Full Answer
Is laser gum surgery right for me?
In recent years, laser gum surgery has become more widespread for treating moderate to severe gum disease. Laser stands for light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation. Your dentist may recommend laser surgery as an additional step after having a traditional scaling and root planing treatment.
How does laser therapy for gum disease work?
How Laser Therapy Works 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.
Does laser gum treatment in the Woodlands work?
Our periodontal patients in The Woodlands often recover more quickly from their laser gum treatments than they do conventional periodontal surgery or deep cleaning. The best part? You’ll be on the mend even sooner since our Conroe laser gum treatments don’t cause any unnecessary swelling or discomfort.
Why would you laser your gums?
Laser gum surgery is used for dental procedures, such as treating gum disease. It's also used to contour the gums and eliminate gummy smile. Since there's no scalpel or cutting, laser gum surgery eliminates the need for stitches and reduces postoperative bleeding.
Who is a candidate for laser gum surgery?
Good candidates for periodontal laser dentistry are patients who are experiencing periodontal disease and are looking for reduced recovery time with less need for pain management. Few conditions limit a patient's ability to receive laser dental treatments.
Can receding gums be treated with laser?
Treatment for Receding Gum Line In addition to treating the issue that is eroding the gum line, a procedure may be needed to recontour the gum line using a dental laser.
How long does laser gum treatment last?
How long does Laser Gum Surgery take and what is the follow up? In most cases, Dr. Benedon will schedule 2 ½ to 3 hours to do half the mouth. There will be breaks during the procedure for you to rest.
Is laser treatment for gums worth it?
Less invasive Because the laser never cuts into your gum tissue, it offers a decreased risk of infection, sensitivity, and bleeding after the procedure. This also means the risk of complications is low. Because laser treatment is so gentle, many patients are less afraid to get their oral health problems fixed.
Does laser gum surgery work?
Studies on LANAP procedure show positive results, such as less tooth loss after laser surgery, as compared to traditional surgery. It also has been shown to increase new tissue attachments between gum and bone after treatment, and aid in gum regeneration for periodontal patients.
Can gums grow back after laser?
Laser gum reshaping is a permanent dental procedure. Any excess gum tissue that is removed to reposition the gum line and reveal more of the teeth will not grow back.
Is laser gum surgery better than traditional?
Patients who are not good candidates for traditional gum surgery due to health issues can still undergo laser gum treatment. Less pain and bleeding is involved with laser gum treatment over traditional gum surgery. Bacteria and inflammation are reduced in laser gum treatment over traditional gum surgery.
How painful is laser gum surgery?
Does laser gum surgery hurt? Laser gum therapy is almost always nearly pain-free. Typically, we use local anesthetic to keep you comfortable during the procedure.
Is laser deep cleaning necessary?
Laser dentistry powered deep cleanings Cleaning beneath the gum line is particularly important since deep cleaning is typically performed as a treatment for gum disease. Gum disease is caused by plaque and tartar getting into gum pockets, causing an immune system response.
Does periodontal disease ever go away?
Can you reverse periodontal disease? The damage done by gingivitis can often be reversed by ridding your gums of the infection. Periodontitis is more advanced, however, and often does damage to your teeth and gums that's impossible to reverse without extensive dental treatments.
Do periodontal pockets heal?
Periodontal pockets are a symptom of periodontitis (gum disease), a serious oral infection. Periodontal pockets can be treated and reversed with good oral hygiene or with dental treatment.
What is laser gum surgery?
Laser gum surgery is a minimally invasive procedure that, as the name suggests, uses a laser to remove bad bacteria and damaged gum tissue from the...
Does LANAP work?
LANAP laser gum therapy works for many people, whether it's for the treatment of gum disease, gum contouring for longer-looking teeth and a more ae...
Does laser gum surgery hurt?
One of the benefits of laser gum surgery compared to traditional gum surgery is that there is virtually no pain. While anesthesia is necessary for...
How much does laser gum treatment cost?
Laser gum treatment costs anywhere from $1,000 to $4,000. The cost will vary depending on where your dentist is located, what technology they use,...
How much does LANAP cost?
LANAP is the same as laser gum treatment and costs anywhere from $1,000 to $4,000. If you need LANAP for medical reasons, it's likely to be partial...
Is laser gum surgery worth it?
If you are eligible and you have gum disease, laser gum surgery is likely worth it for you. It's essential to get gum disease treated, and your den...
How to get rid of gum disease after laser?
In the first 1 to 2 days, your periodontist may recommend you rinse your mouth every few hours with warm salt water to help soothe your mouth. Mix 1/2 teaspoon of salt in 8 ounces of water. Make sure the water isn’t too hot or cold. Laser surgery can decrease gum disease.
How much does it cost to have a laser gum surgery?
If a scaling and planing procedure is done before laser gum surgery, the fee may range anywhere from $200 for one quadrant to $1,500 or more for your entire mouth. Laser gum surgery may be done with a Nd:YAG type of laser using LANAP. Trusted Source. (laser-assisted new attachment procedure) protocol.
How does a laser help a tooth?
The laser also sterilizes tissue and bone, and stimulates formation of a blood clot. The blood clot speeds healing and helps gum tissue reattach to the tooth. This eliminates the need for stitches.
How does a laser work?
The laser is about the size of three human hairs. The laser will use pinpointed light to remove diseased and inflamed gum tissue from the pocket. (The laser is designed to only remove diseased tissue. It does not remove or damage healthy gum tissue.
What is the procedure for gummy smile?
Procedure for laser gummy smile surgery. Here’s what you can expect for gummy smile surgery: If inflammation or infection is causing excess gum tissue, your periodontist’s first step will be a scaling and root planing procedure. Then, a laser procedure can sculpt and contour the gums.
What is trusted source gum surgery?
Trusted Source. , or laser-assisted new attachment procedure, is often used to treat gum disease. Here’s what you can expect for laser gum surgery: Your periodontist will place the fiber optic tip of the laser at the top of the periodontal pocket. The laser is about the size of three human hairs.
How much does a dental X-ray cost?
Your initial consultation will include X-rays, which can cost anywhere from $50 to several hundred dollars.
Why do you need lasers for gum disease?
The four main advantages of using laser therapy to treat gum disease are as follows: Recovery and healing times are shorter. You won't need general anesthetic, as is sometimes required for other forms of dental surgery.
What is the procedure to remove gum tissue?
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.
How does laser therapy work?
How Laser Therapy Works. 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.
Why is it important to maintain an A+ oral hygiene routine after periodontal treatment?
Maintaining an A+ oral hygiene routine after you undergo any periodontal therapy is also critical to avoiding a recurrence of the infection. Your dental professional will instruct you on how best to care for the site of your laser therapy treatment, as well as your entire mouth.
What are the risk factors for periodontal disease?
The risk factors for periodontal disease include: Poor oral hygiene. Smoking.
What happens after laser therapy?
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.
What is gum disease?
Understanding Periodontal Disease. 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.
Does laser gum removal help with tooth loss?
After physically removing heavy tartar buildup, pocket reduction, or bone grafts, your laser gum therapy can increase the success of your procedure for the most predictable outcome and tooth preserva tion. Lasers reduce bleeding and swelling, both of which are common side-effects of conventional gum treatments.
Can a dental laser destroy tissue?
When people think of dental lasers, it’s common to assume that the laser itself will destroy all of the tissue that it comes into contact with. But that’s actually not the case.
Can laser gums be used for gum extraction?
Using soft tissue lasers on healthy gum tissues can stimulate new attachment between your gingiva and the root surfaces of teeth. If you’re suffering from deep periodontal pockets, laser gum therapy may be the difference in saving your smile and scheduling extractions.
Is laser dentistry safe?
Dr. Kip Saunders has invested in one of the most advanced dental lasers available, allowing us to perform periodontal plastic surgery right here in Conroe. Lasers are safe, effective, and protect your natural smile as long as possible.
What is the laser used for gum disease?
Dr. Ressler uses two types of laser to treat gum disease. The first laser (Nd:YAG) painlessly vaporizes the diseased lining of infected gum tisssue. This results in the destruction of germs that cause gum disease, and prepares the gum tissue for reattachment to the roots of your teeth. 7.
How to treat gum disease?
In its early stages, gum problems can often be treated with scaling and root planing which is essentially a deep cleaning under the gum line after numbing the teeth and gums.
Why do patients prefer laser surgery?
Patients prefer laser treatment to conventional surgery because of less post-operative swelling and discomfort, and the ability to return to regular activites the very same day. 3. DR. RESSLER SETS UP A LASER AND MICROSCOPE.
How many steps are involved in laser gum surgery?
Laser gum treatment is a 3 step process.
How long does it take to become a periodontist?
Periodontists are surgically-trained dentists who spend an additional three years of university or hospital-based residency training (following four years of dental school) specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of gum disease.
Which dentist is best for gum disease?
Periodontists, such as Dr. Ressler, are generally considered the most appropriate type of dental specialist to treat moderate and advanced cases of gum disease due to their advanced training, education, and clinical experience.
Is it healthy to have a clean mouth?
Untreated gum disease has been linked to heart attack, stroke, diabetes, certain types of cancers, and other systemic diseases as we age. A clean mouth may not only save your teeth, but improve your overall health and extend your life. Schedule a consultation!
How does laser gum surgery work?
Laser gum surgery is the tradition (and very painful) way of treating gum disease by surgically cutting out the diseased tissue with a scalpel. During the surgery, patients must be under general anesthetic because the procedure is very painful and invasive. The periodontist or general dentist cuts into the gums to get to the bacteria and diseased tissue, which is scraped and cut out. Unfortunately, healthy gum tissue has to be destroyed as part of this procedure. Bleeding during the surgery is common, as is inflammation of the gum tissue. Sometimes, bone grafting is needed as part of the process. With bone grafting, the surgeon typically adds synthetic bone and places in the area of lost bone to act as a catalyst for new bone growth. The results of this procedure are unpredictable. Sometimes new bone grows back and sometimes it does not depending on the surrounding bone and the location of the defect next to the tooth root. Bone loss around teeth is caused by high calculus accumulation that destroys the bone little by little until the tooth has to be extracted. “Once bone has been lost, the calculus deposits need to be removed to prevent further loss of bone.” This is when the traditional gum surgery is used. The gums may be shorter after cutting the healthy tissue. That may cause tooth sensitivity because more of the tooth is exposed, and it may not look esthetically good. Prescription pain medication following gum surgery typically is needed. The cut tissue must be stitched, and it takes weeks for patients to heal, particularly if bone grafting was needed. Only one side of the mouth is treated at a time because so many dental injections are required to treat those areas.
How to treat gum disease?
The second and more modern option for treating gum disease is non-surgical laser gum treatment . A non-surgical laser gum treatment is a minimally invasive procedure that is much safer and less painful – and the patient heals much faster. Non-surgical laser gum treatments use laser light to selectively remove the diseased, inflamed gum tissue, and leave the healthy gum tissue alone. No cutting is necessary, and there’s very little bleeding. Laser gum treatments are performed without pulling the gum tissue back away from the jaw. This non-surgical gum treatment also uses the laser light to seal the blood vessels and nerve endings during the procedure. This is critically important because it significantly reduces pain after the procedure and allows patients to return to normal activities immediately afterward. The other improvement is the laser’s ability to kill bacteria on contact. This leaves the treated area free of bacteria which promotes more rapid healing of the treatment area. The laser softens calculus (tartar) and makes it easier to remove. The wonderful part of having laser gum treatment is that you are able to return to normal activities immediately. Because of the laser’s ability to seal blood vessels and nerve endings, it virtually eliminates bleeding and pain during and after the procedure is finished. No anesthesia is required. Recovery starts immediately. The pain after the procedure is minimal and short (usually in 2 days or less). There is no need for medication.
Can you use a laser for gum disease?
Thanks to advancements in dental lasers, people with gum disease now can opt for a non-surgical laser gum treatment as a safe, effective alternative to painful, invasive gum surgery . Most common in adults, gum disease is known as a “silent” disease because there’s usually no pain associated with the disease until it’s at an advanced stage. In the old days, there was only one way to treat moderate to severe cases of gum disease, and that was gum surgery. This surgical technique involves cutting the gums with a scalpel and pulling the tissues away from the jaw to gain access to dig out the diseased gum tissue. At the end of the procedure, the gums are stitched back together and the area remains very painful for several days before healing starts to occur and the patient can return to normal activities. With the introduction of dental lasers, non-surgical laser gum treatments are coming on strong as the treatment of choice for treating gum disease.
