The Benefits of Using Lasers to Treat Gum Disease

Lasers are put to a number of uses. With regards gum surgery, this treatment method is preferred as it has a number of benefits and advantages.

a) When lasers are used the surgeon does not require to cut into the gums using blades so that they can remove the diseased tissue. Using of blades involves cutting healthy tissue to reach the diseased tissue. This is not the case with lasers.

b) Laser technology helps in accessing all areas of the gums that need treatment. It does not affect the bones, teeth or even the healthy tissue. This is usually done by the differentiation of healthy and diseased gum tissue color.

c) As there are no blades and only diseased tissue is removed and treated, the pain and discomfort are lesser than other traditional methods of gum surgery.

d) The risk of complications is decreased as well as there are no blades used or other tissue which is affected. This means the recovery time is faster for the patient.

In addition to gum surgery, gum treatment also uses lasers for periodontitis. This is when various kinds of bacteria affect the gum. These bacteria are found in plaque that is usually collected on the gum line of the teeth. They then migrate following the root surfaces and they calcify there and produce tartar. This causes the inside lining of the gums to get ulcerated and inflamed. This if not treated in time can cause the periodontal tissues to be destroyed and this, in turn, causes the loss of the tooth.

Therefore, to arrest the disease, initial therapy is applied where the surfaces of the root are disinfected and cleaned and so healthy tissue can then grow in its place.

Traditional this consists of scaling or root debridement. This is done by hand instruments or sometimes even ultrasonic instruments could be used. This requires a lot of skill and a lot of time as well. This also consists of removing the pockets which are formed between the teeth and the gum tissue. However, this is not necessary as the tissues heal regardless of if the pocket lining is removed or not.

Laser Dentistry Dural technology replaces this therapy and gingival curettage is possible using it. It is also used to remove calculus as well as biofilm which is on the root surface. This, in fact, is a better method due to the following reasons:

a) There is minimal damage to the tissues and minimal swelling caused
b) There is much less bleeding
c) The area being treated gets sterilized
d) The post treatment discomfort is reduced
e) The patients are less scared and are more open for these procedures
These are some of the benefits of lasers for Gum Laser Treatment.

What are Periodontistry Procedures?

Problems with your teeth or gums that general dentists are unable to treat are referred to the periodontist. The periodontist is a specialist dental surgeon who specialises in the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of diseases relating to teeth and the gums. Additional, the periodontist is an expert at placement of dental implants.

A Periodontists offers a wide range of treatments including root planing (in which the infected surface of the root is cleaned), scaling, root surface debridement (in which damaged tissue is removed) and rectification of severe gum related problems.

Periodontal procedures includes a study of the patient's medial history to ensure there are no pre-existing medical conditions that might in any way affect or have a bearing on the patient's teeth and gums – especially heart disease, diabetes, and pregnancy.

Next, the periodontist examines the gums for signs of gum line recession, he assesses how the teeth fit together when biting, and also checks to see if any teeth are loose. The periodontist will also (usually) test for periodontal pockets by placing a probe between the gums; this helps the periodontist assess the health of the gums. Most periodontist will also X-ray the patients gums to determine the health of the bone below the gum line. All the information the periodontist so gathers has a bearing on the procedures he may have to perform next.

While your general dentist might clean your teeth by removing the accumulated plaque and tartar, periodontists performs a much deeper cleaning of the gums. In fact, regular scaling and planing is recommended as it provides a clean, smooth surface for the gums to reattach to the teeth and this can only be done by a periodontist.

If there are indications of severe gum diseases such as gingivitis, periodontitis flap and periodontal pockets, the periodontist will recommend surgical procedures to correct these. During the surgery, the periodontist will lift back the gums and remove the tarter that might have accumulated under the gum line. Once the tarter is removed, he places the gums so that the tissue fits snugly around the tooth. While doing so, he also decreases the space between the gum and tooth. This clears out the periodontal pockets that tend to accumulate harmful bacteria that are also the cause of bad breath.

Some senior patients might exhibit bone destruction due to gum disease. You periodontist can regenerate the tissue which in turn will stimulate bone and gum tissue growth. Your periodontist might also place a mesh-like fabric between gum and the bone. This allows the bone and connective tissue to grow back without having to combat with the gums for space.

Preventative Dentistry specialists is especially effective in treating patients who have suffered injuries due to some accident. For example, the periodontist can perform soft tissue grafts that reinforce thin gums or perform bone grafts or even add synthetic bone to strengthen tissue and bone that might be damaged in an accident.

One of the leading Periodontal Laser Treatment clinics is the Integrity Dental Clinic at Sydney. Call them on +61 2 9686 7288 for all your oral and dental care or visit for a hassle-free appointment.