While gingivitis provides minimal risk to a patient who gets it treated quickly, untreated, it can turn into periodontal disease. This condition is an infection of the bones and tissues that hold your teeth in place and most commonly appears in patients in their 30s and 40s. Poor dental hygiene, chronic illness, medication, smoking, and even genetics can all play a role in the development of this condition. Whatever the cause, laser technology has been leveraged to provide effective treatment and has brought a number of great benefits along with it!
The Amazing Benefits of Laser Technology In Treating Gum Disease
For many years the go-to treatment for gum disease has been scaling and root planing. This process is non-surgical and involves the cleaning and polishing of the surfaces of the teeth both above and below the gumline. Laser treatment brings a new element to this treatment, using high powered focused light to destroy bacteria and infected tissue. Once these elements have been removed, the root of the teeth are exposed, and an ultrasonic cleaner is used to remove the plaque and tartar without scraping. The laser’s power is then reduced so it can be used to seal gingival tissue to the dental root. No unnecessary tissue is removed with this process, preserving the gums so they can continue to provide healthy support to the tooth.
Other Benefits of Receiving Laser Treatment For Periodontal Disease
- Limits Bleeding – It’s common for patients with periodontal disease to experience loss of bone and bleeding gums. This process ensures there is no additional bleeding while treating the root cause of the disease.
- Tailored To The Patient – Every case of periodontal disease differs, and this form of treatment is able to be custom-fit to the needs of the patient and their condition.
- Reduced Healing Time – The limited tissue trauma associated with this treatment ensures that patients will be able to heal quickly and efficiently, as well as spending less time in the chair.
- Minimally Invasive – With no drills and no implements being involved in the treatment, laser treatment is completely non-invasive and nearly painless. A win for patients nervous about dental pain during treatment.
- Preserves Health Teeth – Due to the pinpoint precision that’s possible when using laser dentistry, the entire infection can be eliminated without any impact to the neighboring dental structures. Less damage and more healthy tissue mean better long term results.
- Limited Risk of Bacterial Infection – The use of a single tool for this procedure limits the chances that bacterial infection will occur.
Patients who are seeking alternative treatments to the standard scaling and root planing for periodontal disease should talk to their dentist about receiving laser dentistry. Every day this technology and its related treatments become further refined. This results in superior outcomes for the patient and shorter visits to the dental office.
