Laser therapies have brought about a big change in several industries and dental care is not an exception. Though laser periodontal therapy is still considered to be in its nascent stage and it is still not considered as a well-proved treatment procedure by the AAP or American Academy of Periodontology, yet it is offering promising results for all those patients who are eligible.
Gum diseases or periodontal diseases are infection of all those supporting tissues and bones which work to hold your teeth in the right place. This condition is seen to be common in people who are in their 30s and 40s, as per the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NICDR). Gum diseases are usually caused by smoking, poor oral hygiene, chronic illnesses, few medications and genetic susceptibility. You may take a look at https://www.drscharf.com/ to know more on how Dr. Scharf treats periodontal diseases and dental implants.
Laser therapy – How does it work?
In case of a periodontal laser therapy, the dental professional uses a dental laser to remove the gum tissue which has been inflamed around the root of a specific tooth. As soon as the infected tissue is eliminated and the root of the tooth is exposed, the root scaling starts off. This includes scraping the plaque and calculus which is built below the line of the gum and around the root. Then your dentist will smoothen the root with different instruments to eliminate the rough spots which may attract bacteria and lead to future infections. The area around the root of the tooth and gum will regenerate during the process of healing.
Knowing the risks of benefits of this process
As per the Academy of General Dentistry, there are enough benefits of using the laser therapy for doing away with gum diseases.
- You don’t need any kind of general anesthesia as is often needed with other forms of dental surgery.
- Lasers can often target the diseased areas accurately and perfectly.
- Swelling, pain and bleeding are limited as periodontal laser therapy is much less invasive than any other regular surgery.
- Healing and recovery times are extremely short.
Nevertheless, there are some medical authorities which don’t support the practice of the laser therapy. As per the AAP, there is not enough evidence of whether or not the laser’s wavelength is in any way better than the conventional dental treatments. There are definitely some risks related to periodontal therapy. In case your dental professional uses a laser wavelength which is inappropriate, it could lead to further damage to the periodontal tissue. There is also a great concern among the providers that the hype of advertising is making this therapy more popular than it should have been.
So, if you’re suffering from some kind of periodontal or gum disease, make sure you get it treated as soon as possible. Talk to your dental professional and undergo a laser therapy if he advises you to do the same.