What is Laser Periodontal Therapy?
How does it work?
Does it hurt?
How long does it take?
Why is Laser Periodontal Therapy Better?
Further Information
What is Laser Periodontal Therapy (see ABC News Video)?
Laser Periodontal Therapy™ is a laser based technique for the treatment of periodontal disease. Fear of periodontal treatment vanishes when patients find out no scalpel or sutures will be used.
Our office is one of the first in the area to offer Laser Periodontal Therapy™ for the treatment of gingivitis and/or periodontitis. Following are commonly asked questions about this technology.
How does it work (see the video)?
Tartar, associated with inflamed and bleeding gums, is removed from the root surface of the tooth using an ultrasonic scaler and small instruments.
Then, a small amount of light energy from a laser is directed through a tiny fiber, which is gently placed between the gum and tooth. This light energy removes a tiny amount of diseased tissue and aids in reducing the bacteria associated with the disease. After the area is thoroughly cleaned, the body can heal the area naturally.
A: Perio probe indicates excessive pocket depth.
B: Laser light removes bacteria and diseased tissue.
C: Ultrasonic scaler and special hand instruments are used to remove root surface tarter.
D: Laser finishes cleaning pocket and aids in sealing the pocket closed so new germs cannot enter.
E: Healing of gums to clean root surface occurs.
F: Bite trauma is adjusted.
G: Healing occurs.
Although the procedure itself can be virtually painless, we may anesthetize the area for the patient’s comfort. In this way we can precisely direct the laser for treatment. Post-procedure discomfort is typically minimal and of short duration.
Initial treatment is focused on scaling and the use of small instruments to remove the tartar. Then, the laser portion of the treatment is performed and normally only takes a few minutes. Depending on the severity of the patient’s periodontal disease, treatment may be accomplished in one office visit or in multiple visits. The estimated treatment time is reviewed with patients when we discuss their treatment plan.
Why is Laser Periodontal Therapy Better?
- Laser Periodontal Therapy is about as easy as erasing a blackboard — there’s no cutting and no suturing.
- There's much less discomfort with Laser Periodontal Therapy than with standard surgery -- during and after the procedure.
- It takes about the same time as traditional surgery, two 2-hour visits to the dentist and two follow up visits. Traditional surgery requires subsequent visits for suture removal and additional check-ups.
- Laser Therapy can give similar results, sometime even longer lasting results. In fact, some reports indicate that 98% of Laser Therapy treated patients remain stable after five years, while only 5% reportedly remain stable after surgery.
- Your dentist will probably recommend a soft diet for a day or two, and possibly up to a week. Common sense should prevail, but in most cases, patients feel good enough to eat anything they want right after the procedure.
- Following traditional surgery, recovery can take between to 1-2 weeks during which patients can experience considerable pain and swelling, where they may be restricted to liquid or soft diets. While similar diets MAY be recommended in the short term for Laser Periodontal Therapy, pain and swelling are typically absent.
- There's less than a 24 hour recovery period, so you won't lose time from work.
- Laser Periodontal Therapy is safe for patients with health concerns such as diabetes, HIV, hemophilia, or those taking medications such as Coumadin or Cyclosporin.
For further information please visit the Millennium Dental Technologies site