According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, gum disease is the most prevalent disease in the world today. Many researchers suspect that gum disease may also be directly linked to heart disease and strokes. Unfortunately, it is perhaps the least diagnosed and treated of all diseases of comparable magnitude. The biggest reason for this may be that it is a somewhat silent disease, and pain and discomfort only occur in its latter stages. By that time, significant bone loss has already occurred.
Gum disease is caused by specific strains of bacteria. There are special ways that a patient can be tested for these bacteria in the dental office. New technology allows us to test for them before damage occurs. Genetics are also another predisposing factor. Genetic testing is available, yet has not been proven to be particularly advantageous.
Facing Reality
So, let’s say you have been diagnosed with gum disease. How does that make you feel? Concerned, in disbelief, frustrated? Many of my patients express these feelings. “How could this happen?” they ask. They brush and floss. In fact, in some case the reason they don’t regularly visit the dentist is because they don’t seem to have any problems.
Again, gum disease is caused by a bacterial infection. Those affected will require professional assistance to diagnose and treat the disease, and to maintain their health. Currently, gum disease is not curable, but it is controllable. Because of the growth rate of the bacteria involved, those diagnosed with the disease need to see their dentist every 90 days.
Treatment
Treatment for gum disease ranges from quite simple to quite extensive. The initial treatment involves deep cleaning of gum pockets and perhaps even immune system enhancement with nutraceuticals (nutritional supplements) dispensed by the practitioner. These have no side effects and are not costly. Advanced treatment can include bone and soft tissue grafting, conventional flap surgery, extractions, and laser therapy.
The Benefits of Laser Therapy
I personally have used several of these treatment methods mentioned above on my patients. Each method has its benefits and potential risks as well as potential outcomes. Of these treatment methods, my preference is laser therapy. Laser therapy is very selective, affecting only specific tissues; it leaves healthy gum tissue untouched. It is also specific in the depth at which it works. Other benefits of laser treatment include the following:
Boasts a 99.9% kill rate of bacteria The wavelength used is not absorbed in bone or tooth structure Does not require cutting with a surgical knife Controls all bleeding, and cauterizes nerve endings, Requires little to no pain medications after treatment (usually nothing stronger than ibuprofen). Typically, patients can return to work the next day and notice remarkable changes in the gum tissues in the few days that follow.
The objective in treating gum disease is to reduce the amount of bacteria present so that the body can do what it does best — heal. Once this is accomplished, and so long as the bacteria count is controlled to keep it at a reasonable level, a person’s natural defenses are strong enough to protect the body.
So you may be asking yourself why I am so supportive of laser therapy. Well, yes, I do use it, and have for several years, and I have seen the results. But most importantly, I too am a periodontal patient, and can speak from personal experience.
The PerioLase® from Millennium Dental Technologies is the only laser designed especially for LASER PERIODONTAL THERAPYTM. A powerful 6 watt FR (Free Running) Nd:YAG (Neodymium: Yttrium Aluminum Garnet) laser with the unique features necessary to perform. LASER PERIODONTAL THERAPYTM and all other soft tissue procedures. The PerioLase® is the "Swiss Army Knife" of lasers -- easy to use, with the versatility to help you advance your dentistry -- and your practice -- with a full complement of new soft tissue laser treatment options. The founding clinicians of Millennium Dental Technologies, Robert H. Gregg, II, D.D.S. and Delwin K. McCarthy, D.D.S., combined their talents and expertise to perfect a powerful laser with the unique features and capabilities needed to quickly and effectively perform LASER PERIODONTAL THERAPY as well as all other soft tissue laser procedures.
Designed to optimize the performance of LPT, the PerioLase® has the power and versatility to perform a wide range of soft and hard tissue laser procedures, allowing you to provide a full complement of new soft and hard tissue laser treatment options for your patients.
This is proven technology, and it's manufactured by a company you can rely on. The PerioLase® is the latest generation of dentistry's first pulsed Nd:YAG laser and the world's most widely used dental laser platform. It's the first laser in dentistry to incorporate DIGITAL technology for enhanced performance and reliability. LPTTM is about as easy as erasing a blackboard — there’s no cutting and no suturing.
There's much less discomfort with LASER PERIODONTAL THERAPYTM than with standard surgery -- during and after the procedure.
It takes less time than traditional surgery. All it takes is two 2-hour visits to the dentist and two follow up visits. Traditional surgery requires four sessions of about one hour each, with subsequent visits for suture removal and additional check-ups.
LPTTM gives better, longer-lasting results. In fact, 98% of LPTTM treated patients remain stable after five years, while only 5% reportedly remain stable after surgery. Your dentist will probably recommend a soft diet for a day or two, and common sense should prevail, but in most cases, patients feel good enough to eat anything they want right after the procedure.
Following traditional surgery, recovery can take between to 2-4 weeks during which patients can experience considerable pain and swelling, where they may be restricted to liquid or soft diets. There's less than 24 hour recovery period, so you won't lose time from work. LASER PERIODONTAL THERAPYTM is safe for patients with health concerns such as diabetes, HIV, hemophilia, or those taking medications such as Coumadin or Cyclosporin.
