Laser Assisted Gum Procedures
How Laser Periodontal Therapy Treats Gum Disease
Perhaps you’ve recently gone for a dental checkup and received the news that you have periodontal disease. While no one wants to discover they have a gum infection, there is a wide range of treatment options that will depend on your case’s severity. For example, laser periodontal therapy is a less invasive option than surgery, and it’s gaining popularity.
Understanding Periodontal Disease
Periodontal or gum disease is an infection of the supporting tissues and bone that hold your teeth in place. It’s an advanced stage of infection in your gums. If discovered while still in the stage known as gingivitis, it can be reversed with a rigorous oral care routine. But periodontal disease requires professional intervention. The condition mainly affects adults in their 30s and 40s, according to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NICDR). The risk factors for periodontal disease include:
How Laser Therapy Works
Periodontal or gum disease is an infection of the supporting tissues and bone that hold your teeth in place. It’s an advanced stage of infection in your gums. If discovered while still in the stage known as gingivitis, it can be reversed with a rigorous oral care routine. But periodontal disease requires professional intervention. The condition mainly affects adults in their 30s and 40s, according to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NICDR). The risk factors for periodontal disease include:
How Laser Therapy Works
Laser therapy is not a standalone treatment but works in conjunction with traditional therapies. In periodontal laser therapy, your periodontist uses a laser to access and remove the inflamed gum tissue from around your tooth’s root. They then remove the tartar and plaque built up below and around your gumline. Next, they use a different tool to smooth out any rough spots on your tooth above and below the gumline. Removing these rough spots mitigates the chance your teeth and gums will attract more bacteria and get future infections.
After laser therapy, your mouth will need time to heal and regenerate. During this healing process, your gums should be infection-free and be able to tighten back up around your tooth, like a turtleneck that fits nicely around your neck!
Risks and Benefits
There are several benefits to using lasers for clearing out diseased gum tissue. The four main advantages of using laser therapy to treat gum disease are as follows:
- Recovery and healing times are shorter.
- You won’t need general anesthetic, as is sometimes required for other forms of dental surgery.
- Lasers can target the diseased areas precisely and accurately.
- There’s less bleeding, pain, and swelling because periodontal laser therapy is less invasive than regular surgery.
Despite these benefits, some medical authorities don’t yet support the use of this therapy. The effects of laser periodontal therapy are still being studied. But it has shown promising results for eligible patients.