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Periodontal Gum Disease

gum-recession-periodontal-gum-disease

What is Periodontal Gum Disease?

Periodontal gum disease is an oral health problem that affects the gums and the structures supporting the teeth. It’s primarily caused by bacteria and is one of the leading causes of tooth loss globally, making it a significant concern here in Singapore as well.

A 2003 oral health survey by the Health Promotion Board revealed that 85% of Singaporean adults had mild to moderate forms of gum disease. If not treated early, gum disease can progress to more severe stages, resulting in irreversible damage such as tooth and bone loss, along with other potential health complications such as diabetes and heart disease.

Early detection and timely treatment can effectively control gum disease by preventing its progression.

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How Does Periodontal Gum Disease Progress?

If left untreated, gum disease advances through four distinct stages, each with its unique implications for oral health. It begins with gingivitis, which is the mildest form and can often be reversed with prompt treatment. Once gum disease progresses to periodontitis, it becomes harder to treat. At this stage, irreversible damage to the bone and tissues that support the teeth occurs, making complete recovery challenging.

periodontal-gum-disease01

Gingivitis

This is the mildest form of gum disease, characterised by inflamed gums due to plaque buildup from poor oral hygiene.
periodontal-gum-disease02

Early Periodontitis

As gingivitis progresses, infection affects tooth-supporting structures like bone, leading to receding gums and gum pockets.
periodontal-gum-disease02

Moderate Periodontitis

Untreated early periodontitis worsens to cause damage to bone and tissues, resulting in loose teeth.
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Advanced Periodontitis

This is the most severe stage with extensive damage to tissues supporting the teeth, often leading to tooth loss.

How Does Periodontal Gum Disease Affect Teeth?

Periodontal gum disease affects teeth through a series of interrelated processes. When oral hygiene is inadequate, plaque and tartar (calculus) serves as a breeding ground for more bacteria, leading to increased inflammation and infection in the gums.

healthy-gums-tooth-crosssection
Healthy Gums
  • No Gum Pockets: Healthy gums fit snugly around the teeth, leaving no gaps for bacteria to hide.
  • Gums: Firm and pink gums show no swelling, redness or bleeding when brushing.
  • Bone: Strong and intact bone provides a stable foundation, keeping teeth firmly in place.
periodontal-disease-gums-tooth-crosssection
Periodontal Gum Disease
  • Gum Pockets: Gaps form between teeth and gums as gums pull back, making cleaning harder.
  • Gums: Swollen gums appear red and bleed during brushing or flossing. 
  • Bone: The infection damages bone, causing teeth to loosen and in severe cases, fall out.
healthy-gums-tooth-crosssection
Healthy Gums
  • No Gum Pockets: Healthy gums fit snugly around the teeth, leaving no gaps for bacteria to hide.
  • Gums: Firm and pink gums show no swelling, redness or bleeding when brushing.
  • Bone: Strong and intact bone provides a stable foundation, keeping teeth firmly in place.
periodontal-disease-gums-tooth-crosssection
Periodontal Gum Disease
  • Gum Pockets: Gaps form between teeth and gums as gums pull back, making cleaning harder.
  • Gums: Swollen gums appear red and bleed during brushing or flossing. 
  • Bone: The infection damages bone, causing teeth to loosen and in severe cases, fall out.

How Does Periodontal Gum Disease Affect General Health?

Periodontal gum disease, if not treated, can cause problems that affect more than just your mouth. Research shows it is also connected to other health issues in the body, as explained below. Treating it early is important to avoid these risks.

This is a two-way relationship. This means that diabetes not only impacts the development and severity of periodontitis, but periodontitis also affects how diabetes progresses and is managed. Studies have found that people with periodontitis are twice as likely to have diabetes compared to those without periodontitis.

 

Soskolne, W. & Klinger, Avigdor. (2002). The Relationship Between Periodontal Diseases and Diabetes: An Overview. Annals of periodontology / the American Academy of Periodontology. 6. 91-8. 10.1902/annals.2001.6.1.91. 

It is thought that bacteria or toxins from infected gums can travel through the bloodstream, potentially leading to the development of blockages in arteries. Studies have shown that individuals with periodontitis are 0.5 to 2.8 times more likely to experience heart disease.

 

Shetty B, Fazal I, Khan SF, Nambiar M, D KI, Prasad R, Raj A. Association between cardiovascular diseases and periodontal disease: more than what meets the eye. Drug Target Insights. 2023 Feb 2;17:31-38. doi: 10.33393/dti.2023.2510. PMID: 36761891; PMCID: PMC9906023.

Research findings suggest that periodontitis is associated with a significant six-fold increase in the risk of premature birth. This means that pregnant women with periodontitis are at a much higher likelihood of delivering their babies prematurely compared to those without this dental condition.

 

Uwambaye P, Munyanshongore C, Rulisa S, Shiau H, Nuhu A, Kerr MS. Assessing the association between periodontitis and premature birth: a case-control study. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2021 Mar 12;21(1):204. doi: 10.1186/s12884-021-03700-0. PMID: 33711951; PMCID: PMC7953642.
bacteria-periodontal-gum-disease

What Causes Periodontal Gum Disease?

The main culprit behind gum disease is plaque, a sticky film of bacteria that forms on teeth. If not removed regularly through brushing and flossing, plaque can harden into tartar, further irritating and inflaming the gums, thereby worsening the condition.

Several factors contribute to the accumulation of plaque and increase the risk of gum disease, including:

  1. Poor oral hygiene, especially with crooked teeth
  2. Smoking and tobacco use
  3. Chronic stress
  4. Poorly fitted dental restorations
  5. Genetics
  6. Poor nutrition, eg. low vitamin C levels
  7. Medical conditions such as diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis
  8. Hormonal changes, eg. during puberty or pregnancy
swollen-gums-reddish-periodontal-gum-disease

What are the Signs of Periodontal Gum Disease?

  • Gums that are red, swollen or tender
  • Persistent bad breath or a bad taste in the mouth
  • Gums that have pulled away from the teeth, making the teeth appear longer
  • Seeing blood when you spit after brushing or flossing your teeth
  • Loose or separating teeth
  • Tiny gaps that appear between teeth near the gums (black and triangular)
  • Changes in your bite or the way your teeth fit together
  • Presence of pus between teeth and gums
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Did you know you cannot get a dental implant if you have active gum disease?

Here’s why: To place an implant, your gums and jawbone need to be healthy and strong.

 

Think of it like building a house—your gums and jawbone are the foundation, and the dental implant is the house. If the land is weak, unstable, or breaking down, it wouldn’t make sense to build a house there. In the same way, active gum disease damages your gums and jawbone, making them too weak to support an implant securely. Treating gum disease first is key to preparing your mouth for dental implants. 

Find Out About Dental Implants
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Feature

Number of implants needed

Implant placement

Implant angulation

Need for bone grafting and other surgical procedures like sinus lift and nerve repositioning

Treatment timeline

Traditional Implants

Requires one implant for each missing tooth

Implants have to be placed where the individual tooth is missing

Align with adjacent teeth and supporting bone

High probability, especially if sufficient bone is not present to support the implant, or vital structures like nerves and sinus membrane are in close proximity

Have to wait for a healing period of 3-6 months before artificial teeth can be placed

All-on-4 Implants

Requires 4 implants to replace an entire jaw of missing teeth

Implants are strategically placed in areas of jawbone with the highest bone density

Two implants at the back are placed at 30-45 degrees

Less probability of requiring adjunct surgical procedures

You receive your temporary artificial teeth immediately after placement of the implants

What It Means If You Choose All-on-4

Overall cost of treatment is reduced

Stable implants and artificial teeth

Stress from daily activities such as chewing and swallowing is distributed efficiently

Overall cost of treatment is reduced, less recovery time and less stress for patient

Patient receive their new teeth on the same day as surgery

Feature

Number of implants needed

Implant placement

Implant angulation

Need for bone grafting and other surgical procedures like sinus lift and nerve repositioning

Treatment timeline

Traditional Implants

Requires one implant for each missing tooth

Implants have to be placed where the individual tooth is missing

Align with adjacent teeth and supporting bone

High probability, especially if sufficient bone is not present to support the implant, or vital structures like nerves and sinus membrane are in close proximity

Have to wait for a healing period of 3-6 months before artificial teeth can be placed

All-on-4 Implants

Requires 4 implants to replace an entire jaw of missing teeth

Implants are strategically placed in areas of jawbone with the highest bone density

Two implants at the back are placed at 30-45 degrees

Less probability of requiring adjunct surgical procedures

You receive your temporary artificial teeth immediately after placement of the implants

What It Means If You Choose All-on-4

Overall cost of treatment is reduced

Stable implants and artificial teeth

Stress from daily activities such as chewing and swallowing is distributed efficiently

Overall cost of treatment is reduced, less recovery time and less stress for patient

Patient receive their new teeth on the same day as surgery

Feature

Number of implants needed

Implant placement

Implant angulation

Need for bone grafting and other surgical procedures like sinus lift and nerve repositioning

Treatment timeline

Traditional Implants

Requires one implant for each missing tooth

Implants have to be placed where the individual tooth is missing

Align with adjacent teeth and supporting bone

High probability, especially if sufficient bone is not present to support the implant, or vital structures like nerves and sinus membrane are in close proximity

Have to wait for a healing period of 3-6 months before artificial teeth can be placed

All-on-4 Implants

Requires 4 implants to replace an entire jaw of missing teeth

Implants are strategically placed in areas of jawbone with the highest bone density

Two implants at the back are placed at 30-45 degrees

Less probability of requiring adjunct surgical procedures

You receive your temporary artificial teeth immediately after placement of the implants

What It Means If You Choose All-on-4

Overall cost of treatment is reduced

Stable implants and artificial teeth

Stress from daily activities such as chewing and swallowing is distributed efficiently

Overall cost of treatment is reduced, less recovery time and less stress for patient

Patient receive their new teeth on the same day as surgery

Feature

Number of implants needed

Implant placement

Implant angulation

Need for bone grafting and other surgical procedures like sinus lift and nerve repositioning

Treatment timeline

Traditional Implants

Requires one implant for each missing tooth

Implants have to be placed where the individual tooth is missing

Align with adjacent teeth and supporting bone

High probability, especially if sufficient bone is not present to support the implant, or vital structures like nerves and sinus membrane are in close proximity

Have to wait for a healing period of 3-6 months before artificial teeth can be placed

All-on-4 Implants

Requires 4 implants to replace an entire jaw of missing teeth

Implants are strategically placed in areas of jawbone with the highest bone density

Two implants at the back are placed at 30-45 degrees

Less probability of requiring adjunct surgical procedures

You receive your temporary artificial teeth immediately after placement of the implants

What It Means If You Choose All-on-4

Overall cost of treatment is reduced

Stable implants and artificial teeth

Stress from daily activities such as chewing and swallowing is distributed efficiently

Overall cost of treatment is reduced, less recovery time and less stress for patient

Patient receive their new teeth on the same day as surgery

Non-Surgical Treatment Options For Periodontal Gum Disease

scaling-and-polishing-teeth-cleaning
Professional Dental Cleaning

Scaling and polishing is done to remove tartar and bacteria from tooth surfaces and just below the gumline.

root-planing
Root Planing

To address deeper issues, root planing will be necessary. This procedure helps remove plaque and tartar from beneath the gum line, promoting healthier gums.

medications-pills-capsules-on-palm
Medications, eg. Antibiotics

Topical antibiotics like mouth rinses or oral antibiotics may be used to manage bacterial infection and promote gum health.

laser-gum-disease-treatment
Laser Gum Disease Treatment

Laser gum treatments like LANAP targets infected gum tissue and bacteria around the teeth while preserving healthy gum tissue.

scaling-and-polishing-teeth-cleaning
Professional Dental Cleaning

Scaling and polishing is done to remove tartar and bacteria from tooth surfaces and just below the gumline.

root-planing
Root Planing

To address deeper issues, root planing will be necessary. This procedure helps remove plaque and tartar from beneath the gum line, promoting healthier gums.

medications-pills-capsules-on-palm
Medications, eg. Antibiotics

Topical antibiotics like mouth rinses or oral antibiotics may be used to manage bacterial infection and promote gum health.

laser-gum-disease-treatment
Laser Gum Disease Treatment

Laser gum treatments like LANAP targets infected gum tissue and bacteria around the teeth while preserving healthy gum tissue.

Surgical Treatment Options For Periodontal Gum Disease

flap-surgery-periodontal-gum-disease
Flap Surgery
Small cuts are made in the gums to lift them back, exposing the roots of the teeth and the bone. These areas are then cleaned thoroughly and the gum is stitched back into place.
soft-tissue-grafts-periodontal-gum-disease
Soft Tissue Grafts
For treatment of gum recession, tissue is taken from another area and attached to the affected site to prevent further gum loss and improve the look of the gums.
bone-grafts-periodontal-gum-disease
Bone Grafts
For areas where bone loss has occurred, bone or bone-substitute materials are placed to help regenerate bone. This restores the attachment of teeth to the bone.
gtr-periodontal-gum-disease
Guided Tissue Regeneration
This is a procedure which encourages bone and gum tissues that have been affected by severe gum disease to repair and regrow.
flap-surgery-periodontal-gum-disease
Flap Surgery
Small cuts are made in the gums to lift them back, exposing the roots of the teeth and the bone. These areas are then cleaned thoroughly and the gum is stitched back into place.
soft-tissue-grafts-periodontal-gum-disease
Soft Tissue Grafts
For treatment of gum recession, tissue is taken from another area and attached to the affected site to prevent further gum loss and improve the look of the gums.
bone-grafts-periodontal-gum-disease
Bone Grafts
For areas where bone loss has occurred, bone or bone-substitute materials are placed to help regenerate bone. This restores the attachment of teeth to the bone.
gtr-periodontal-gum-disease
Guided Tissue Regeneration
This is a procedure which encourages bone and gum tissues that have been affected by severe gum disease to repair and regrow.

 

Benefits of Periodontal Gum Disease Treatment

female-smile-happy-periodontal-gum-disease

Effective treatment restores the health of your gums by reducing inflammation and promoting healing. With healthier gums, you'll experience less bleeding, swelling, and discomfort when brushing or flossing, allowing you to enjoy a pain-free mouth once again.

Gum disease often leads to bad breath (halitosis) due to bacteria in the mouth. After treatment, you’ll notice fresher breath and gain confidence, as gum health improves and bacteria are reduced.
Treating gum disease can help prevent gum recession and other visible issues, giving you a healthier, more confident smile. A clean, healthy mouth also boosts your overall self-esteem and appearance.
By addressing gum disease early, you can prevent further damage to the teeth and surrounding structures, reducing the risk of tooth loss. Treatment helps stop the infection from progressing, protecting your teeth from becoming loose or falling out.
Treating gum disease helps eliminate harmful bacteria that could lead to more serious infections. This is crucial for preventing the spread of infection to other areas of the mouth or even to other parts of the body.

Gum disease has been linked to several serious health conditions, such as heart disease, diabetes, and respiratory issues. By treating gum disease, you not only improve your oral health but also reduce your risk of these systemic health problems.

Protect Your Smile for the Long Term

Periodontal gum disease is a chronic oral health issue that presents unique challenges due to its complexity. Its effects often persist, therefore requiring ongoing care to manage and prevent further complications.

 

At Dental Designs Clinic, we emphasize a comprehensive approach to ensure long-term success. This includes active treatment through professional therapies, effective daily home care with proper oral hygiene and lifestyle management, and regular follow-up visits every 3 to 6 months.

 

Maintaining oral health after periodontal treatment is a team effort, and we’re here to work with you to keep your smile strong, healthy and confident for years to come.

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Cost of Periodontal Gum Disease Treatment in Singapore

The cost of periodontal gum disease treatment can vary significantly, depending on the treatment plan developed by the dentist for each individual patient. Factors influencing the cost include the number of teeth involved, the extent of the disease and type of treatment required.

During your consultation, your dentist will assess your specific needs and provide you with a detailed breakdown of the costs involved, enabling you to make an informed decision about your treatment and budget accordingly.

STARTS FROM

$163.50*

Gum Specialist Consultation $163.50
Periodontal Evaluation $109
Scaling and Polishing with Airflow/Prophyjet $174.40
Root Planing From $196.20
LANAP Gum Disease Treatment From $599.50
Flap Surgery From $1962
Soft Tissue Grafts From $2180
Guided Tissue Regeneration From $2725

 

*Price are inclusive of 9% GST

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The service and doctor is the best in town! The customer service and receptionists are very friendly! Dr Phillip Miller and Dr Noah Teo is very nice and very professional on their skill! They also very patient to explain to me about the treatment!

Will come back again!

Thank you very much!

李岳侨
Beautiful and friendly dental clinic, was recommended by my colleague. Been coming here for dental cleaning and fillings. Always a good visit!
J. Kho

This dental clinic has very good staff who are well trained and friendly. The dentists are also very good and will explain the treatment in detail before starting treatment. The equipment is very high tech and I believe they are able to do high quality work as I did my crown here and it looks much better than my colleague who also recently did his at another place. The waiting room is also very comfortable. good job!

C. Zheng De

This clinic is one of the best I have ever seen. I saw dr Justin for my implant which I did many years ago, the tooth was loose, and other drs told me to remove it as they could not find out what brand it was but dr Justin was able to take 3d xrays and locate the brand and specially ordered the part in. he saved me from having to do a surgery to remove and put a new implant which would have cost me a bomb. the tooth looks even better than the original thanks to the experieced dental technician Katsuya from Japan. 

Very happy and will keep coming back for my regular dental. 

G. Hock An

my workplace is close by and I had a problem with my tooth for a few days, so I made an appointment to come down. The receptionist who booked my appointment was very helpful and friendly to explain the way to the clinic from my office. I saw Dr Nicholas who was able to do a root canal treatment on the same visit so that I didn't need to come back. I felt safe and comfortable to do my dental treatment here as the dental picks are all wrapped up and sterilized and only opened before each treatment when im inside. 

P. Wendy
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Hear From Our Happy Patients

The service and doctor is the best in town! The customer service and receptionists are very friendly! Dr Phillip Miller and Dr Noah Teo is very nice and very professional on their skill! They also very patient to explain to me about the treatment!

Will come back again!

Thank you very much!

李岳侨
Beautiful and friendly dental clinic, was recommended by my colleague. Been coming here for dental cleaning and fillings. Always a good visit!
J. Kho

This dental clinic has very good staff who are well trained and friendly. The dentists are also very good and will explain the treatment in detail before starting treatment. The equipment is very high tech and I believe they are able to do high quality work as I did my crown here and it looks much better than my colleague who also recently did his at another place. The waiting room is also very comfortable. good job!

C. Zheng De

This clinic is one of the best I have ever seen. I saw dr Justin for my implant which I did many years ago, the tooth was loose, and other drs told me to remove it as they could not find out what brand it was but dr Justin was able to take 3d xrays and locate the brand and specially ordered the part in. he saved me from having to do a surgery to remove and put a new implant which would have cost me a bomb. the tooth looks even better than the original thanks to the experieced dental technician Katsuya from Japan. 

Very happy and will keep coming back for my regular dental. 

G. Hock An

my workplace is close by and I had a problem with my tooth for a few days, so I made an appointment to come down. The receptionist who booked my appointment was very helpful and friendly to explain the way to the clinic from my office. I saw Dr Nicholas who was able to do a root canal treatment on the same visit so that I didn't need to come back. I felt safe and comfortable to do my dental treatment here as the dental picks are all wrapped up and sterilized and only opened before each treatment when im inside. 

P. Wendy
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