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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:
Scaling and root planing is the standard treatment for periodontal disease. This non-surgical deep cleaning removes tartar, plaque (biofilm), and bacteria from the tooth at and below the gumline and its roots. It also promotes your gum tissue’s regeneration to grow back snug around your tooth.
Alternatively, your periodontist may decide that a surgical method of treating your periodontal disease is your best therapeutic option. This could be due to the severity of your gum infection. The NIDCR notes that a common surgical option, known as gum flap surgery, entails a surgical cut in the gum tissue. It’s then pulled back to allow deep cleaning around the roots underneath. Your gum tissue is then sutured back into place to heal.
Other surgical options for periodontal disease include bone graftings, soft tissue grafts, guided tissue regeneration, and the application of tissue-stimulating proteins.
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!
Note that not all dental professionals use laser therapy. Those who decide to treat patients with this therapy undergo training on using lasers. This ensures they have the proper technique and understand how to use different wavelengths correctly.
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:
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