If you have recently been diagnosed with gum disease, the thought of treatment can be intimidating. Advanced gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, often requires more invasive procedures such as gum surgery to correct the issue. Traditional treatments are often uncomfortable as soft gum tissues are sensitive.
However, innovative techniques and tools such as dental lasers allow for more hassle-free experiences for many patients in need of gum disease treatment.
Understanding Gum Disease
Gum disease is an oral infection often caused by poor or neglected hygiene. Without consistent brushing and flossing, bacteria can grow in abundance throughout the mouth, producing acidic plaque that sticks to your enamel. If not properly removed, this buildup hardens into tartar, irritating the gums and creating pockets of infection.
Gum tissue inflammation at this stage is known as gingivitis, the earliest and easiest form of gum disease to treat. Gums with gingivitis look red and swollen and often bleed when brushing and flossing.
If allowed to progress, gingivitis advances to a more aggressive stage known as periodontitis. As gums take on more damage, they begin to recede, causing teeth to become loose and eventually leading to tooth loss. Unfortunately, this is only one of many complications gum disease can have on your oral and overall health.
How Dental Lasers Are Used to Treated Vulnerable Gums
When treating gum disease, dental lasers offer a comprehensive solution often unmatched by traditional treatment methods. While root planing and scaling may effectively remove bacteria from the affected areas, these methods do nothing to reduce the periodontal pockets, leaving patients vulnerable to possible repeated infection.
Lasers can not only eliminate bacteria and remove damaged tissue from these pockets, but they can also help stimulate gum reattachment to the tooth. With gum disease treatment using dental lasers, the periodontal pockets can be reduced and even eliminated, allowing patients to achieve optimal oral health once more.
What Makes Laser Dentistry the Ideal Option?
Dental lasers are a unique technology that provides virtually pain-free benefits for patients undergoing many dental treatments. Laser dentistry harnesses light waves to remove soft tissues safely and effectively without creating friction or heat, thus removing the typical source of pain during procedures.
In addition to greatly reducing discomfort, incorporating dental lasers for your dental treatment has other advantages, including:
- Minimal bleeding due to high-energy light beams which seal off exposed blood vessels.
- Complete sanitation of treated areas, removing infected tissues or bacteria, which improves the healing process.
- No stitches required for some procedures due to light beams sealing treated area.
- Anesthesia is sometimes not necessary for procedures performed with laser dentistry.
- Reduced damage to surrounding tissues due to the precision of dental lasers.
At the dental practice of Dr. Del, we utilize advanced dental tools to improve our patient experiences and ensure long-lasting oral health. For more information about the long-term benefits of dental lasers, contact our San Marcos dental team today.