Periodontal Laser Therapy: 5 Reasons It’s A Cutting-Edge Solution for Gum Disease

Protect your mouth from gum disease.

It’s not something you want to hear from the dentist—you have gum disease. It’s an especially frustrating diagnosis when you know you’ve done everything you can to prevent this very thing from happening. You brush your teeth twice a day. You use a soft-bristled toothbrush. Plus, you floss, every single day. 

So we get it if you are frustrated. And we know you have a lot of questions. But the good news is that gum disease is treatable. Plus, with periodontal laser therapy, it’s easier and more comfortable than ever. 

What is gum disease?

As we suggested above, now that you have received the dental diagnosis of gum disease, you have questions and questions. And probably your first one is—just what exactly is gum disease, anyway? Sure, you know the symptoms—swollen gums, bad breath, gums that bleed easily during brushing or flossing, and sometimes a receding gum line. 

But at its core, gum disease, or periodontal disease, occurs when the tissues that keep your teeth firmly in place become infected. Poor brushing and flossing habits often allow plaque—a sticky film of bacteria—to build up on the teeth and then harden.

In the earliest stage, known as gingivitis, the gums become red, swollen, and can bleed easily. At this point, the disease is still reversible and can usually be eliminated by a professional cleaning at your dentist’s office, followed by daily brushing and flossing.

Advanced gum disease, called periodontitis, affects the bones that support your teeth and is not reversible. It can lead to gums pulling away from the teeth, forming infected spaces. This can cause tooth loss if not treated timely.

That’s why early detection and treatment are so important. Catching gum disease in its early stages can prevent it from advancing and save your teeth and gums from severe damage. The earlier you seek treatment, the better your chances of reversing damage and improving your oral health.

Five Reasons Periodontal Laser Therapy Stands Out 

Gum disease is not something you want to leave untreated. As we suggested, you could end up with tooth loss and bad breath. But if that isn’t bad enough, untreated gum disease is also linked with heart disease, dementia, diabetes, and more.

Thankfully, laser gum therapy makes treating gum disease easier than ever. Your Virginia Beach dentist’s office is highly skilled in periodontal laser therapy. Here are five reasons why this is a great option to help you restore the health of your gums.

  1. Minimally invasive: Unlike traditional surgery that involves cutting and stitches, laser therapy uses light energy to target and remove only the diseased tissue. This means less trauma to your gums and surrounding areas, making the procedure minimally invasive with typically less swelling and bleeding.
  2. Reduced discomfort and pain: Many patients feel minimal discomfort during and after laser therapy. The precision of the laser allows for gentle treatment of the gum tissue, which can significantly reduce pain compared to traditional surgical methods.
  3. Faster healing and recovery times: The laser’s ability to target only affected areas causes less damage to healthy tissue, which promotes faster healing. Most patients can resume their normal activities the same or the next day.
  4. Improved accuracy and effectiveness: Laser therapy provides a high level of accuracy, allowing your dentist to target and treat the diseased areas precisely. This improves the effectiveness of the treatment.
  5. Lower risk of infection: The laser sterilizes the treatment area as it works, greatly reducing the risk of infection. This is a significant advantage over traditional methods, where the risk of infection is higher due to the invasive nature of the surgery.

Preventing Gum Disease

For most patients, the process of preventing gum disease is shared by you and your general dentist at your local family dental clinic. At King Dental, we collaborate with you and our team to help you maintain optimal oral health. 

But you can do things outside the dental office, too. Here are some tips for maintaining good oral hygiene to prevent gum disease:

  • Brush twice a day: Use fluoride toothpaste and a soft-bristled toothbrush to gently brush your teeth for two minutes, twice a day. This helps remove plaque that can lead to gum disease.
  • Floss daily: Flossing daily helps remove food particles and plaque between teeth and under the gumline, areas your toothbrush can’t reach.
  • Use mouthwash: An antibacterial mouthwash can help reduce bacteria that cause plaque and gum disease.
  • Eat a balanced diet: Eating a diet low in sugar and high in fruits, vegetables, and fiber supports healthy gums and prevents gum disease.
  • Avoid smoking: Smoking is one of the most significant risk factors for the development of gum disease. Quitting can help reduce your risk. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggests that you are twice at risk of developing gum disease if you smoke or use tobacco products.

Regular dental checkups play a super important role in the early detection and prevention of gum disease. During these visits, your general dentist at King Dental can thoroughly clean to remove plaque and tartar that you might miss during regular brushing and flossing. These appointments also allow us to monitor your oral health and catch potential problems early, often before they become more serious. 

Request an appointment with King Dental, your Virginia Beach dental office.

If you are overdue for a dentist trip or ready to get started on laser gum surgery to treat your gum disease, request an appointment with King Dental. We look forward to helping you keep your gums and smile, healthy and happy. 

King Dental