February 15, 2018

Have your gums recently started to bleed when you floss or brush? Have you noticed a foul taste in your mouth that doesn’t seem to go away? If so, you may have gum disease. If left untreated, your condition could continue to worsen. Advanced periodontal disease can lead to significant oral pain and tooth loss. Research links periodontal disease to dangerous diseases throughout the body, including some types of cancer, diabetes, and heart disease. Fortunately, there are things you can do to keep periodontal disease from getting worse, including receiving laser gum treatment from a skilled periodontist.

What Is Laser Gum Surgery?

During laser gum treatment, a specialized laser is used to remove infected gum tissue from the mouth. Laser therapy also involves root scaling, which is a process that cleans the tooth roots by scraping calculus and plaque off them. During this process, any rough spots in the gum pockets are smoothed out to prevent bacteria growth in the area and minimize the likelihood of future infections. After treatment, the affected root and gum tissue regenerate during the recovery process.

No general anesthetic is needed for most laser gum treatments, although it can certainly be supplied as requested by the patient. Benefits of laser gum therapy include improved treatment accuracy, reduced swelling and pain, and shorter recovery times. Wondering whether you need treatment at all? The most common signs of periodontal disease:

  • Chronic bad breath
  • Bright red gums
  • Bleeding during flossing or brushing
  • Tender, inflamed gum tissue
  • Gum recession
  • Toothache
  • Tooth loss

If you experience any of these symptoms, it’s important to seek treatment right away. Advanced gum disease can’t be cured, but it can be managed. The very first stage of gum disease (gingivitis) can be reversed if caught and treated immediately.

Schedule a Consultation

If you think you may have gum disease and would like to learn more about laser gum treatment, we encourage you to schedule a consultation with periodontist Dr. Gregory Toback. Appointments can be arranged by calling Shoreline Periodontics and Dental Implants in Westerly, RI.

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