Our dentists and team are skilled in using laser assisted therapy with the PerioLase machine at DeMercy Dental. This laser allows us to do many things with not only your oral health but much more. Indications for use include:
- Cold sores/canker sores
- TMJ issues (jaw)
- Gum disease
- Large amounts of buildup
- Painless injections
- Increased recovery from surgery
- Sensitive teeth
LANAP: Laser Periodontal Therapy Program
What is Gum Disease?
Gum disease begins when a film called plaque accumulates on the teeth. Certain strains of bacteria that live in this plaque damage gum tissue and bone. Your body tries to fight this infection with an inflammatory assault, sending white blood cells to the area to destroy the bacteria. This inflammation causes the tissue to bleed easily when you brush or floss. This stage of the condition is called gingivitis.
If the infection and inflammation persist, what results is a chronic inflammatory condition in which the gums and bone around the teeth are slowly destroyed, many times with no awareness or symptoms. At this stage is called periodontitis.
The biggest risk factors are ineffective home care, poor nutrition and smoking. Periodontitis has been linked to an increased risk for heart disease, diabetes, stroke and other serious medical conditions. In short, healthy gums are the gateway to a healthier body.
Options and Alternatives
Gingivitis can be reversed with regular professional cleanings and excellent home care. It is also important to eat healthy foods such as fresh fruits vegetables. These types of foods have important anti-oxidants and phytonutrients your body needs to remain healthy.
Once your condition has progressed to periodontitis, surgical intervention is often necessary to eliminate the deep pockets which develop between the teeth and gums. If these pockets persist, they allow bacteria to organize even more colonies and this often leads to tooth loss.
Traditional gum surgery involves cutting away some of the gum tissue, and reshaping the bone underneath. LANAP is a less invasive technique using a specialized laser to destroy the bacteria which cause the disease, and alter the tissue so that it has the opportunity to heal. The use of the laser preserves more tissue than traditional scalpel surgery, and results in a faster and less painful recovery.
Your Surgical Visits:
Usually, we treat one half of the mouth at a time. The surgical visits are ideally made on to two weeks apart, and take about two to three hours each on average.
The mouth is numbed, just like if you were having a filling or crown done. The pockets are then measured while you are numb, so that more accurate measurements can be made without causing discomfort.
A first pass is made with the laser, removing the infected pocket lining and allowing better visualization of the roots of the teeth. Then the teeth are cleaned very thoroughly using ultrasonic instruments, which have tips that vibrate very quickly, loosening up any deposits on the teeth and flushing them away with an irrigating solution.
A second pass is made with the laser, disinfecting the pockets and sealing them up through the formation of a stable blood clot. The bite is then adjusted to minimize destructive, uneven biting forces on the teeth.
The First Few Days
Most people experience some mild soreness of the treated areas for the first few days. The tissue will appear discolored around the teeth, similar to what a scab looks like when you get it wet. It is very important NOT to brush or pick this away, as this fibrin barrier is what allows the gums underneath to get a head start creating a new attachment to the teeth. Your bite will feel different, as if the teeth do not touch together as heavily on the treated side. This can feel imbalanced at first, but the teeth will quickly adapt. After both sides have been treated, and as further refinements are made, your bite should feel stronger and more stable than ever, and more comfortable.
Continuing Follow-Up Care
As the gums heal, the teeth will shift, and your bite will need to be adjusted several times over the first few weeks, even for the first year and beyond. Although it seems counter-intuitive, inadequate adjustment is what is usually responsible for soreness or sensitivity following LANAP.
Three to six weeks after your surgery, impressions will be made of your teeth, and a bite guard will be fabricated to stabilize and immobilize the teeth while you sleep. It is important to wear these night splints, as we humans have a tendency to periodically clench our teeth and jaws during sleep. This clenching can produce extremely damaging forces which can delay or prevent healing. Professional Cleaning is recommended every three months for the first year, and re-evaluation of your condition will be done after the twelve month visit. Most people with gum disease remain at risk for the rest of their lives and would benefit from having their teeth cleaned every three months indefinitely.
Call 770-641-8010 to schedule your visit with Dr. Jeff DeMercy or Dr. Amanda Kossick to discuss your options for PerioLase in Roswell, Georgia.