In recent years, cutting-edge dental groups have started utilizing advanced technology to treat common oral health issues. One revolutionary dental procedure that provides a more comfortable and effective treatment is laser gum therapy for gum disease.
Laser gum therapy is offered by the top dentists in San Jose and is renowned as a technology-backed option for treating periodontal (or gum) disease without harming healthy gum tissue.
Since this technology is relatively new, many patients have questions for their San Jose dentist about the laser gum therapy procedure. Is laser therapy for gum disease comfortable? Is laser therapy a better option than older gum disease treatments? Most importantly, does laser gum therapy work for gum disease?
Pannu Dental Group is your best resource for answering all these questions and more. We are happy to discuss laser gum therapy and all of the advanced treatments we offer to improve your oral health – and your smile – from the inside out.
In the meantime, here is what you need to know about laser gum therapy and how it can be a life-changing treatment for patients who suffer from periodontal disease.
What is Laser Gum Therapy?
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved the use of advanced laser technology for periodontic procedures, endodontic procedures, oral surgery, and tooth whitening (among other treatments), and laser gum therapy is just one of these common laser applications.
Laser gum therapy uses an advanced and highly accurate laser to target and eliminate the infected gum tissue with periodontal disease. At the same time, it avoids contact with the surrounding healthy gum tissue. During the process, the laser can treat all the symptoms of gum disease, restoring the health of the gums and the connecting jawbone.
How Does Laser Gum Therapy Differ from Traditional Gum Surgery?
Traditional gum surgery involves cutting out unhealthy gum tissue and suturing the gums, leading to a lengthy recovery time and potentially multiple follow-up visits. On the other hand, laser gum therapy is minimally invasive, causing less pain, bleeding gums, and post-surgery issues and requiring minimal or even no recovery time after the procedure is complete.
How Does Laser Therapy for Gum Disease Work?
The process for laser gum therapy typically adheres to the following steps.
- Diagnosis and assessment – First, schedule a consultation with your San Jose dentist, where your gum disease specialist will determine if you are a good candidate for laser gum therapy. In general, candidates have signs of moderate to severe gum disease, such as bleeding or swollen gums, loose teeth, deep gum pockets and/or receding gumlines, bone loss, or chronic bad breath.
- Preparation – Before the treatment, your oral surgeon will clean and numb the gums to ensure an effective and pain-free procedure.
- Laser treatment – Once the gums have been prepared and a local anesthetic has been applied, your oral surgeon will target and remove the infected tissue with a guided laser while preserving healthy gum tissue.
- Healing process – With no cuts, stitches, or any impact on the surrounding gums, you should expect to feel just fine soon after your dentist visit, and laser gum therapy is complete.
Pros and Cons of Laser Gum Therapy
Laser gum therapy has many benefits, but it may not be the right choice for every patient.
Your San Jose dentist will help determine if laser gum therapy is the best option for your unique oral health needs. However, here is a round-up of the advantages and possible disadvantages of laser gum therapy.
Pros of Laser Gum Therapy
- Very effective – Laser gum therapy can target and eliminate the bacteria that cause gum disease. Because of the laser’s power and precision, it can be much more effective for treating gum disease than traditional surgery.
- Less invasive– With laser gum therapy, there is minimal or no cutting of the gum tissue, and likely, no stitches are required after the treatment is complete. (Generally, there is also less time spent in the dentist’s chair, which relieves patients who are nervous about going to the dentist’s office.)
- Precision – Laser gum therapy uses a tiny laser to conduct the procedure, which means that your oral surgeon can precisely target the infected gum tissue without contacting surrounding healthy gum tissue.
- Less risk of post-treatment problems – Because the laser sterilizes the treatment area and is much more precise than traditional surgery options, there is less risk of a post-treatment infection or other surgery-related oral health issues.
- Faster recovery time – Laser gum therapy has a reduced recovery time than older gum therapy treatments, with minimal pain and swelling after the procedure is complete.
- Better gum health – Laser gum therapy doesn’t just treat existing moderate to severe gum disease; it can also promote the regeneration of gum tissue, leading to better gum health in the long term.
Cons of Laser Gum Therapy
- Not practical for very severe cases – Laser gum therapy may not be effective for patients with extensive tissue damage due to gum disease.
- Potential cost – Laser gum therapy may be more expensive than traditional oral surgery. However, your San Jose dentist will explain the costs and how insurance may play a role before the procedure and will ensure the treatment works within your budget.
- Requires a skillful operator – Not all dentists in the San Jose area and beyond have access to the technology and expertise required to perform laser gum therapy. Ask if your San Jose dentist offers this advanced option to ensure a better, more effective gum disease treatment.
Discover Pannu Dental Group for the Benefits and Effectiveness of Laser Gum Therapy
Pannu Dental Group is one of the few San Jose dentists that offers advanced laser gum therapy. We are committed to researching and utilizing the most effective, cutting-edge, and technology-backed treatments that will allow us to provide better care for our patients.
Connect with us today to schedule a consultation about laser gum therapy, or any of the many treatments we provide to improve your oral health. With a caring and experienced San Jose dentist like Pannu Dental Group guiding the way, you can ensure a better and more effective way to care for your oral health.
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Dr. Dalvir S. Pannu has been a practicing dentist since 1995. In 1996 he opened his first dental practice in India, where he gained invaluable experience and acumen. In October of 1997 he was invited by the American Dental Association (ADA) to present the table clinic on Endodontics, at their annual session held in Washington, D.C. At this time he fell in love with the United States and became passionate about practicing dentistry in California. He became particularly enamored of the San Francisco Bay area, and soon took up residence and work here.