What exactly is periodontal disease?

Periodontal disease is an infection of the gums and bone supporting your teeth. It starts as gingivitis (inflamed gums) and can progress to periodontitis, where the bone deteriorates. Early signs include bleeding gums, bad breath, and gum recession. Regular checkups help catch it before serious damage occurs.

How much does periodontal treatment cost in Hong Kong?

Periodontal treatment fees depend on severity and who leads your care: early cases, treated by a dental hygienist or general dentist, generally start from HK$5,000; severe or more complex cases are led by a dentist with advanced periodontal training or a Specialist in Periodontology, with full-mouth courses generally from HK$20,000. Itemised fees are explained after assessment. The difference comes from the extent of treatment and the level of clinician required, not clinic pricing policy. Your dentist measures pocket depths and takes X-rays to assess bone loss, then explains the fee make-up stage by stage. WhatsApp +852 5402 6630 to arrange an assessment.

How long does periodontal treatment take?

Mild cases may require one to two deep-cleaning sessions over a few weeks. Moderate to severe periodontitis often needs multiple visits spanning several months, including surgery and follow-up maintenance appointments. Your dentist will create a timeline based on your specific condition during the initial consultation.

Can periodontal disease be reversed or cured?

Gingivitis (early-stage gum disease) is reversible with proper cleaning and home care. Once it progresses to periodontitis with bone loss, the damage cannot be fully reversed, but treatment can halt progression and stabilise your condition. Ongoing maintenance is essential to prevent recurrence.

Will periodontal treatment hurt?

Most procedures are performed under local anaesthetic, so you should feel minimal discomfort during treatment. Some tenderness or sensitivity afterwards is normal and usually manageable with over-the-counter pain relief. Your dentist will discuss sedation options if you're particularly anxious about the procedure.

What happens if I don't treat my gum disease?

Untreated periodontal disease leads to progressive bone loss, loose teeth, and eventually tooth loss. It's also linked to systemic health issues including heart disease and diabetes complications. Early intervention is far simpler and less costly than addressing advanced disease, so don't delay seeking professional assessment.

Does dental insurance cover periodontal treatment?

We do not offer direct billing with insurers, but we provide official receipts and treatment records so you can claim from your insurer directly. Coverage varies by policy, so please confirm with your insurer. Some plans cover preventive scaling fully but may have limits on surgical procedures. WhatsApp us with your insurance details and we'll help you check what's covered under your specific plan.

My tooth is loose — can splinting save it, or must it be extracted?

Not necessarily extracted. A tooth that remains mobile after periodontal disease is controlled can be assessed for fibre splinting to its steadier neighbours, restoring chewing function — provided the inflammation is under control and enough supporting bone remains. Splinting manages mobility rather than treating the disease itself; where support is too far gone, your dentist will assess honestly whether the tooth is worth keeping.

How long does a splint last, and how do I care for it?

Depending on periodontal status, bite force and cleaning habits, a splint typically lasts for years; the ribbon or resin can wear or chip over time and need repair or replacement. Cleaning demands rise after splinting — the area beneath the ribbon and between the joined teeth needs interdental brushes and floss threaders (the clinic will demonstrate) — and regular reviews check the ribbon, the gums and the bite.

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Periodontal (Gum Disease) Assessment | Causeway Bay · Tsuen Wan

Periodontal treatment starts with a periodontal (gum disease) assessment. Bleeding gums, persistent bad breath, or a loose tooth? We will assess the case in detail and explain your options and fees.

Periodontal consultation HK$800 – 1,500

The fee depends on the dentist's qualifications along the periodontal specialty pathway — from general dentists to dentists with postgraduate training in periodontics and Specialists in Periodontology.

Treatment floors: early-stage from HK$5,000; severe / complex full-mouth from HK$20,000.

WhatsApp enquiry Call +852 3956 9387

Causeway Bay and Tsuen Wan clinics
Periodontics specialty service
Detailed assessment and fee explanation before treatment
Open Sundays and public holidays (Causeway Bay)

Treatment options

Periodontal treatment usually starts with cleaning. Pocket depth then determines whether root planing or surgery is needed. We will explain the plan after the assessment.

Routine cases can first be assessed by the general dental team at Home Dental Centre. Where clinical needs indicate further care in this area, Dr. Joanna Joy N. Chiu (Specialist in Periodontology), Dr. Ryan Ho (Specialist in Periodontology) and Dr. Kung Choi Ka, Julie (Dentist) at the centre provide the relevant treatment; the treating dentist is arranged according to clinical needs and the dentists on duty. Where a case involves more than one area of dentistry, dentists from different areas at the centre can jointly develop a combined treatment plan, without the patient needing a referral elsewhere.

Scaling

Removes tartar and plaque above the gum line. Gingivitis and milder cases are usually handled by a dental hygienist or general dentist. A single scale may not reach deep deposits below the gum.

Root planing

Deep cleaning under local anaesthetic: tartar and infected cementum inside the periodontal pocket are removed to reduce inflammation. Most mild-to-moderate cases start here.

Periodontal surgery

Deep pockets, ongoing bleeding, loose teeth, or bone defects may need flap debridement, a gum graft, or regenerative surgery to reach sites that non-surgical cleaning cannot.

Gingivitis and early periodontitis are often managed by a hygienist or general dentist. If deep pockets, ongoing bleeding, or loose teeth remain after reassessment — or you are planning implants but lack bone — a periodontics specialty review can follow. Learn about our periodontics service.Further reading: Periodontal disease: causes, symptoms, effects and treatment.

Before and after

Before and after a gum graft to restore receded gum.
Before and after X-rays of regenerative surgery, showing bone change at the treated site.
Before and after periodontitis treatment. Results are charted per tooth and re-measured at the same sites.

Why periodontal disease keeps coming back

Cleaning that does not reach the pocket floor
Routine scaling or root planing without detailed records and follow-up can leave subgingival tartar and periodontal bacteria behind.
Hard to judge on your own
Deposits below the gum are hidden. You cannot tell by feel whether they are gone. Results are measured on the chart at review visits.
Daily care that slips
Periodontal disease is chronic. After treatment you still need daily cleaning and the recommended reviews, or deposits return.

Records, reviews and self-care

Professional periodontal care charts gum and bone loss on every tooth, then re-measures the same sites after treatment. That is how we tell whether a site is stable or needs further work — not by feel alone. It is also the basis for moving into a maintenance phase.

Brush and floss every day, keeping the gum line clean.
Attend the reviews and cleans your dentist recommends.
Use the cleaning aids that suit your own mouth, as shown.

Uncontrolled periodontal disease is linked to general health, including diabetes management and cardiovascular risk. If you have a chronic condition, periodontal checks matter even more.

Dentist's Guide to Control Periodontal Disease| Periodontal Treatment

A more severe periodontal condition? Consider an assessment by a Specialist in Periodontology

Gingivitis and mild periodontitis are usually handled adequately by a dental hygienist or general dentist. Where deep pockets or persistent bleeding remain after re-evaluation, teeth are loose, or implants are planned but the bone is inadequate, an assessment by a Specialist in Periodontology is worth having. The specialty page sets out measurement, debridement, re-evaluation and long-term maintenance in detail.

See our periodontal specialty service WhatsApp us

Dentist's Guide to Effectively Control Periodontal Disease

Reasons for Uncontrolled Periodontal Disease

Insufficient Treatment: Routine cleaning or scaling and root planing without thorough recording and follow-up may not completely remove subgingival calculus and periodontal pathogens, which is crucial for recovery.
Difficulty in Self-Assessment: Patients find it hard to determine whether subgingival calculus is entirely removed. Thus, trusting a skilled and detail-oriented dentist or periodontist is essential.
Inadequate Self-Maintenance: Good oral hygiene habits and regular self-care are vital for controlling periodontal disease.

Treatments for Periodontal Disease

Non-Surgical Treatment: Scaling and root planing can remove plaque and calculus, reducing inflammation. (extended reading : Learn about the causes, symptoms, effects and treatment of periodontal disease in one article!)
Surgical Treatment: In severe cases, surgery may be necessary to repair damaged gums and bone, including regenerative procedures to restore lost tissue.
Detailed Recording and Follow-Up: Professional periodontal treatment requires thorough medical records and post-treatment follow-up to ensure subgingival calculus and pathogens are completely removed.

Gum graft surgery pre and post-op comparison to regenerate receded gums.

Gum graft surgery pre and post-op comparison to regenerate receded gums.

Pre and post-op X-ray comparison showing bone regeneration after regenerative surgery.

Periodontal fibre splinting: steadying loose teeth

Once periodontal disease has cost a tooth part of its supporting bone, individual teeth can become mobile — moving under pressure, weak in chewing, and because a loose tooth bears force unevenly, loosening tends to accelerate itself in a vicious cycle. Periodontal splinting addresses exactly this: the loose tooth is bonded to its steadier neighbours with a glass-fibre ribbon and tooth-coloured composite resin, turning several teeth into one mutually supporting unit — biting force is shared across the group instead of borne alone, and chewing function and comfort improve with it.

How is it done? Usually in a single visit: the tooth surfaces are thoroughly cleaned, the inner (tongue-side) surfaces are conditioned with etch-and-bond technique, a pre-measured glass-fibre ribbon is adapted onto them, covered in tooth-coloured resin, light-cured hard, then polished — and the bite is checked so the splint creates no occlusal interference. Minimal tooth structure is removed; the treatment is conservative and reversible, and in most cases no anaesthesia is even needed. The finished ribbon sits hidden on the inner surfaces — barely visible from the front.

Periodontal splinting in progress: tweezers adapting a glass-fibre ribbon on the inner surfaces of lower front teeth, curing light at hand — Splinting in progress: the fibre ribbon is bonded to the inner tooth surfaces and light-cured — conservative, usually with no drilling. Illustrative photo; individual cases vary.

When is it used? Two main situations: ① after periodontal treatment has brought the disease under control, where individual teeth remain mobile from bone already lost and interfere with eating — splinting keeps these teeth in function, and is a common adjunct in the periodontal maintenance phase; ② teeth loosened by trauma, which need stabilising while the periodontal tissues heal.

Three honest points: first, splinting manages mobility — it does not treat the periodontal disease itself. Splinting over uncontrolled inflammation only hides a worsening problem, so the order is fixed: periodontal treatment first, disease confirmed stable, then splinting. Second, not every loose tooth qualifies — where bone loss is too advanced, splinting may merely delay the inevitable and can drag down the healthy neighbours it is bonded to; your dentist will assess honestly which teeth are worth keeping. Third, a splint can last for years but is not "once and forever" — the ribbon or resin can wear or chip over time and need repair or replacement, with longevity depending on periodontal status, bite force and cleaning habits.

Completed periodontal splint: the glass-fibre ribbon concealed on the inner surfaces of the lower front teeth — Completed: the ribbon sits on the inner surfaces, barely visible from the front, the teeth supporting one another as a unit. Illustrative photo; individual cases vary.

Afterwards: cleaning demands rise — the area beneath the ribbon and between the joined teeth needs interdental brushes and floss threaders (we will demonstrate), because poor cleaning lets periodontal disease recur beneath the splint. Regular reviews as instructed check the ribbon, the periodontal condition and the bite, with adjustments as needed. Splinting is typically used in the maintenance phase after deep periodontal treatment; whether it suits your case is assessed and advised by your dentist based on periodontal status, degree of mobility and your bite.

Key Steps for Successful Management of Periodontal Disease

A crucial step is assessing soft tissue loss for each tooth, including gums and bone, and post-treatment assessment of any tissue gain in the same area. This helps determine whether further management is needed for specific areas or if the patient can move to the next maintenance phase at the scheduled time. This process is known as achieving a stable periodontal state.

Periodontitis treatment before and after comparison, showing significant gum health improvement.

The Importance of Trustworthy Dentists and Periodontists

Choosing a skilled and detail-oriented dentist or periodontist is crucial. They can provide:

Thorough removal of subgingival calculus and periodontal pathogens, ensuring effective treatment.
Personalized oral hygiene guidance, creating a cleaning plan tailored to each patient's needs.
Regular monitoring and adjustments to ensure the patient's periodontal disease is continuously controlled.

The Importance of Patient Self-Maintenance

Patient self-maintenance is also crucial for controlling periodontal disease, including:

Good oral hygiene habits: Brushing and flossing daily to keep the mouth clean.
Regular follow-ups: Adhering to the dentist's recommendations for routine dental check-ups and cleanings.
Personalized cleaning methods: Using suitable cleaning tools and techniques as advised by the dentist.

Conclusion

Controlling periodontal disease requires a combination of professional periodontal treatment and patient self-maintenance. Choosing a skilled and detail-oriented dentist or periodontist and maintaining good oral hygiene habits are key to ensuring effective control of periodontal disease. Like chronic diseases such as diabetes, continuous effort by both the patient and the dentist is necessary to keep oral bacteria at the lowest level and ensure regular check-ups and evaluations. We hope this article helps you understand why periodontal disease may be uncontrollable and provides useful suggestions to improve your oral health.

Gum health in older patients is best assessed alongside general health — see our senior dental care page.

FAQs

1. Why should I think twice about cheap periodontal treatments?

Choosing the cheapest dental clinic might seem tempting, but it often comes with trade-offs that can affect your periodontal health. Higher fees at some clinics can reflect the quality of care provided, including the extent of deep cleaning or treatment necessary. More complex procedures demand greater time, resources, and expertise, which lower-cost options may not offer. Moreover, the experience level of the dentist plays a crucial role in outcomes. Specialists, with their advanced training, can deliver better results, justifying their higher rates. Some soft-tissue steps can be carried out with a dental laser, which we cover separately.

2. How does periodontal disease impact my overall health?

Periodontal disease isn't just about your mouth—it can affect your entire body! Studies have shown that untreated gum disease is linked to bigger health problems like heart disease, diabetes, and even respiratory issues. The inflammation from gum disease can ramp up systemic inflammation, making these issues worse. On top of that, poor oral health can complicate diabetes management since gum infections can throw a wrench in blood sugar control. So, keeping your gums healthy is crucial not just for your smile but for your overall well-being. Regular dental check-ups and preventative care can help you stay on top of your health game! Treatment makes more sense alongside the causes and complications of periodontal disease, including the effects beyond the mouth.

Schedule a professional periodontal treatment appointment today to safeguard your oral health.

You can schedule a consultation through the following methods:
• Click the WhatsApp button on our website (Preferred method) - Contact us immediately!
• Call 3956 9387 (during office hours)

If you would like to learn more about periodontal treatment, take a quick look at our educational articles.

Book an assessment

Causeway Bay or Tsuen Wan. WhatsApp or call the main line and we will arrange a time.