Lasers bring an exciting twist to various fields—rock concerts, science fiction films, and even dentistry. They’re not just cool; lasers are revolutionizing dental care, particularly in treating gum disease with lasers!
OK, OK, maybe diode lasers aren’t as cool to you as they are to us. But we do know this, if you or someone you love develops gum disease, you will be glad that we have our lasers at Shorewood Family Dental Care.
Lasers are a vital tool used to improve the oral care of the patients visiting our dentist office Shorewood, IL.
Half of all Americans will have some stage of gum disease in their lifetime. Most are not aware that gingivitis (commonly recognized by puffy or red gums) is the label used to define the earliest stage of gum disease. When left untreated, this easily treatable condition will progress into severe periodontal disease and could even lead to cancer, sometimes in other places in the body. If you think you may have gum disease, please call us at 815-725-5991 or contact us online.
We’ll be ready to zap your infection (if needed) so your mouth can be as healthy as it should be.
The Old Way of Treating Gum Disease
Periodontal Disease is the leading cause of tooth loss in the United States. Gum disease through all stages up to severe periodontal disease has been linked to diabetes, heart disease, and other systemic health problems as well.
Do everything that you can to prevent it. Brush, floss, and visit our dentist office in Shorewood, IL, for professional dental cleanings, exams, and FREE oral cancer screenings.
Luckily, for the many that will develop gum disease, if detected in the early stages of gingivitis, this mild form of gum disease can often be treated in-office with a few simple laser treatments. These procedures, while more involved than a routine cleaning, will utilize lasers and techniques that will treat gum disease with ease.
Before lasers, gum disease was often treated with oral surgery. That meant cutting into your gums with a scalpel and removing more gum tissue than necessary to make sure the infection was removed. Bleeding, stitches, and long recoveries were the only promise with these primitive procedures.
The Dental Laser Difference
Dental lasers provide us with a more efficient way to remove infection from the tissue in your mouth.
Where the scalpel cuts into your gums, the laser hones in on the infection and eliminates just the “bad stuff” from the body. As a result, we are able to preserve more of your gums.
Since we are not slicing into your gums, you bleed much less with a laser treatment and eliminate the need for stitches. As a laser passes across the tissue looking for infection, it is also sealing the areas as it treats them.
Lasers promote healing. Recovery is almost immediate because the laser heals as it goes and will also promote the production of healthy tissue in the process. The worst part of recovery is tender gums for a day or two and possible need for dental antibiotics for a week. Not a big deal compared to the oral surgery that was once required.
We get that dental lasers probably aren’t as exciting as rock show laser or space battle lasers. Nevertheless, dental lasers do offer a practical benefit for our patients.
And for our dentists, that is pretty cool.
Should You Seek Gum Disease Treatment?
It’s good to learn some of the signs and causes of gum disease. We know what to look for when you visit our office, but a lot can happen between routine cleanings. That’s why we encourage to keep an eye out for a few things.
We’ll start with gingivitis. These are its symptoms:
- Bleeding gums.
- Reddened gums.
- Swollen gums.
Healthy gums normally look pink, feel firm to the touch, and don’t bleed when you brush and floss your teeth. Many times, you can reverse gingivitis by improving your oral hygiene routine and with a visit to Shorewood Family Dental Care.
You may have periodontitis if you notice these problems:
- Gums that bleed even when you aren’t brushing or flossing.
- Sore or tender gums.
- Constant bad breath.
- Constant bad taste in your mouth.
- Loose teeth or changes in your bite.
This requires professional help. Contact us as soon as possible if you notice those symptoms.
Don’t Delay If You Think You May Have Gum Disease
We want to reiterate that treating gum disease with lasers early is more effective and easier for you as a patient. The team at our dentist office in Shorewood, IL, is ready to act if you need help.
All you have to do is make an appointment online or by calling 815-725-5991.
