.png){kind=logo}
Periodontitis: Symptoms, Treatment and Follow-Up in Brussels
Medically reviewed by Dr. Öznur Yedek, MSc — D-Care Turkey, Side / Antalya. Last updated: November 2026.
Many patients first hear the word periodontitis at a routine check-up. The dentist measures around each tooth, reads out a list of numbers, then mentions "pockets". Most of these patients had no pain at all, so the news comes as a surprise.
That is what makes gum disease tricky. It usually builds up quietly over years. By the time a tooth feels loose, the problem has been there for a long while.
Here is how we explain it to patients at our clinics in Ixelles and in Side.
What is periodontitis, in plain terms?
Your teeth sit in bone and are held in place by the gum and a thin ligament. Periodontitis is a long-lasting inflammation of those supporting tissues, driven by the bacteria in plaque and tartar that collect below the gum line.
It starts as gingivitis: red, puffy gums that bleed when you brush. At that stage it can be reversed with a professional clean and better brushing. If the inflammation carries on, the gum starts to come away from the tooth and a pocket forms. Bacteria settle deeper, and the bone around the root slowly wears away.
Lost bone does not grow back by itself. Treatment stops the process and protects what you still have.
Signs of gum disease you shouldn't ignore
gums that bleed when you brush or floss
bad breath or a bad taste that keeps coming back
gums pulling back, so teeth look longer or feel sensitive to cold
new gaps between teeth, or food getting stuck more often
a tooth that feels slightly loose, or a bite that feels different
Smokers, people with diabetes and anyone whose parents lost teeth to gum disease are at higher risk. If two or three of these signs sound familiar, book an examination rather than waiting for pain. Pain tends to come late.
How is gum disease diagnosed?
It takes a few minutes. The dentist uses a small graduated probe to measure the space between gum and tooth at several points around each tooth. On healthy gums the probe only goes in a couple of millimetres. Deeper than that, we talk about a pocket.
An X-ray shows the bone level. In Belgium a panoramic X-ray is reimbursed once every three years, so if yours is a few years old, the check-up is a good time to take a new one.
Periodontitis treatment: what actually happens
The main treatment is scaling and root planing, often called a deep clean (surfaçage radiculaire in French). Under local anaesthetic, the dentist cleans the root surfaces below the gum to remove tartar and bacteria that a toothbrush can't reach. It is usually done area by area, in one or more visits depending on how much of the mouth is affected.
For a few days afterwards your gums may feel tender and your teeth a bit sensitive. As the swelling goes down, the gums can sit slightly lower than before. That is part of healing.
A few weeks later the pockets are measured again. If some are still deep, further treatment, sometimes gum surgery, may be discussed.
Then comes the part people underestimate: maintenance. A professional clean and check every three to six months depending on your case, plus interdental brushes at home, can keep periodontitis stable for many years. Skip those visits and it tends to come back.
Planning implants or veneers in Turkey? Treat your gums first
If you are considering implants, crowns or veneers at D-Care Turkey, healthy gums come before anything else. Implants placed in a mouth with active gum disease face a higher risk of peri-implantitis, the same kind of inflammation around an implant. You can read more in our article on bleeding gums around implants.
For patients living in Belgium, the practical route is often to have the gums checked and, if needed, treated in Brussels before you travel. Your X-rays and the dentist's notes are then shared with the team in Side. The treatment plan, the quote and the final decision come from D-Care Turkey after examination and imaging. How long to wait between gum treatment and implants depends on your case.
Check-ups close to home in Ixelles
Our clinic, D-Care Belgium, is at Avenue Auguste Rodin 12 in Ixelles, near the Hôpitaux Iris Sud. The dentist is INAMI-contracted (conventionné), so the consultation is reimbursed as with any contracted dentist, with your mutuelle. Treatment carried out in Turkey is not covered by the mutuelle or INAMI.
You can come for a first gum assessment, for the treatment itself and for maintenance visits. If you have already been treated with us in Side, the same appointments are used to keep an eye on your implants, crowns or veneers. Consultations are in French and English. The phone line, +32 471 76 30 22, is answered Monday to Friday from 10:00 to 17:00.
Periodontitis FAQ
Is periodontitis contagious?
Not like a cold. The bacteria involved can pass between people through saliva, but whether the disease develops depends mostly on the person: oral hygiene, smoking, diabetes and genetics. When one partner is treated, a check for the other is often worthwhile.
Can periodontitis be cured?
It can be stopped and kept under control. Bone that has been lost does not regrow on its own, which is why early treatment and regular maintenance matter.
Does a deep clean hurt?
It is done under local anaesthetic. Afterwards most people describe tenderness and sensitivity for a few days, though this varies from person to person.
Can I get implants if I have had gum disease?
Often yes, once the disease is stable and you keep up with check-ups. The decision is made after a clinical exam and X-rays, depending on your case.
Bleeding gums, or planning treatment in Turkey? Message us on WhatsApp at +90 537 264 78 42 and we will point you to an exam in Ixelles or to our team in Side.
D-Care Turkey — Sorgun, 8114 Sok. No:16/1, 07600 Manavgat / Antalya
D-Care Belgium — Avenue Auguste Rodin 12, 1050 Ixelles (Bruxelles)
Our clinic in Brussels: D-Care Belgium, INAMI-contracted dentist in Ixelles (Avenue Auguste Rodin 12) — www.dcarebelgium.be
