Our number one tip for patients with periodontal disease (also called gum disease) is to find a dentist who offers laser therapy. This is the best way to ensure you receive the most comfortable treatment available, regardless of what stage of periodontal disease you have.
Dentists who don’t offer laser gum treatments use outdated methods to remove the tartar from along the gumline. This typically includes scalpels, drills, and stitches when surgery is necessary. Patients who visit dentists who use dental lasers experience less discomfort and pain during and after treatment.
Dental lasers eliminate the need for drills and scalpels, promote faster healing, and are much more precise than other dental tools, making the treatment process much less painful.
The different stages of gum disease require different types of treatment. Even laser dentists use traditional treatment methods to address earlier stages of periodontal disease because they are more conservative.
Continue reading to learn about the four stages of gum disease and the appropriate treatments.
1. Gingivitis
The first stage of periodontal disease often goes unnoticed because the symptoms are less apparent than the latter stages. However, bleeding gums are one of the most distinct indicators of gum disease. You may notice this when brushing or flossing.
At this first indication, patients should increase their oral hygiene by brushing more often, drinking more water, flossing daily, and using a dentist-approved mouthwash. This may reverse gingivitis without professional intervention. However, we encourage patients to seek professional dental care (most likely a regular dental cleaning) as soon as possible. If the periodontal disease advances, it will no longer be reversible.
2. Slight periodontitis
Patients with slight periodontitis continue to have bleeding gums and will experience more noticeable symptoms like persistent bad breath. Tiny pockets of disease-causing bacteria form between the teeth and gums, giving them a place to reproduce.
Dentists use scaling and root planing to treat slight periodontitis. This involves removing plaque and tartar from along the gumline and smoothing out the rough surfaces of the teeth. Though patients may experience slight discomfort during this procedure, they rarely complain about significant pain during or after. During healing, the gums shrink and periodontal pockets disappear.
Following scaling and root planing, patients should practice good oral hygiene at home to maintain a healthy mouth.
3. Moderate periodontitis
Moderate periodontal disease will experience bone loss in the teeth and jaw—though they may not notice it. At this stage, the disease enters the bloodstream and can cause inflammation throughout the body.
There are two treatment options for moderate periodontitis:
- Scaling and root planing
- Laser pocket decontamination
Laser dentists often recommend scaling and root planing as a first-step treatment, then—if necessary—laser pocket decontamination. This state-of-the-art procedure is a non-surgical treatment that removes aggressive bacteria from the periodontal pockets and promotes fast healing.
4. Advanced periodontitis
In the fourth and final stage of gum disease, the bacteria attack the bones and ligaments that secure the teeth, causing them to feel loose. The previously developed symptoms will continue and become worse. People with advanced periodontitis may also notice small pockets of puss forming in the gum tissue.
Treatment for advanced periodontitis may involved scaling and root planing, laser pocket decontamination, and laser gum surgery. Again, the final three stages of gum disease cannot be reversed, but the results of treatment can be maintained.
Comfortable Periodontal Disease Treatment in Austin, TX
If you’ve recently been diagnosed with gum disease and want to experience the benefits of laser dentistry, contact the office of Dr. Helen Ragsdale today. Our dentist has over twenty years of experience using dental lasers and is the dentist who other dentists come to for training in laser dental procedures.
Call (512) 346-4690 to schedule an appointment at Austin Laser Dentist.
