What is Laser Gum Treatment?
 
Laser treatment is an advanced technique for your doctor to treat periodontal (gum) disease and save many teeth that were previously considered hopeless. A laser light is used to gently remove harmful bacteria and diseased tissue from the gum pocket. This allows the body to heal naturally so that the gum pockets improve and the teeth become more stable. The laser is a wonderful tool that will help many patients bring themselves to a more healthy state.
 
To view a "Video Animation of Laser Periodontic Therapy", click here.
 
Dramatic Patient Benefits
 

Dramatically less traumatic yet highly effective alternative to cut and sew     gum surgery.

No cutting of the gum tissue with a scalpel and no stitches means easy     recovery with minimal bleeding.

Preserves gum tissue instead of cutting it away.

Reduces root exposure and sensitivity.

Reduces infection.

Reasonable expense.
 
Who Is A Candidate For This Therapy?
 
First it is helpful to know who is not a candidate for Laser Gum Treatment. Patients who have healthy gums do not need this treatment. Also, people with superficial gingivitis do not need this form of therapy. Superficial gingivitis patients have red swollen gums but have gum pockets less than 5mm. These patients are classified as Class 1. All other periodontal patients are Class II, Class Ill, or Class IV .All these people have gum pockets 5mm or greater, and the higher classes of gum disease correspond to deeper gum pockets, and more loss of bone support to the teeth. All classes of gum disease greater than Class I are candidates for Laser Gum Treatment
 
Laser Periodontal Therapy Steps
 

 
A) Perio probe, indicates excessive pocket depth.
B) Laser radiation. vaporizes bacteria, diseased tissue, pathologic proteins,     and alerts the practitioner to the presence, of tartar.
C) Ultrasonic scaler and special hand instruments used to remove root surface     accretions.
D) Laser finishes debriding pocket and aids in coagulation.
E) Occlusal trauma adjusted with high speed handpiece and diamond bur.
F) Reattachment of rete pegs to clean, root surface, with a stable fibrin clot at     the gingival crest to create a "closed system"