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Lynn Dental Care Periodontal Disease Treatment Alternatives
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PerioLase: Digital Technology versus Traditional Gum Therapy
 Have you been told that you have gum disease? There is now a FDA approved LASER that we can use to treat gum disease without the cutting and stitching involved with traditional gum surgery!
With Periolase Laser Periodontal Therapy, Dr. Lynn will use a tiny beam of laser energy to treat your moderate to severe gum disease. The laser light gently removes harmful bacteria and diseased tissue from the gum pocket. Laser Periodontal Therapy is faster—less expensive—and less invasive than surgery.
Since there is no incision and no stitches, your can quickly return to your natural routine. Plus, your body heals naturally so that the gum pockets improve and your teeth become more stable.
NEW TECHNOLOGY = NEW COMFORT
What is Laser Periodontal Therapy™?
Laser Periodontal Therapy™ is a laser based technique for the treatment of periodontal disease using the Millennium Dental Technologies, Inc., PerioLaseŇ Laser. Fear of periodontal treatment vanishes when patients find out no scalpel or sutures will be used. Patient friendly laser treatment gets patients to agree to the treatment they need and continue with the follow-up care that is prescribed.
Our office is one of the first in the area to offer Laser Periodontal Therapy™ for the treatment of gingivitis and/or periodontitis. Following are commonly asked questions about this technology.
How does it work?
A small amount of light energy from a laser is directed through a tiny fiber, which is gently placed between the gum and tooth. This light energy removes a tiny amount of diseased tissue and aids in reducing the bacteria associated with the disease. After the area is thoroughly cleaned, the body can heal the area naturally.
Then, tartar, associated with inflamed and bleeding gums, is removed form the root surface of the tooth using an ultrasonic scaler and small instruments.
Does it hurt?
Although the procedure itself can be virtually painless, we will anesthetize the area for the patient’s comfort. In this way we can precisely direct the laser for treatment. Post-procedure discomfort is typically minimal and of short duration.
How long does it take?
The laser portion of the treatment is performed and normally only takes a few minutes. Then, treatment is focused on scaling and the use of small instruments to remove the tartar. Depending on the severity of the patient’s periodontal disease, treatment may be accomplished in one office visit or in multiple visits. The estimated treatment time is reviewed with patients when we discuss their treatment plan.
Does this treatment cost more than traditional gum surgery?
Typically we use the same billing codes as traditional gum surgery and the laser treatment is generally no more expensive than traditional surgery. There are other factors which may affect the cost, such as the severity of the periodontal disease, and how many teeth are involved. Many insurance plans pay only for a portion of this treatment. Patients should discuss their payment options with the dental office personnel as we offer financing for this treatment.
The dramatically increased comfort for our patients made the new system attractive to our office. We do encourage patients to take care of the need now to reduce further damage to their gums, teeth and bone.
Reconstructive Dentistry and PerioLase
Like many dental surgeons who seek to be up to date on the cutting edge of treatments that have the highest predictability of success, Dr. Lynn has acquired the PerioLase Laser to provide treatment that represent the best of possible outcomes.
The PerioLase from Millennium Dental Technologies is a specialized Nd:YAG (Neodymium: Yttrium Aluminum Garnet) laser with the unique features necessary to perform a variety of soft tissue procedures.
Gum Laser Multimedia Video
 The adjacent photo is a snapshot of a PerioLase animated demonstration video of an amazing technology that will appeal to patients seeking a proven treatment for treating even the most severe cases of periodontitis.
Click here to watch this interesting video and see first hand how the technology is used on tooth structures and soft tissues.
Who Is A Candidate For This Therapy?
First it is helpful to know who is not a candidate for Laser Gum Treatment. Patients who have healthy gums do not need treatment. Also, people with superficial gingivitis do not need this form of therapy. Superficial gingivitis patients have red swollen gums but have gum pockets less than 5mm. These patients are classified as Class I. All other periodontal patients are Class II, Class III, or Class IV. All these people have gum pockets 5mm or greater, and the higher classes of gum disease correspond to deeper gum pockets, and more loss of bone support to the teeth. All classes of gum disease greater than Class I are potential candidates for Laser Gum Treatment.
Questions: Periotherapy Comparisons with Traditional Surgery
- No surgical cutting and no suturing
- Less discomfort than with standard surgery after treatment
- Treatment usually completed in one or two visits, with two follow up visits, compared to about 4 one hour periosurgery sessions followed by suture removal and additional check ups
- PerioLaser results are longer lasting. 98% of Laser treated patients versus 5% of perio surgery patients remain stable after 5 years
- Recovery following Perio Laser treatment is approximately 24 hours, compared to 2-4 weeks for traditional surgery
- Minimal time lost from work
- Laser Periodontal Therapy is safe for patients with health concerns such as diabetes, HIV, hemophilia, or those taking medications such as Coumadin or Cyclosporin.
More Questions?
Our patients now have treatment choices for arresting and eliminating active gum disease that is not commonly available in most dental practices.
To learn more about effective treatment options for gingivitis or periodontitis contact Dr. Lynn directly with your questions via our online email form, for a prompt response.
You can also call our office at (972) 934-1400 to schedule an appointment or use our convenient Consultation request form.
Dr. Lynn will provide you with the information you need to make an informed decision about your need for treatment.
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