You brush. You floss. You show up to the dentist.
But what if, despite doing everything right, your gum disease goes un-noticed, or worse, untreated? We speak to patients every week who were told their gums looked fine… only to discover months or years later they’ve got advanced gum disease.
By then, they’ve lost teeth, suffered pain, and faced expensive treatments that may have been avoided.
So, how does this happen? And what can you do about it?
It Gets Missed, Especially on the NHS
Dentists working in the NHS are paid using something called Units of Dental Activity (UDAs). They get the same amount of money whether they:
- Do a 5-minute check-up
- Or carry out a full gum disease exam, deep clean, and follow-up treatment plan
That means the system rewards speed, not thorough, ongoing care. And gum disease? It takes time to diagnose, explain, treat, and monitor properly.
This is how patients end up being told everything looks fine, because there’s no time to do a full gum health assessment.
Sometimes the signs are missed. Sometimes the treatment is skipped. Sometimes nothing is said at all.
What Is Gum Disease?
Gum disease (or periodontal disease) is an infection in the tissues that support your teeth. It starts as gingivitis (bleeding gums, bad breath), and if left untreated, it can quietly progress into periodontitis, a more serious stage that can lead to:
- Loose teeth
- Receding gums
- Bone damage
- Tooth loss
- Even links to heart disease, stroke, and diabetes
The scary part? You might not feel any pain in the early stages. That’s why routine checks are so important.
How Should Gum Disease Be Spotted?
The key is something called a periodontal probe. It’s a simple tool dentists use to check how deep the space is between your gums and teeth.
This check should happen regularly and takes just a few minutes.
If the gaps (called “pockets”) are too deep, that’s a warning sign. A dentist should then:
- Offer you a treatment plan on the NHS
- Refer you to a hygienist or specialist
- Monitor your progress over time
If this didn’t happen, and things got worse, that’s a red flag.
What Happens If It’s Missed or Ignored?
We’ve helped patients who’ve gone on to develop:
- Gum infections and abscesses
- Wobbly or loose teeth
- Bone loss around the jaw
- Multiple extractions or even full dentures
- Emotional distress from missing teeth.
And the worst part? Many of them never even knew they had gum disease in the first place.
So, What Should a Dentist Have Done?
If your dentist was doing their job properly, they should have:
- Checked your gums regularly using a probe
- Told you about any signs of disease
- Offered you NHS periodontal treatment
- Referred you to a hygienist or specialist if needed
- Kept a close eye on things
If they didn’t, and your condition got worse, you may have been let down.
Could I have suffered dental negligence?
Yes, if you’ve suffered because your gum disease wasn’t diagnosed or treated properly, you may be able to bring a dental negligence claim.
You don’t need to know all the details. That’s our job, we will:
- Request your dental records
- Have them reviewed by an expert
- See if you’ve been failed
- And advise you for free whether you have a claim
What To Do Next
If you’ve lost teeth, needed advanced treatment, or just feel something wasn’t right with your care… contact us and we’ll review your case for free and in confidence.
And if we think you’ve got a claim, we’ll help you every step of the way and help secure the money you need to restore your smile.