A PORTISHEAD dental practice is taking part in a trial that could see fewer patients losing their teeth.

Lime Tree Dental Practice is one of 10 surgeries across the country that is trialling a system that predicts the likelihood of developing gum disease.

Patients at the Woodhill Road practice are being given the opportunity to sign up for the trial with dentists Nicholas Williams and Jonathan Jones.

The pair are registered with a national research panel run by Birmingham University.

Members trial and evaluate new dental tools and materials, generally before they are available elsewhere in the UK.

They are currently trialling the PreViser system, which involves data from the dental examination being put into a computer and calculating the likelihood of a patient developing gum disease in the future.

Gum disease is a common condition that affects most people at some point in their lives. It is the biggest cause of tooth loss in adults and has also been linked with a risk of heart attack and stroke along with other health conditions.

About 10 per cent of the population are particularly susceptible.

The dentists at Lime Tree will trial the system on a total of 100 patients. If patients are predicted to be at risk of gum disease measures will be put in place or advised to prevent it happening. The 12-month trial will assess the effect of using the system on gum health and patients' understanding of the disease.

Dr Williams said: "The system gives two scores, the current disease level but also the risk of gum disease. If someone is at low risk we can give them basic information but if we find that young people are at particularly high risk it is a good chance to stop that disease and prevent damage in the future."

As well as working on research projects with Birmingham University Dr Williams and Dr Jones teach students at Bristol Dental School at the practice, which opened in December 2003. The practice partners are also currently involved in a trial using a brand new filling material for teeth.

Patients who are given the fillings are being followed up over three years to see how it performs.

Anyone interested in taking part in the gum disease trial can contact Lime Tree Dental practice on 01275 840234. New patients are welcome.