Will My Periodontal Disease Be Treated During Full Mouth Dental Implant Surgery?

For many people considering full mouth dental implants, periodontal disease is already a part of their story. Gum disease is one of the leading causes of tooth loss, and it’s often the reason patients start exploring implant treatment in the first place. Naturally, this raises concerns. “Will my periodontal disease affect my surgery?”, or “Can I even have full mouth dental implants if I have periodontal disease?”.

The reassuring answer is yes - you can. At 21D, periodontal disease is not a barrier. In fact, our approach is specifically designed to address it during surgery, through what we call a ‘surgical reset’. We remove the damaged tissue and bacteria, leaving behind a clean, healthy foundation for your new implants.

In this guide, we’ll further explore what periodontal disease is, how it affects your oral health, and how full mouth dental implant surgery at 21D provides a complete reset for a stronger, healthier smile.

What Is Periodontal Disease?

Periodontal disease, often referred to as gum disease, is a bacterial infection that damages the soft tissue and bone supporting the teeth. It develops gradually, beginning with gingivitis (mild gum inflammation) and, if left untreated, progressing into periodontitis, a more advanced stage that can cause tooth mobility and eventually tooth loss.

Plaque bacteria trigger inflammation, forming gum pockets where infection thrives. As it advances, the bone anchoring the teeth erodes. Common symptoms include:

• Bleeding gums when brushing or flossing
• Swollen, red, or tender gums
• Persistent bad breath
• Loose or shifting teeth
• Gum recession

For patients in their 40s, 50s, or beyond, periodontal disease is unfortunately common. Lifestyle habits such as smoking, certain health conditions like diabetes, and even genetic factors can increase susceptibility.

Full mouth dental implants not only replace missing teeth but, with our advanced surgical approach, can remove the infection and damage caused by gum disease, offering patients a fresh start for their oral health.

How Periodontal Disease Affects Dental Implants

Periodontal disease has a direct impact on whether dental implants can succeed and how long they last. Left untreated, infection around gum pockets and bone can:

• Spread to implants, risking failure
• Prevent osseointegration (the process where implants fuse with bone)
• Lead to peri-implantitis, an implant-specific infection similar to gum disease
• Reduce bone volume, leaving less support for implants

At 21D, we don’t place implants into diseased tissue. Instead, we perform a complete reset, removing infection and rebuilding a healthy foundation.

How Full Mouth Dental Implant Surgery Treats Periodontal Disease at 21D

At 21D, we recognise that many of our patients come to us with advanced periodontal disease. Unlike some clinics that may view gum disease as a barrier to treatment, we take a different approach: we use the implant surgery itself as an opportunity to completely reset the mouth.

When natural teeth are removed during surgery, the bacteria lose their foothold. Our surgeons then carry out a meticulous cleansing of the mouth, removing infected tissue, inflamed gum pockets, and diseased bone. This ensures the implants are placed into healthy, stable tissue rather than areas compromised by infection.

We call this approach a “surgical reset”. By removing the source of infection entirely, we create the best possible environment for the implants to fuse securely with the bone. This not only reduces the risk of complications like peri-implantitis but also provides a long-term foundation for stable, healthy implants.

What This Means for Patients Considering Implants

For patients with periodontal disease, being told implants aren’t an option can feel discouraging. Our surgical reset approach removes infection and creates a clean foundation, making implants possible even after years of periodontal disease.

This fresh start not only eliminates ongoing problems but also lowers the risk of recurrence, giving patients the chance to rebuild their oral health with confidence. With the right aftercare, this becomes a long-term solution, turning what once felt like a barrier, into an opportunity to restore both health and ultimately, your smile.