Laser Periodontal Treatment for Gum Disease

Your periodontist can tackle your periodontal disease by using a laser treatment. This innovative method is less invasive than traditional surgery. Its common target areas are the gums and other soft oral tissues. In some cases, they can also treat hard tissue like teeth. If you want to know more about laser periodontal treatment, here are the details.

How it works

Laser periodontal treatment often comes with traditional dental therapies. The dentist can use a laser to remove diseased gum tissue around the dental roots. This tool can also remove plaque and tartar along or below the gumline. Making these areas smooth after the laser treatment prevents bacteria from re-infecting them.

Healing and tissue regeneration will follow after the laser treatment. The gums will remain free of infection during this time. They will also tighten around the teeth. This will block off bacteria and food particles. Trained periodontists provide this treatment. That is why the patients receive proper care during and after the laser procedure.

The advantages

Stripping away the infected gum tissue with lasers can result in shorter healing times. A periodontist can target the areas without removing healthy periodontal tissue. Most patients do not need anesthetics anymore. Laser periodontal treatment is less painful than the traditional scalpel method. The laser also cauterizes the area right away. This results in less swelling and bleeding.

The laser helps form solid blood clots in their target areas. Its heat sterilizes the tissue, killing off bacteria. It can also cut through soft or hard tissue to remove dead or diseased parts. The procedure leaves the area clear and ready for quick recovery.

What happens during laser periodontal treatment

The periodontist will position the fiber optic laser tip at the top of the gum pocket. The laser will emit pinpointed light. This will remove infected gum tissue from the periodontal pocket. The laser will only remove the bad tissue. It will not touch the healthy tissue. The heat from the laser will kill off bacteria from the gum areas.

The periodontist will set aside the laser after cleaning out the damaged tissues from the periodontal pockets. The dentist will then bring out an ultrasonic cleaning tool to degrade tartar deposits. The laser will enter the gum pockets to clean down the bottom and clear the debris. The dentist will not need to perform stitches anymore after the laser periodontal treatment.

The risks

Different power levels and wavelengths perform different uses. Some patients may not react the same way to the laser as other patients do. They may develop permanent changes in tissue color, infection, and scarring after the treatment. Seeing the dentist right away if there is more pain, swelling, fever, and discharge oozing from the treated areas is important.

Aftercare

It often takes a week to recover after laser periodontal treatment. The dentist may instruct the patient not to floss or brush the treated areas. A soft diet will prevent the patient from using the areas for chewing. Refraining from consuming alcohol and tobacco can help encourage faster healing. Rinsing the mouth and letting the mouthwash fall out will prevent dislodging the blood clot.