you won't see around much: It is not curable. And the second one's the charm: It is controlled, with a European four-step method that we explain to you completely, no smoke and no fear.
Treatments with flexible financing — detailed conditions in writing at the clinic.
Quick summary
If your parents were told they had "pyorrhoea," and you are being told about "periodontitis" or "periodontal disease," don't let the vocabulary confuse you: It is the same disease with names from different eras. A chronic infection and inflammation of the tissues that support the tooth—gum, ligament, and bone.
The story almost always begins the same way: bacterial plaque next to the gum → gingivitis (red, swollen, bleeding gums). Gingivitis is the good part of the movie: It is completely reversed with professional hygiene and cleaning. If left untreated, in susceptible individuals the inflammation advances inward and begins to destroy the bone: that is already periodontitis, and that destruction doesn't undo itself.
One more note in case you were told years ago: the old distinction between "chronic" and "aggressive" periodontitis disappeared in the 2017 international classification. Today we speak of a single disease, measured by stages and grades — we'll show them to you a little further down, in plain language.
Periodontitis hardly hurts until advanced stages. That is why it is helpful to know the two lists — and which one you do not want to be on.
A fact that explains why so many people are late: according to a survey released by the industry in 2022, about half of the Spanish population does not know what periodontitis is. You, as of today, are no longer in that group.
Diagnosis is not made by looking. It is made with a millimetre probe at various points on each tooth — the complete record is called a periodontal chart — and with X-rays when they are indicated. Healthy gums probe 3 mm or less; starting at 4 mm there is a periodontal pocket. Without those two pieces of data, no one can tell you what stage you are in.
| Stage | What does it mean | What is usually done |
|---|---|---|
| I — Initial | Minimal insertion and bone loss; bleeding gums | Guided hygiene and instrumentation. Very good prognosis |
| II — Moderate | Pockets and bone loss already measurable on the X-ray | Subgingival instrumentation by quadrants and maintenance |
| III — Severe | Deep pockets, marked bone loss, real risk of losing teeth | Instrumentation, reassessment and, sometimes, surgery. Strict maintenance |
| IV — Severe with compromised function | Missing or very loose teeth; the bite has shifted | Periodontal treatment plus rehabilitation: dentures or implants |
Two people can be at the same stage and need different plans: the grade it measures the speed — and tobacco or poorly controlled diabetes make it worse. That is why the plan here is written with your periodontal chart in front of us, not with a template.
The Method
We follow the framework of the European Federation of Periodontology (EFP, 2020) clinical guideline—which, incidentally, was drawn up at a meeting held in Spain. In order and with re-evaluation: that is how this disease is controlled.
We explain what is happening to you and what it depends on. Brushing technique and interdental hygiene adapted to your mouth, control of risk factors — smoking, blood sugar — and professional cleaning of everything accessible above the gum line.
What is commonly called "curettage" or "scaling and root planing": cleaning tartar and plaque from beneath the gumline, where the toothbrush cannot reach. With local anaesthesia, by quadrants, usually in two to four appointments. Afterwards, it is normal to feel some sensitivity for a few days and for the teeth to look a bit longer: the deflanted gums no longer cover the root—it is not that "your gums have receded".
At 6–8 weeks, probing is repeated. If deep pockets remain that do not respond, repeating instrumentation or moving on to periodontal surgery is evaluated. No decision to operate is made before this information is available. Complex surgical cases are referred with a report when applicable.
Regular check-ups with cleaning and probing, usually every 3–6 months, with the interval adjusted to your risk — not the calendar. It is the step that supports all the others: long-term follow-up studies show sustained results in the vast majority of those who comply.
How is step 2 different from a normal cleaning? Cleaning works above the gumline; curetaje works below it. We explain it in detail in the dental cleaning page — including the reason why no cleaning "tightens the teeth" or "lowers the gums".
There are websites that promise to "cure pyorrhoea". We prefer to tell you what the evidence says: established periodontitis is a chronic disease. Nobody is going to give you back the bone you already lost. Promising a complete cure is not optimism, it is misinformation.
The good news is real and it's big: with treatment and maintenance, the progression of the disease can be stopped —the European Federation of Periodontology states this clearly. Think of high blood pressure or diabetes: they are not "cured," they are kept under control. And when kept under control, you lead a normal life—in our case, keeping your teeth for many years.
That shift in framework also changes your role: this is not a treatment that is done to you, it is a monitoring process that we maintain together. We provide the instrumentation, probing, and guidelines; you provide the brushing, interdental cleaning, and visits. Neither half works on its own.
Our house has a custom: telling you the limits before you discover them on your own. These are the ones for periodontal treatment:
The gum that has receded does not grow back on its own — and it doesn't always need to be covered. First, you have to know why it receded: if it is periodontitis, the periodontitis is treated; if it is aggressive brushing (hard bristles, horizontal scrubbing), the technique and the toothbrush are changed — and many times that stops it and nothing more is needed. When the root is very exposed, hurts with cold, or compromises aesthetics, there is mucogingival surgerya tissue graft, usually from the palate, that covers the root in selected cases. It is a real procedure, with stitches and a postoperative recovery period, and not all cases are candidates: we evaluate it and tell you frankly whether it is worth it in yours—and if a referral is appropriate, we refer you with a report.
A loose tooth is not an early warning; it is a late one. It means that part of the bone supporting it has already been lost. The splinting — joining several teeth together with composite and fibre — provides stability and sometimes prevents extractions. What it does not do is restore bone or treat the infection: splinting without controlling periodontitis first is sweeping the problem under the rug. That is why the order matters — first the disease is controlled, then the tooth is stabilised.
Of all the things that influence your gums, tobacco is the number one modifiable factor: the disease progresses faster in smokers, more bone is lost even with good hygiene at home, and grafts and implants heal worse. The figure that usually convinces more than a sermon: About 90% of cases of periodontitis that do not respond to treatment occur in people who smoke (EFP). And the other side is really good: One year after quitting, the response to treatment is already better. If you are thinking of quitting, this is a reason with bone and gum behind it.
Poorly controlled diabetes makes gums worse — and inflamed gums make it harder to control sugar. We aren't the ones saying this: the European Federation of Periodontology and the International Diabetes Federation published a joint consensus on this two-way relationship. Periodontal treatment has been associated with improvements in glycemic control, and does not replace your medical treatment — but it is part of the same care. In practice: if you have diabetes, tell us at your first visit; and if you have periodontitis, mention it at your medical check-up.
Two more notes on general health, stated with the caution they deserve: severe periodontitis it is associated to cardiovascular disease in the joint EFP–World Heart Federation (2020) consensus — association is not causation, and treating your gums does not protect your heart. And very practical: if you take anticoagulants or antiplatelet drugs, let us know before any procedure. It can be treated the same way, with appropriate precautions.
After active treatment, the typical maintenance interval is three to six months, adjusted to your risk: if you smoke, if there is diabetes, or if the disease was advanced, it will be needed more often; if you have been stable for a while, it can be spaced out. We cover the logic of the interval based on risk—and not on a calendar—in depth in the cleaning page.
What if periodontitis has already taken a tooth? The implants they are an option — with a condition that is worth mentioning before signing anything: implants also get sick. The same bacteria that attacked your teeth can inflame the tissue around the implant (peri-implantitis). That is why the order is non-negotiable: first the disease is controlled, then the implants are planned — and always followed by maintenance. Placing implants in a mouth with active periodontitis is putting the cart before the horse.
For specific gaps, we also assess bridges and prosthesis — each option with its healthy gum requirements, which you now know why they come first.
Transparency
Periodontal treatments
Root planing
From €75
Gingivectomy
From €90
Crown lengthening
From €120
Connective tissue graft
From €499
The treatment is prescribed based on the diagnosis, the affected areas, and the necessary maintenance.
Indicative price. The final quotation depends on the clinical evaluation and is provided in writing before starting treatment.
It depends on what the periodontal chart reveals: how many quadrants need scaling, how many sessions, and whether anything else is needed after the re-evaluation. That is why we do not publish a single figure that would be false for half of the cases: first we probe, then we quote — in writing and before starting. You can check our indicative prices in the pricing page.
Flexible financing available; detailed conditions in writing at the clinic.
Frequently asked questions
Established periodontitis is not completely cured: the bone already lost does not grow back on its own. What is achieved with treatment and maintenance is halting its progression and keeping the teeth for many years — like a well-controlled chronic disease. Be wary of anyone who promises to cure it.
The cleaning works above the gum line, on visible and accessible tartar. Curettage—subgingival instrumentation—cleans below the gum line, inside the pockets, under local anaesthesia, and by quadrants. They are different treatments for different situations, and probing determines which one you need.
Usually two to four appointments, by quadrants, with local anaesthesia — during the session you will feel pressure and vibration, not pain. The following days some sensitivity to cold is usual, which is well managed with desensitising toothpaste and goes away.
Because the gum was swollen and bulgy; as the swelling went down, it stopped covering part of the root. It is not that the treatment lowered the gum: it is the actual appearance of a gum that is healthy again over the remaining bone.
It depends on the bone that is left, and only the periodontal chart and the X-ray can tell. Mobility is a late sign, so the sooner you come in, the more options you have: disease control first and, if appropriate, splinting to stabilise. Losing a mobile tooth is not always inevitable.
The typical maintenance interval is three to six months, adjusted for your risk: smoking, diabetes, or advanced disease shorten the period; years of stability lengthen it. Skipping maintenance is the most common way to lose what has been gained.
Yes, and in both directions: poorly controlled diabetes worsens periodontitis, and inflamed gums make it harder to control blood sugar. With well-managed blood glucose, the risk normalises. Tell us during your first visit — the plan is adapted, and periodontal treatment complements (does not replace) your medical treatment.
Yes, but in order: first the disease is controlled, then the implants are planned. Active periodontitis multiplies the risk of peri-implantitis — the version of the disease around the implant. With the gums controlled and good maintenance, implants are an option with good long-term results in studies.
First visit
Probing, periodontal chart, and X-rays if indicated — along with the four-step plan explained with your numbers in front of you, with a written quotation. Write to us and we'll call you to schedule an appointment.
