Did you know that in recent years, laser gum surgery has been widely used as a means to treat moderate to severe gum disease? Laser (light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation) is one of the latest and the most exciting technologies in dentistry. It is an extremely focused, narrow beam of light that may or may not be visible to the human eye.
Dental lasers are a part of high-end technology used at Indiadens routinely for gum treatment, oral surgeries, mole and wart removal, teeth whitening, depigmentation of gums, biostimulation, disinfection of root canals and so on. Indiadens is one of the leading centres for oral surgery & dental implants. It is one of the few centres globally to have an in-house minor OT with the state-of-the-art armamentarium used under strict sterilization protocols.
If you have perhaps been informed by your dentist that you have a periodontal (gum) disease, laser periodontal therapy may prove to be a boon in your case. Although there is a wide range of treatment options depending upon your case’s severity, laser therapy avoids the need for aggressive flap surgeries involving blades and stitches in most cases.
Let’s help you understand what periodontal disease is, how laser therapy works, and its known benefits.
PERIODONTAL (GUM) DISEASE
An infection of the bone around your teeth and their supporting tissues is known as periodontal (gum) disease. The early stages include inflammation and bleeding from gums. At this point, it is referred to as gingivitis. It can be treated by extensive teeth cleaning by an oral health professional which involves non-surgical removal of the plaque, bacteria, and tartar from the tooth at and below the gumline and its roots. It also promotes the gum tissue’s regeneration to grow back snug around the tooth. As an adjunct to this, improvement in oral hygiene by brushing twice daily, incorporating the right brushing technique, using dental floss regularly, and using antimicrobial mouthwash, are the other ways by which you can improve your gum health.
Periodontal disease, however, is an advanced stage of infection in your gums. Certain risk factors involved in the disease are:
- Poor oral hygiene
- Chronic illnesses, such as diabetes
- Certain medications
- Smoking
- Genetic susceptibility
CONVENTIONAL GUM DISEASE TREATMENT OPTIONS
In some cases, due to the severity of the infection, the standard treatment of scaling and root planning would not work at an advanced stage. Thus, your periodontist may recommend a surgical method of treating the disease. A common surgical option, known as gum flap surgery, entails a surgical cut in the gum tissue which is then pulled back to allow deep cleaning around the roots underneath. The gum tissue is then sutured back into place to heal.
Soft tissue grafts, bone grafts, guided tissue regeneration, and the application of tissue-stimulating proteins are the other surgical options for periodontal disease.
HOW DOES LASER THERAPY FOR GUMS WORK?
At Indiadens, which is the best dental clinic in Delhi NCR, we incorporate the use of dental lasers for multiple treatment modalities.
In periodontal laser therapy, a laser is used to access and remove the inflamed gum tissue from around your tooth’s root. It uses a very small laser fibre to target bacteria and infected tissue, while not affecting any healthy tissue. The plaque and tartar are subsequently removed from below and around your gum line. Next, any rough spots on your tooth above and below the gumline are smoothened out. Removing these rough spots mitigates the chance your teeth and gums will attract more bacteria and get future infections.
After laser therapy, your mouth will need some time to heal and regenerate. During this healing process, your gums would be infection-free and be able to wrap themselves back up around your tooth.
BENEFITS AND RISKS OF LASER GUM THERAPY
There are multiple advantages of using laser gum therapy over conventional surgery:
- Less bleeding, pain, and swelling because periodontal laser therapy is less invasive than regular surgery.
- Shorter recovery and healing times.
- More precision as lasers can target the diseased areas accurately.
- No stitches
Laser gum surgery may also be used for other dental procedures like gum contouring for cosmetic reasons or for restoring cavities that extend to the root surface.
The only possible complications that may occur include:
- Infection
- Scarring
- Permanent tissue colour change
Since the laser sterilizes the operating area, infection is not common. However, ensure that you give us a call immediately if you notice one of the following. These include:
- Swelling
- Oozing
- Worsening pain
- Fever
HOW MUCH DOES LASER GUM SURGERY COST?
The cost of laser gum surgery would depend on the severity of your periodontal infection and the extent of your needs. The laser may target only a single tooth or a few teeth or all the teeth. Also, the severity of the disease would determine the number of laser cycles required. It is thus important for your dentist to examine your condition thoroughly, and then quote an estimate for the treatment.
Indiadens is widely known throughout Delhi NCR for providing the best dental treatment at an affordable cost. The team of highly reputed dental doctors led by one of the most eminent oral and maxillofacial surgeons in India, Dr Ujjwal Gulati, work tirelessly to uphold the motto of this institution “Quality and affordability”.
