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Written by Dr. Cheng Eng Wah
Gum treatment is required for individuals who have gum disease, which is a bacterial infection that may potentially destroy the bone that supports your teeth.
This restorative treatment can involve non-surgical and/or surgical methods, depending on the severity of the disease.
At i.Dental, we provide scaling and polishing, root planing (deep cleaning) and periodontal surgery.
Gum disease refers to a persistent bacterial infection that affects the gums and the bone surrounding the teeth. This can occur in one or more teeth and may affect anyone at any age.
There are 2 main forms of gum disease:
This dental issue is actually more common than you may think — the Adult Oral Health Survey done by the Singapore Health Promotion Board in 2003 revealed that 85% of Singaporeans have periodontal disease.
To understand how gum disease affects our teeth, we must first understand what our teeth are supported by.
This is the pinkish soft tissue that surrounds the teeth, teeth roots and jaw bone to act as a protective layer against bacteria.
This is a group of connective tissue fibres that attach the tooth to the surrounding bone.
The jaw bone provides a socket for the roots of the teeth to hold them in place.
Here, you can see the difference between a healthy tooth and a tooth experiencing periodontitis.
It starts off with the bacteria in your mouth forming plaque on your teeth around the gum area. If not removed, it will harden to tartar (or calculus) over time which can only be removed at the dentist via professional cleaning.
This tartar can cause inflammation in your gums if not removed, causing gingivitis. Progressively, pockets will start to form, leading to periodontitis.
At this stage, the inflamed gums are conducive for more tartar and plaque formation which causes the pockets to deepen further and in serious cases, may lead to irreversible bone loss.
Here are some factors that increase the risk of developing gum disease:
It is easy for gum disease to go unnoticed at its early stages. If you notice these signs, it may be time to visit the dentist to get your teeth checked.
If you go without gum treatment, you may experience the following:
Additionally, gum disease may increase the likelihood of serious health conditions such as heart disease, stroke and diabetes.
Suitable for: Mild cases of gum disease
Scaling and polishing help remove tartar and plaque from the tooth surfaces that regular brushing cannot.
Suitable for: Severe cases of gum disease
Root planing refers to deep cleaning which smoothens the roots of the teeth to remove any remaining bacteria.
This procedure will be done under local anaesthesia. It helps to prevent further bacteria buildup to aid healing.
Medication may be prescribed to complement other treatment methods.
Examples include:
In some cases, periodontal pockets may be so deep that they do not heal even after non-surgical treatment. That is when our dentists will recommend surgery.
Aside from removing plaque and tartar more effectively, surgery reduces the depth of pockets which lowers the risks of future infections.
Price:
(Inclusive of GST)
Non-surgical treatment for gum disease such as root planing or deep cleaning may cost between $162 – $540 (includes GST) at i.Dental Singapore.
The price varies depending on the type of treatment required, as well as the severity of the gum disease.
Price:
(Inclusive of GST)
Surgical treatment for gum disease will cost between $378 – $648 (includes GST) at i.Dental Singapore. This can be claimed with MediSave.
The price will vary based on the severity of the gum disease.
i.Dental has over 30 years of experience since it was founded in 1989. Through the years, our team of dentists and oral hygienists have had experience treating many gum disease cases.
We have a total of 4 clinics located at Tanjong Pagar, Ubi and Yishun. Each outlet is easily accessible by MRT as they are only a 1 to 3 minute walk away.
Gingivitis and periodontitis are types of periodontal (or gum) disease, but with different severity.
Note that not all gingivitis progresses to periodontitis; it can still be treated at the dentist before it becomes more severe.
Here are some ways you can tell between the two forms:
Consult your dentist once you notice any signs of gum disease to get it treated early.
It depends on the severity of your condition and the type of treatment that you need. Here is a gauge of how long each treatment takes:
The gum treatment itself should not be painful, but you may experience some discomfort during the treatment.
For both root planing and periodontal surgery, you may experience some discomfort for a few days after the procedure. It is best to check with your dentist on the recovery process.
Unfortunately, your healthy gums cannot grow back on their own once the gum tissue is lost. Thus, it is recommended to seek treatment as soon as you notice signs of gum disease before it results in gum recession.
In such cases, there are treatments available such as gum grafting that can restore the gum line and protect the exposed tooth root but they may be expensive.
Gum disease can be prevented by keeping your teeth and gums healthy. Here are some good habits to cultivate:
