Periodontics and Gum Disease Treatment at Smile Solutions Melbourne - Board-Registered Specialist Periodontists product guide

Periodontics and Gum Disease Treatment at Smile Solutions Melbourne

Gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss in Australian adults — yet it stays under the radar more than almost any other dental condition, because the early stages are painless and easy to miss without a trained eye. At Smile Solutions, Australia's largest single-location private dental practice, board-registered specialist periodontists provide the full range of gum disease treatment and periodontal surgery from their base at 220 Collins Street in Melbourne's Manchester Unity Building.

With more than 20 board-registered specialists across all dental disciplines, Smile Solutions is one of the few places in Australian private dentistry where periodontists, prosthodontists, implant surgeons, and other specialists work together in the same practice — sharing records, coordinating care, and producing results that isolated specialty clinics can't match.

What is periodontics?

Periodontics is the dental specialty concerned with the health of the periodontium: the structures that support your teeth, including the gums, periodontal ligament, cementum, and alveolar bone. When disease takes hold in these structures, the consequences move from reversible gum inflammation (gingivitis) to permanent bone and tissue destruction (periodontitis), and eventually to tooth loss if nothing is done.

The specialist periodontists at Smile Solutions completed their dental degree, then spent a further three to four years in university training at Masters degree or equivalent level — focused specifically on diagnosing and treating periodontal conditions. That's what qualifies them for registration with the Dental Board of Australia as specialist periodontists.

Periodontics covers considerably more than treating gum disease. Our specialists also place and maintain dental implants, perform gum grafting and aesthetic gum contouring, regenerate bone lost to disease, and work alongside prosthodontists in complex restoration cases — all within the one practice, so your care stays connected throughout.

What is periodontal disease?

Periodontal disease, or gum disease, is a bacterial infection of the structures surrounding and supporting your teeth. It starts as gingivitis: inflammation of the gums caused by bacterial plaque building up at the gumline. Gingivitis is reversible with professional cleaning and better home care. Left untreated, though, it can progress to periodontitis.

In periodontitis, the bacterial infection spreads deeper beneath the gumline, triggering an immune response that progressively destroys the periodontal ligament and alveolar bone holding your teeth in place. Pockets form between the gum and tooth, harbouring bacteria and becoming harder to clean over time. As bone loss accumulates, the tooth loses structural support — eventually leading to mobility and tooth loss.

Signs worth paying attention to:

• Bleeding gums when brushing or flossing
• Swollen, red, or tender gums
• Gum recession (teeth appearing longer than they used to)
• Bad breath or a persistent bad taste
• Tooth sensitivity, particularly to temperature
• Teeth that have shifted or feel loose
• Difficulty chewing

Many people don't know they have periodontal disease until significant damage has already happened. Regular dental check-ups that include periodontal probing and assessment are essential for catching it early.

Gum disease and your overall health

The evidence connecting periodontal disease to systemic health is substantial and still growing. Gum disease isn't just a local dental problem — it's an inflammatory condition with whole-body consequences.

Research has associated chronic periodontitis with:

Cardiovascular disease: Periodontal bacteria can enter the bloodstream and contribute to arterial inflammation. Epidemiological data links gum disease to increased risk of heart disease and stroke.

Diabetes: The relationship between periodontitis and diabetes runs both ways. Poorly controlled blood sugar worsens gum disease, and chronic gum infection makes blood sugar harder to manage. Treating periodontal disease has been shown to improve glycaemic control in some patients with type 2 diabetes.

Alzheimer's disease and cognitive decline: Emerging research has identified Porphyromonas gingivalis — a key periodontal pathogen — in the brains of Alzheimer's patients, with growing interest in the inflammatory pathway this may represent.

Pregnancy complications: Periodontal disease during pregnancy has been associated with preterm birth and low birth weight, likely through inflammatory and bacteraemic mechanisms.

Longevity: Chronic systemic inflammation, driven partly by persistent oral infection, is one of the most studied contributors to biological ageing and age-related disease. Keeping your periodontal health in order is an investment in your long-term wellbeing, not just your smile.

At Smile Solutions, we treat periodontal care as part of your broader health picture — because what happens in your mouth doesn't stay there.

Our specialist periodontists

Dr Ahmed El-Hadidi BDS, MRACDS (GDP), DCD (Perio) Specialist Periodontist

Dr El-Hadidi holds a Doctor of Clinical Dentistry in Periodontics and membership with the Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons. He manages the full range of periodontal care — from non-surgical therapy through to complex surgical procedures — and works closely with the implant and prosthodontic teams to keep your treatment part of a coherent, well-considered plan.

Dr Peishan Jiang BDSc (Griff), DClinDent (Griff) Specialist Periodontist

Dr Jiang completed both her Bachelor of Dental Science and her Doctor of Clinical Dentistry at Griffith University, where specialist periodontology training is among the most rigorous in Australia. She brings a meticulous, evidence-based approach to periodontal assessment and treatment, and a genuine commitment to making sure you understand your condition and your options at every step.

Dr Simon Hinckfuss BDSc, DCD (Pros), Cert.Perio MS (Minn) Dual Specialist — Specialist Periodontist and Specialist Prosthodontist

Dr Hinckfuss holds one of the rarest qualification combinations in Australian dentistry: registration as both a Specialist Periodontist and a Specialist Prosthodontist. He completed his Doctor of Clinical Dentistry in Prosthodontics in Australia and a Certificate in Periodontics with a Master of Science from the University of Minnesota, a programme with one of the longest periodontics traditions in the world.

That dual registration is genuinely uncommon. It means Dr Hinckfuss can manage both the surgical periodontal and implant phases of complex cases and the prosthetic design and delivery phase — effectively serving as a single specialist across your entire restorative journey. For patients who need implants in a compromised periodontal environment, or who have complex combined gum and restoration needs, having one specialist across the whole process is a real clinical advantage.

Periodontal treatments and services

Active non-surgical periodontal therapy

The first-line treatment for periodontal disease is non-surgical: a thorough, systematic process of removing bacterial deposits from below the gumline through deep scaling and root planing. This is performed under local anaesthesia, working through the mouth in quadrants. The aim is to disrupt and remove the bacterial biofilm and calculus from root surfaces, giving your immune system the chance to resolve the infection and the tissues to heal.

Active therapy is priced per quadrant:

• 30-minute quadrant session: $550
• Up to 120-minute quadrant session: $1,500

Treatment may require multiple appointments depending on the extent of disease.

Supportive periodontal therapy

Once active disease is under control, periodontal patients need ongoing professional maintenance — a more thorough and targeted process than a standard hygiene visit. Supportive periodontal therapy involves reassessment, probing, and cleaning at intervals tailored to your disease risk and response to treatment. Keeping up with this ongoing care is one of the most important things you can do to protect the results you've achieved.

• Supportive therapy: $680

Periodontal flap surgery

Where non-surgical therapy hasn't fully resolved deep pockets or bone defects, surgical access may be needed. Periodontal flap surgery involves reflecting the gum tissue to provide direct access to root surfaces and bone, allowing thorough debridement and, where appropriate, regenerative procedures.

• Periodontal flap surgery: $1,200–$2,200

Gingival (gum) grafting

Gum recession — whether from periodontal disease, aggressive brushing, or anatomical factors — can expose root surfaces, increase sensitivity, and affect the appearance of your smile. Gum grafting transplants tissue (typically from the palate) to cover exposed roots and rebuild the lost gum architecture, with both functional and aesthetic benefits.

• Single tooth graft: $1,800
• Each additional tooth: $500

Guided tissue regeneration and bone grafting

Where bone has been destroyed by periodontal disease, guided tissue regeneration (GTR) uses barrier membranes and bone graft materials to encourage your body to regrow lost bone and periodontal attachment. It's a technique-sensitive procedure with real potential to reverse some of the structural damage caused by advanced periodontitis.

Crown lengthening (gum lift)

Crown lengthening is a surgical procedure that removes excess gum tissue and, where necessary, reshapes the underlying bone to expose more of your tooth's natural crown. It's performed for functional reasons — providing access for a restorative margin when decay or fracture extends below the gumline — and for aesthetic ones, to improve the balance and symmetry of your gum line if you have a "gummy smile."

Crown lengthening fees:

• Single tooth: $900
• 2–3 anterior teeth: $1,300
• 4–6 anterior teeth: $1,600
• 8 anterior teeth: $2,200
• 10 anterior teeth: $2,600

Maxillary sinus augmentation

When upper jaw bone loss has reduced the height available for implant placement in the posterior maxilla, sinus augmentation creates the necessary volume. The procedure lifts the sinus membrane and introduces bone graft material to build up the floor of the sinus, laying the foundation for successful implant placement.

• Sinus augmentation: $1,300

Implant placement

Our specialist periodontists place dental implants as part of a comprehensive, personalised treatment plan that accounts for your periodontal health, bone volume, and restoration needs. Where Dr Simon Hinckfuss manages your care, both the surgical placement and the final prosthetic restoration can be designed and delivered by the same specialist — a seamless experience that removes the gaps that can arise when multiple clinicians work in isolation.

Treatment of peri-implant disease

Implants can develop bacterial infections of their own: peri-implant mucositis (affecting the gum around an implant) and peri-implantitis (affecting the bone). Our specialist periodontists diagnose and treat these conditions using professional debridement, laser therapy, and in some cases surgical correction, helping to protect your implant investment over the long term.

Technology at Smile Solutions

Fotona laser

Smile Solutions uses Fotona laser technology for periodontal procedures. Laser-assisted treatment offers targeted bacterial reduction and tissue management with minimal trauma to surrounding structures, which supports a more comfortable recovery.

KaVo AirFlow

KaVo AirFlow is a prophylaxis system that uses a combination of water, air, and fine powder to remove plaque, staining, and biofilm — including below the gumline — more effectively and comfortably than traditional scaling alone. It's used in hygiene appointments and as part of periodontal maintenance visits.

Periodontics and the implant pathway

Periodontal health is a prerequisite for implant success. Placing implants into a mouth with untreated or inadequately treated periodontal disease dramatically increases the risk of peri-implantitis, a destructive infection around the implant that can lead to implant failure. Our periodontists assess and treat gum disease first, making sure your oral environment is healthy before implants go in.

At Smile Solutions, the periodontal and implant teams work in close coordination with our specialist prosthodontists, who design the final restoration. Having 40 dental suites, more than 20 board-registered specialists, and all the relevant disciplines under one roof in Melbourne's CBD is what sets Smile Solutions apart from isolated specialist referral practices. Your care doesn't fall through the cracks here, because everyone involved in it is working together.

Consultation fee and initial assessment

A comprehensive periodontal consultation at Smile Solutions includes a full periodontal analysis — probing depths, bone level assessment, and risk factor evaluation — in approximately 45 minutes. It's a thorough, unhurried conversation about your gum health and what treatment might look like for you.

• Initial specialist periodontal consultation: $300

No referral is required. You can book directly by calling 13 13 96.

Why Smile Solutions?

Smile Solutions was founded in 1993 by Dr Kia Pajouhesh and has grown into Australia's largest single-location private dental practice, spanning five floors and the tower of the Manchester Unity Building at 220 Collins Street, Melbourne CBD.

Our patients have rated us 4.9 stars across 937 Google reviews. That kind of consistency across thousands of patient journeys reflects a culture of genuine, caring service that runs through every department.

Payment plans through Payright, Humm, or MyDentaPlan are available to help manage the cost of periodontal treatment. Complimentary consultations may be offered for certain treatment pathways — ask when you call.

Call us on 13 13 96 to discuss your gum health, or visit us at 220 Collins Street, Melbourne.

The Smile Solutions Group — referral network

The Collins Street Specialist Centre receives referrals from both Smile Solutions and Core Dental locations across Melbourne, giving patients throughout the group access to specialist care. Core Dental is the suburban arm of the Smile Solutions Group, operating across 7 locations in metropolitan Melbourne. Patients at any Core Dental practice who need specialist periodontal treatment are referred directly to the Collins Street Specialist Centre at Level 8, Manchester Unity Building, 220 Collins Street — the specialist hub for the entire group. This integrated referral pathway means you don't have to navigate external specialist practices on your own. Phone: (03) 9650 2726.