Why Visit A Periodontist?
As a periodontist, Dr Edwin specialises in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of periodontal disease. A periodontist is a dental specialist who must have successfully completed a formal basic specialist training program of at least 36 months, been in periodontics practice for a minimum of 5 years, and an examination by the Dental Specialist Accreditation Committee. Periodontal disease, otherwise known as gum disease, is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects the gums and bone supporting the teeth. Implant dentistry is also part of his repertoire, which aims to provide a natural looking and close functional replacement for teeth that have been lost.
What to expect during your first visit?
Dr Edwin will review your complete medical and dental histories during your first consultation. It is important to share any relevant medical history or medication that you are taking as these may affect your gums. These include diabetes, heart disease, or pregnancy. The consultation will also include a comprehensive dental examination for gum recession, biting alignment, and condition of fillings. X-rays may also be taken to determine the bone level of your teeth.
Treatment List
1. Non-surgical Periodontal Treatment
Bacterial plaque is the main cause of gum disease, and this is what we try to resolve using non-surgical periodontal treatment. This comprises mainly of scaling and root debridement, whereby root surfaces are carefully cleaned under local anaesthesia to remove bacterial plaque and tartar. This is usually split over a few visits.
In some instances, systemic antibiotics, probiotics or local delivery antimicrobials might be necessary. Non-surgical periodontal treatment forms the cornerstone of periodontal treatment and remains the least invasive and most cost-effective treatment approach.
2. Surgical Periodontal Treatment
For long term stability, our bone and gingival tissues should wrap around our teeth snugly, similar to how a turtleneck sweater wraps around our necks. Otherwise, bacteria will start to accumulate under the gums, leading to further progression of periodontal disease. In such instances, surgical periodontal treatment may be necessary. Surgical periodontal treatment is usually indicated only after non-surgical periodontal treatment is completed.
3. Dental Implants
Tooth decay, periodontal disease and trauma can lead to tooth loss. Today, patients can opt for dental implants to replace missing teeth and restore their smile and chewing ability. Dental implant is an artificial root placed into the jaw to support a prosthesis. Dental implants are the nearest thing to a natural looking tooth. It can be used in situations including a single missing tooth, multiple missing teeth, or complete edentulism.
4. Crown Lengthening
A crown may be indicated for a tooth with decay, or after root canal treatment. A crown is similar to the tooth wearing a helmet! However, due to severe loss of tooth structure, the crown may have insufficient tooth structure to ‘grab’ onto and would therefore dislodge easily. Crown lengthening aims to expose more sound tooth structure by ‘pushing’ the gums downwards.
5. Gingival Grafting
Gingival recession, or longer teeth, can occur due to over-enthusiastic brushing or periodontal disease. Due to difficulty in keeping receded areas clean, further recession and bone loss may occur. Gingival graft can be used to reduce recession and prevent further bone loss. In addition, it may reduce tooth sensitivity and improve aesthetics.
6. Aesthetic Procedures
Do you feel that too much gums show when you are smiling or that your teeth are very short? Aesthetic procedures such as aesthetic crown lengthening may be able to help you. Excess gum is removed during the procedure and gum line refined to improve your smile.