Gum Disease – Advanced Treatment with LANAP® Laser Therapy

Gum disease occurs when harmful bacteria are allowed to stay in the mouth, settling in between teeth and slowing causing problems before our eyes. When we talk about gum disease, we usually think about poor oral hygiene as the cause. While this is the most common cause, there are a few other factors that can lead to gum disease, including hormone changes (particularly during pregnancy and menopause), major illness, certain medications, and smoking.

Gum disease as a whole is easily treated when caught early. With regular preventative dental maintenance and a solid home routine of good oral hygiene, gum disease will likely never be an issue. This is good news, especially considering how important to the rest of your body good dental hygiene really is. For more on the impact of your oral health on the rest of your body, visit (main page link).

Classifying Gum Disease

When we talk about gum disease, we generally subdivide it into two classifications: gingivitis and periodontitis. The biological makeup of gum disease is the same, regardless of the type. The distinction is only in terms of severity. In terms of treatment, prevention is best.

Treating Gingivitis

If you do have early signs of gingivitis, treatment is usually in the form of a proper professional cleaning, review on good home hygiene practices, and possibly a mouthwash that is designed to help keep the bacteria at bay. In most cases, once the gingivitis is cleared up, patients can continue to keep this under control on their own.

Treating Periodontitis

Once a patient has progressed to the point of periodontitis, the first step of treatment is usually a series of deep cleanings, or scaling and root planing (SRPs). Here, we go deeper under the gum line, between the gums and individual teeth, to scrape out any bacteria. We call it “root planing” because we are actually working on the surface of the root and removing the build-up. Depending on the specific case, SRP treatment may be done all at once or in stages based on the severity of the periodontitis and scheduling constraints.

Gingival Flap Surgery

If the SRP proves to not be enough to regain control over the periodontitis, the next option is gingival flap surgery. This procedure is more invasive, but it will allow us to completely remove the infection. With the flap surgery, incisions are made to isolate the affected gum tissue, and the gums are separated from the bone so they can be folded up, exposing the tooth structure and pockets of infection. With the area exposed, we can clean the area, check for irregularities in the bone structure, and then suture the gum flap back in place so it can heal. For more detail on this procedure and its limitations, click here (link to Periodontitis Traditional page).

LANAP® Laser Treatment

Technological advancements have given us another option to treat advanced periodontal disease. With the LANAP® laser treatment, we can avoid traditional incisions, sutures, and discomfort that comes with gingival flap surgery. LANAP® treatment is also more widely accepted, since it does not interact with medications, it can be used on patients who are on blood thinners, and it has an easier and faster healing time. For more information on LANAP® and what it can do, click here.