Gum Disease Laser Therapy

Periodontal or gum disease happens when bacteria gets below the gum line and the attachment between the gum and tooth is lost. Three out of four Americans have some form of periodontal disease and only 3 out of 100 will ever get treated before its too late.

Gum disease is a silent, chronic, painless and communicable bacterial infection that often goes undetected or ignored until severe gum and bone destruction is unbearable and no longer able to be ignored. Left untreated, gum disease can cause tooth loss andmay expensive surgical treatment that is often times painful.

The latest conservative gum therapy uses a laser. The laser gently disinfects and evaporates diseased tissues from around the tooth and inside the gum pocket. This treatment interrupts the bacterial destruction of the tissues and bone, giving the gum pocket a chance to heal.Treatment with a soft tissue laser, frequent periodontal maintenance visits and rigorous home care, allow the gum pocket to be disease-free and sometimes allow tissues to reattach to the pocket to a normal or near-normal depth. This new laser therapy is gentle, less painful, and has a quick recovery. While surgery may still be indicated for severely advanced periodontal cases, laser therapy is a much more conservative, effective and comfortable option for beginning to moderate periodontal cases. The laser cauterizes the nerves and blood vessels in the area so there is minimal post-operative discomfort, no bleeding and no need for sutures or bandages. In conjugation with the laser treatment, we gently place an antibiotic locally into the pocket in the gum tissue that prevents bacteria from inhabiting the area while healing is taking place. This antibiotic called Arestin is specifically formulated to target the bacteria that cause Periodontal disease and is time released from the area over a 2 week period.

After the laser gum treatment is completed, it is important to maintain frequent periodontal maintenance appointments during which the areas of concern will be continually monitored, bacteria and tartar will be removed from not only the crown of the tooth but below the gum line and antibiotic will be placed where needed. Home care is an important part of maintaining the tissue health provided by the laser treatment.