Laser Periodontal therapy is an effective dental procedure to cure periodontal disease without any surgery. In this treatment a laser is used to treat the affected gums and heal them without any surgical procedures. Laser Periodontal therapy is especially advantageous for patients with diabetes and hemophilia as problems associated with typical surgery are not there.
A Severe Gum Problem
Periodontal disease is a major cause of tooth loss in adults. It is caused when plaque infested with bacteria becomes hard and forms tarter or calculus on the tooth. Due to the presence of bacteria, the calculus infects the gums, which become swollen and bleed during brushing and flossing. In its early stages the disease is called gingivitis. When left untreated, gingivitis leads to periodontitis, which is a more severe condition as due to it pockets are formed at the base of the teeth. This creates a gap between the teeth and the gums. Without treatment the pockets become deep and loosen the teeth. Ultimately this leads to tooth loss.
The treatment of periodontitis involves killing the bacteria and closing the pockets to prevent future infection. The traditional treatment involves surgery and stitching of the gums. Laser Periodontal therapy is useful and advantageous over the surgical method as it is involves no surgery. Thus there is no need of any incisions or stitches.
Both Treatment And Healing Are Quick
Before the treatment, the dentist does an examination of the affected areas and uses X-rays to determine the extent of the infection. Before the treatment a local anesthetic is generally used to eliminate any possible pain. In Laser
Periodontal therapy, a tiny laser fiber (about the thickness of three hairs) is inserted between the tooth and the gum. The laser removes the infected tissue and cleans the pockets. An Ultrasonic scaler and special hand instruments are then used to scrape the tarter from the root of the teeth. After the cleaning and scaling process is over, the gum tissue is compressed against the root of the tooth and the heat from the laser seals the gum. This secures the root of the tooth within the gum and healing takes place. This also closes the pockets and prevents further infection from affecting the area. The procedure is quick and requires only two sessions of two hours each.
Only, one half of the mouth is treated during each session after which the patient is completely fit for regular work, as there are no post surgical restrictions as in a traditional surgical treatment. It is better to take a soft diet for a day or two after the treatment. Otherwise recovery takes place fast, generally within 24 hours unlike a surgical treatment.