- Grant & Fund
- Expressions Summer 2025
Healing Gums, Rebuilding Self-Esteem
HKU Dentistry expands gum disease care for underprivileged adults in Hong Kong
Phase 2 of the project will recruit and benefit additional periodontitis patients living with financial hardship.
Periodontitis, an advanced stage of gum disease involving progressive bone loss, affects up to 20% of Hong Kong’ population but often goes untreated owing to limited access to affordable care. Left unmanaged, it can lead to end-stage disease with tooth loss, compromising oral function and quality of life. Fortunately, using an HKD 11-million donation from the Azalea (1972) Endowment Fund, the HKU Faculty of Dentistry has initiated Phase 2 of its “Azalea Gum Treatment Project”, extending access to healthcare for local residents who had believed periodontitis treatment was beyond reach.
Administered by the Faculty’s Smiles-For-All Advanced Dentistry Fund, the Azalea Gum Treatment Project is a 5-year programme that reduces financial barriers to dental healthcare by offering free comprehensive treatment to economically disadvantaged patients with periodontitis, including end-stage disease. Launched in late 2023, Phase 1 of the project enrolled 28 adults who are now receiving state-of-the-art specialist treatment led by the Division of Periodontology and Implant Dentistry at the Faculty’s Institute for Advanced Dentistry Multi-Specialty Clinic (IAD-MSC). Full multidisciplinary treatment could range from complex gum therapy to dental implant surgery, all with the aim of restoring oral health, function, and appearance.
“For Phase 1, we’re already seeing improvements in the oral and general health, chewing function, speech, well-being, and confidence of our patients,” said Professor George Pelekos, Project Lead and Clinical Associate Professor in Periodontology and Implant Dentistry. Building on the success of the initial launch, Phase 2 of the Azalea Gum Treatment Project will recruit and benefit additional periodontitis patients living with financial hardship. The overall goal is to provide advanced treatment to at least 100 adults across both project phases.
For Phase 1, we’re already seeing improvements in the oral and general health, chewing function, speech, well-being, and confidence of our patients.
Now participating in this philanthropic community-driven initiative are global industry leaders in the dental field, who have pledged in-kind contributions to amplify the programme’s societal impact. For instance, the Straumann Group is supplying its premium dental products, while the Modern Dental Group will offer their professional dental laboratory services. Ray HK and Dentsply Sirona have also joined this collaborative effort.
Leveraging these resources to complement the Azalea (1972) Endowment Fund, the Faculty project is set to continue delivering life-changing care that restores function, self-esteem, and confidence to underserved patients—one smile at a time.
Low-income Hong Kong residents are welcome to apply to become IAD-MSC patients and receive the free specialist care offered by Phase 2 of the Azalea Gum Treatment Project. Applicants must be receiving Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) or be eligible for social housing in Hong Kong. Applications should be submitted via the project website form.