Treat Gum
Disease Easier
In the last few decades, lasers have revolutionized the world we live in, including the way we care for teeth. While laser periodontal therapy is still new and being proven and studied, it’s already been shown to have promising results for eligible patients. At Accent Smile Center in Dickson, we believe this exciting new treatment option will help us keep your teeth as healthy as possible.
What Is Periodontal Disease?
Periodontal disease, more commonly known as gum disease is an infection involving the supporting tissues and bones that hold your teeth in place. Usually, this condition affect mainly adults in their 30s and 40s, according to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research and is usually caused by:
- Poor oral hygiene
- Smoking
- Chronic illnesses, such as diabetes
- Certain medications
- Genetic susceptibility
The most common treatment for periodontal disease is scaling and root planing, which is a non-surgical method of cleaning the surfaces of your and teeth and the root, which may have become exposed due to gum recession. This removes tartar, plaque and bacteria from the gum surrounding the root, and promotes the healthy regeneration of the gum tissue.
Alternatively, your periodontist may choose to do a gum flap surgery if necessary. For this treatment, the gum tissue is cut and flapped back to allows deep cleaning around the roots underneath your teeth. The gum tissue is then stitched back in place to heal.
Using Lasers to Treat Gum Disease
Lasers in dentistry are used to cut hard and soft tissue, whiten, desensitize teeth, manage oral lesions, and much more! Lasers aren’t going away, so the question dentists have to ask is how to best utilize them. One thing to consider is that every mouth will respond in unique ways to treatment. A treatment that works perfectly fir one patient might not work at all for someone else. There’s isn’t a “silver bullet” to get rid of oral diseases, but incorporating laser energy to inflamed oral tissues has the potential to improve outcomes related to tissue integrity, pain management, and wound healing. Dr. Ford Gatgens at Accent Smile Center in Dickson is proud to be at the leading edge of using lasers in dentistry.
To perform periodontal laser therapy, Dr. Gatgens uses a dental laser to access and remove the inflamed gum tissue from around the root of your tooth. Once the infected tissue has been removed and the root is exposed, root scaling can begin. This involves scraping off calcification and plaque that has built up below your gumline and around your root. Dr. Gatgens will then smooth the root and remove any rough spots that might attract bacteria and cause future infections. The area between the gum and the root can then regenerate during the healing process.
Accent Smile Center is the Periodontal Disease Expert in Dickson
As with any medical treatment, there are some risks to using lasers to periodontal laser therapy. One is the fact that you are a human being, and human beings are made of different types of tissues that are all highly sensitive and work in complicated ways. If your dentist uses the wrong wavelength or power level, it could cause more damage to the periodontal tissue. Some providers are also concerned that the amount of advertising hype around laser therapy might tempt some providers to use it more than they should, or to use it without the proper experience.
You don’t want to trust your smile to just anyone. Fortunately, we have an expert on hand to provide the world-class skills and service you deserve! Dr. Gatgens has knowledge and experience with lasers allows him to provide patients with the best outcomes possible in all areas of dentistry!
Dickson periodontal laser therapy is a convenient solution to many common dental problems, from cosmetic to complex. To find out more about what laser dentistry has to offer you, get in touch with our talented team to schedule a consultation at our Dickson office.