Periodontal (Gum) Disease Therapy

It is not a given that we must lose teeth as we age. If we maintain good oral hygiene and have regular professional cleanings and oral examinations, chances are we can keep our natural teeth for life. That involves not only caring for the teeth themselves, but also the structures that surround them: the gums and tooth-supporting bone.

Approximately 75-80% of adults are affected with gum disease (aka: periodontal disease). Periodontal Disease is a bacterial infection in the pockets and gum tissue around teeth. The cause for periodontal disease is from the bacteria in your mouth. Periodontal disease is associated with the following diseases: heart disease, diabetes, pulmonary disease, low birth weight and premature delivery, osteoporosis, Alzheimer’s, pancreatic cancer, obesity, still birth and hypertension. That is why dental professionals are always on the lookout for early signs that patients may not notice. When signs of trouble become apparent, periodontal therapy may be suggested.

Periodontal therapy can take various forms, but the goal is always to restore diseased tissues to health. Gum (periodontal) disease can spread from the gums to the bone that supports the teeth, and may even cause tooth loss in the most severe cases. There are very effective therapies to combat this, ranging from scalings (deep cleanings) that remove plaque and calculus (tartar) from beneath the gum line, to surgical repair of lost gum and bone tissue.

Preventative – Laser Bacterial Reduction

Laser dentistry targets the bacteria to help prevent the above diseases.  Diode Lasers are now being used safely, and comfortably to decontaminate the gum tissue and pockets around the teeth prior to your dental cleaning as preventive care. The laser emits concentrated light energy, which vaporizes unhealthy bacteria. This procedure is called Laser Bacterial Reduction (LBR).  The major benefits of LBR are:

• TO REDUCE OR ELIMINATE BACTEREMIA – During the normal dental cleaning process and during the normal brushing and flossing, most patients will have some areas that may bleed. This allows bacteria that are present in all of our mouths to flood into the bloodstream and sometimes settle in weakened areas of our body. As stated above, research shows that these bacteria that cause periodontal disease have now been linked to a growing number of other diseases. Using the laser prior to your dental cleaning allows us to remove the bacteria and reduce the bacterial flow into your bloodstream.
• TO PREVENT CROSS CONTAMINATION – Infections in one area of your mouth can be transferred to other areas. Decontamination minimizes the chance that we may inadvertently pick up bacterial infection in one area of your mouth and move it to others.
• TO KILL PERIODONTAL DISEASE BACTERIA – And stop their infections before they cause destruction or loss of attachment around your teeth.

Our Laser Bacterial Reduction is painless and normally takes about 5-6 minutes for the entire mouth. We highly recommend that you take advantage of this service as part of your cleaning appointment.

Some dental insurance does not assist with payment for LBR. Unfortunately, insurance coverage is almost always behind the leading edge in high tech health care.  Our staff can help you navigate how much your out of pocket costs will be for this service.

Your Role in Periodontal Health

Dental plaque is a major cause of periodontal disease, so it’s essential to remove it every day with effective brushing and flossing. This doesn’t mean scrubbing, which can actually cause your gums to recede. Proper techniques can be demonstrated for you, if you have any questions.

Of course, there are some areas of the mouth that a toothbrush and floss just can’t reach, which is why it’s so important to have regular professional cleanings at the dental office. Your regular dental exam is also a time when early signs of gum disease can be detected — before they become apparent even to you.

Eating a nutritious diet low in sugar, and staying away from tobacco in all forms, will also increase your periodontal health — and your chances of keeping your teeth for life.