What is Gum Disease?
It's an infection of the gums. It starts out as plaque, an opaque film on the teeth that hardens to form calculus or tartar. As tartar accumulates, it harbors bacteria which attack the soft tissue around the gums. This early stage of gum disease is called Gingivitis. Symptoms include red swollen gums, bleeding, bad breath and, sometimes, an unpleasant taste in the mouth. Untreated, Gingivitis becomes Periodontitis. At this severe stage, bacteria destroy both the gums and the supporting bone structure. Pockets form where teeth are separated from the gums and surrounding bones. Left untreated, Periodontitis eventually results in tooth loss.
What's the best way to treat gum disease?
Diode Lasers are a new non-surgical alternative to gum surgery, is a less painful, less traumatic way to treat periodontal disease at any stage.
What's different about laser gum treatment?
Laser gum treatment uses a special kind of laser called Diode. The laser fiber, which is only about as wide as a couple of human hairs, is inserted between the gum tissue and your tooth, where it painlessly removes the noxious elements that cause gum disease.
How many treatments will I need?
Depending on the severity of your condition we will customize the treatment for your individual needs but most people need two to four one -hour sessions versus eight to ten one-hour sessions with surgery. You don't have to worry about bleeding, stitches or post-treatment infection, because your gums haven't been cut.
What about recovery - will I be in pain or need to follow a special routine?
The sense of recovery is immediate, due to the lasers ability to seal blood vessels, lymphatics and nerve endings. Of course, your tissue needs time to recover, regenerate and heal over the course of time, but after laser gum treatment, you can drive your car, go back to work, or do anything else you like.
We now offer an exciting laser based technique for treatment of Gum Disease through the use of the LaserSmile diode laser from Biolase .
A laser is an instrument that produces a very narrow intense beam of light energy. When laser light comes in contact with tissue, it produces a reaction. The beam of light produced by the laser has the ability to remove infected soft tissues in a periodontal pocket and vaporize the bacteria. The aspect of laser assisted surgery that most people appreciate is its comfort.
While no treatment is always painless, the laser will reduce the need for post operative pain medication. The infected gum tissue will be removed with minimal bleeding and swelling because the powerful light beam seals blood vessels and nerve endings. Laser gum treatment is appropriate for patients who are not good candidates for surgery. This includes people who are diabetic, pregnant or taking medications such as aspirin, coumadin or cyclosporine.
Lasers have finally moved into the field of gum surgery. This opens a new door for people who have been shying away from the gum surgery that we all know and don't like to think about. Spread the word that gum treatment with lasers is not an uncomfortable process. I am available to consult with anyone who thinks that he/she might benefit from these services.
If your dentist has found gum pockets or if you suffer from tender, red, swollen, or bleeding gums, call us today for an appointment to evaluate your condition.
