Dr. Michael Stern and his team at Smile Brighter Willoughby Hills welcome you in for the treatment of gum (periodontal) disease using advanced laser technology which has become available thanks to recent advancements in dental technology.
Gum disease (also called periodontal disease) is the infection of supporting tissue and bone which hold your teeth in place. Periodontal disease typically affects adults around the ages of 30 to 40 but can affect anybody at any age and can be caused by several factors including:
- Poor Oral Health
- Genetic susceptibility
- Chronic illness (diabetes, for example)
- Smoking
- Specific medications
Treating periodontal disease has traditionally been accomplished through scaling and root planing, but modern scientific advances have produced a new method – laser treatment. Laser treatment is significantly less invasive and allows for tissue-preservation. There are several benefits to laser treatment for gum disease. Here are a few.
Minimizes Bleeding
Most patients suffering from periodontal disease experience significant bleeding of the gums and bone loss. The only way to correct this is to completely remove the bacteria from the teeth and gingival pockets. Laser treatment not only removes this bacterium but completely kills it. This produces a near- immediate improvement in both bleeding and swelling of the gums.
Improved Healing Time
Unlike traditional periodontal disease treatments, laser treatment causes significantly less trauma to the tooth, gums, and surrounding areas. This results in a dramatically reduced healing time when compared to traditional surgery which has been used in correcting gum disease. This results in less downtime for the patient and an overall quicker process.
Healthy Portion of Teeth Are Preserved
Laser treatment for periodontal disease is incredibly precise. Due to this precision, the healthy parts of the teeth can be preserved when removing any cavities. For those experiencing severe bacterial infections, the preservation of healthy teeth will help guarantee a favorable outcome.