Gum disease occurs when bacteria attacks the soft tissues in the mouth, commonly the gums around your teeth. Similar to how bacteria causes cavities in teeth, it causes gums to deteriorate, exposing the tooth roots to decay. If it goes untreated, the bacteria can cause more than just receding gums; gum disease is linked to other conditions, such as heart attack, stroke and respiratory infection. So it’s important to treat it as soon as it’s diagnosed.
Treatment varies depending on severity, from periodic deep cleanings to surgery to remove deep deposits of bacteria. Rather than traditional surgery options, we offer more comfortable laser-assisted gum treatment, via the LANAP protocol. Beyond treating gum disease, this protocol actually improves overall health by supporting regeneration of healthy tissues.
What is laser-assisted gum treatment?
Unlike traditional gum treatment that requires some level of surgery, laser-assisted gum treatment uses lasers to gently remove bacteria under the gums. Unlike traditional outcomes, laser treatment has shorter recovery times, less discomfort and actually stimulates gum regeneration.
Treatment Overview
Lasers are a versatile tool that dentists can use for a variety of procedures & purposes. In gum disease treatment, we use lasers at a relatively low wavelength that won’t cut into soft or hard tissue. Our high-tech treatment distinguishes between your healthy gum tissue & the source of inflammation or disease, destroying the bad stuff while preserving the good.
The actual procedure is simple. Your doctor uses the laser to destroy the diseased tissue in the pockets around your teeth. Usually, this exposes tartar on the surface of the teeth, so the dentist uses normal dental tools to remove it. Using particles of the bone accessible through the pocket, the dentist creates & applies a blood clot that will help the newly clean tissue reconnect to the bone, closing the pocket to new bacteria. This blood clot also stimulates tissue regeneration, resulting in an overall healthier mouth over time than traditional surgery typically produces.
After the procedure, patients often experience quick recovery with very little downtime & many don’t even need pain medication. Plus, their future dental cleanings are more comfortable, with less sensitivity, bleeding, swelling & pain.
