The proper approach to treating gum disease depends on the stage of the infection.
Treatment for minor infections might be as simple as a change in oral hygiene. This can tilt the balance in favor of your body’s natural defense mechanisms, allowing it to repel and heal the infection. We might prescribe antibiotics to help your body combat the infection.
We can also help manage gum infections with Perio Protect. Perio Protect is an at-home gum treatment that enables you to restore and maintain your periodontal health. It utilizes custom trays similar to teeth whitening trays to apply antibacterial medications directly to your gums, right where they’re needed.
Some practices might still use root scaling and planing, in which your gums are cut away from your teeth so that the roots can have all the bacteria scraped away, then the root is smoothed. This can also be effective, but it’s very painful and can take a long time to heal. Instead, we recommend LANAP laser gum disease treatment (laser-assisted new attachment procedure).
To find out which option is best for you, visit your River Edge dentist today. Call (201) 343-4044 or make an appointment online.
Benefits of LANAP Laser Gum Treatment
If you are trying to decide what type of gum treatment you want for your gum disease, consider the benefits of laser gum treatment over traditional gum therapy:
- Less discomfort
- Shorter recovery
- Preserves more gum tissue
- Less bleeding
- Laser sterilization of gum pockets
Because the laser doesn’t cut your tissues with a blade and preserves more of your gum tissue, there is less discomfort associated with laser gum treatment. Although traditional root planing and scaling are often described as among the most painful procedures in dentistry, many people undergoing the laser version experience little to no discomfort.
With less damage to your gum tissue and the laser sealing of blood vessels (cauterization), you will also see less bleeding and a shorter recovery time, allowing you to return to normal faster. And because we will remove less gum tissue, you’re less likely to need cosmetic restoration of your gums. The laser creates a surface that helps your gums bond back to your teeth, which also helps improve healing and reduce infection risk.
Laser energy is also a very powerful tool for killing bacteria. The laser energy can penetrate the bacteria-filled pockets around your teeth and effectively kill the bacteria.
How Laser Gum Treatment Works
In laser gum treatment, we start by identifying the places around your teeth that need treatment. We may use a combination of visual examination, probes to measure pocket depth, and even x-rays to find these places.
Once we identify the treatment areas, we will use the laser to improve access to the pockets around your teeth. This lets us clean out bacteria and, if necessary, work on the surfaces of the teeth that may have been damaged by gum disease.
Finally, the laser is used to perform a final cleaning in the gum pocket to ensure that all bacteria are removed. Then the gum tissue is pressed back against the tooth, where it will cling without needing stitches.
Recovery typically takes 10 days to two weeks.
Common LANAP Laser Gum Disease Treatment Questions
Is LANAP Laser Gum Disease Treatment Right for Me?
This gum disease treatment works well for most cases of gum disease. However, if your gum disease is very severe, we may need to explore other options. That’s one reason why it’s so important to visit your River Edge dentist as soon as you start experiencing the signs of gum disease.
Is LANAP Laser Gum Disease Treatment Expensive?
LANAP costs about the same as traditional gum disease surgery. But it may save you money in recovery since it’s much quicker.
Does Insurance cover LANAP Laser Gum Disease Treatment?
Most insurances cover LANAP Laser Gum Disease Treatment. However, it’s always best to check with your insurance provider before making any assumptions.
Is LANAP Laser Gum Disease Treatment Safe?
Yes! LANAP Laser Gum Disease Treatment is quite safe. The laser cauterizes the gum tissue, so there is little room for infection as there would be with root scaling and planning.
If you think you may need laser gum treatment, please call (201) 343-4044 or email us for an appointment at River Edge Dental in New Jersey, Center for General & Cosmetic Dentistry.
