Laser Gum Treatment

Maybe you’re not looking forward to diving into your dental health. What if taking this step could elevate your dental health? When you’re ready to have a heart-to-heart with your mouth, there are some red flags that could indicate gum disease.

• Bad Breath: Have you noticed your breath smells bad on a regular basis without eating tons of garlic and onions? Gum disease could be to blame.
• Bloody Backwash: After brushing your teeth, what color is the liquid spit into the sink? If the backwash runs red with blood, your gums could be trying to tell you something.
• Bloody Gums: When gums bleed for seemingly no reason, periodontal disease could be why.
• Discolored Gums: Brightly-colored gums in shades of red and purple are not normal.
• Loose Teeth: If a tooth is wiggling out of place, gums could be infected.
• Pain When Chewing: Whether you’re eating a Saltine or a ribeye, if it hurts to chew, gum disease could be the underlying cause.
• Pus: Seeing pus oozing from where gums and teeth meet is not a good sign.
• Receding Gumline: Teeth can appear a bit longer than usual when gums head for the hills.
• Tender Gums: Are gums tender to the touch? Do gums seem puffy or appear swollen? Periodontal problems may loom.

Gum disease has several stages. Each of these phases has different symptoms, and each requires a plan of care.

• Stage One: Gingivitis. This stage is the most commonly seen example of periodontal disease. Gum tissue, or gingiva, surrounding your teeth becomes inflamed. Gingivitis is caused by plaque buildup. The condition may be reversed if caught and properly treated now. The supporting bone is not yet negatively impacted.
• Stage Two: Mild Periodontitis. Left unchecked, gingivitis can develop into periodontitis. Bacteria has gathered below the gumline, and is now inflamed. Bone loss may have already begun. Gums are noticeably puffy; they bleed regularly.
• Stage Three: Moderate Periodontitis. Additional bone loss could be happening during this stage. Swollen gums may have started separating from the teeth. Debris is now collecting in pockets within the receding gumline.
• Stage Four: Advanced Periodontitis. Bone loss could be severe during this final stage of gum disease. Teeth are becoming loose. There’s a high probability of tooth loss. Gums are receding even further.

A good dental cleaning or perhaps even teeth cleaning with laser tools can be effective against gingivitis. Periodontitis requires a bolder plan of attack. Depending upon the advancement of the gum disease, the following methods may be used:

• Bone Grafting: When periodontitis has wiped out the bone around the tooth, this method may be used. The graft holds the at-risk tooth securely in place to hinder tooth loss. Graft construction materials may consist of synthetic bones, donated bones or even remnants of your own bones.
• Gum Flap Surgery: Clearing bacteria, tartar and any faulty tissue away from the tooth and supporting bone is difficult when puffy gums deny contact. Tiny cuts allow the gum tissue to be pulled back from the teeth. Now the dentist has access to the periodontal pocket and gets to work.
• Prescriptions: Bacteria could be problematic in your mouth and lead to infections. Your periodontist may prescribe an antiseptic gel or rinse. These products come in direct contact with teeth and gums to keep bacteria in check. Oral antibiotics may be prescribed if bacteria persist.
• Root Planing: This laser periodontal treatment tackles tartar buildup below the gumline, next to the roots of teeth. The dental professional takes a tool and smooths, or planes, the roots. The result? Teeth free of crystalized tartar and bad bacteria.
• Scaling: This nonsurgical technique removes tartar from the tooth’s surface. Getting this kind of teeth cleaning with laser tools, like the Waterlase, can prevent dental chair dread.
• Soft Tissue Grafting: When receding gums become a recurring problem, this surgery can be the solution. Tissue may be grafted from the roof of your mouth. This recycled tissue reinforces the damaged tissue along the gumline. Tooth roots get covered while preventing the gumline from receding even further.

Ask yourself the questions below. If “yes,” is your answer to one or more questions, you could be at greater risk for developing gum disease.

• Are you experiencing hormonal changes?
• Are you genetically predisposed to gum disease?
• Are you obese?
• Do you frequently engage in unhealthy eating habits?
• Do you have decreased immunity?
• Do you skip oral health habits?
• Do you smoke, vape, dip or chew tobacco?
• Do you suffer from diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis or Crohn’s disease?
• Do you take medications that may cause gum issues?
• Do you use marijuana regularly?
• Is your daily intake of vitamins and nutrients less than what is recommended?

Considering a teeth cleaning with laser tools? You’re not alone! Many types of people can benefit from getting a laser treatment for periodontal disease. Additionally, there are some patients who are prime candidates for laser gum treatment. Do you fall into any of these profiles?

• Are you a regular user of nicotine products? Smoking, vaping, dipping and chewing all have a negative impact on teeth and gums. Teeth discoloration is only the beginning of issues that can come from recurring use of nicotine products.
• Are you genetically predisposed to periodontal disease? Did one or both of your parents suffer from gum disease? If so, your DNA may put your teeth and gums in harm’s way.
• Are you taking medications that interfere with your body’s ability to fight off infections? Corticosteroids and TNF inhibitors are two types of medications that have the potential for weakening the immune system.
• Do you have a medical condition that slows or complicates your body’s ability to heal? Diabetes and certain cardiovascular conditions can make laser treatment for gum disease so much easier versus a long recovery time from the traditional scaling and root planing.
• Is your immune system compromised? The Waterlase laser gum treatment is less likely to stress out your system than getting scraped and poked during a traditional treatment.

There is so little recovery time needed after your laser treatment for periodontal disease, you can usually go about your life the following day. A strict oral hygiene routine must be followed in order to keep teeth in tip-top shape. Swish with an antimicrobial rinse if prescribed. You’ll get personalized aftercare instructions to help you keep your teeth healthy.