The Role of Lasers in Treating Periodontal Disease

Patients who need periodontal treatment can exhibit many different stages of periodontal disease. In minor cases (gingivitis), treatment may simply involve periodontal cleaning, or scaling and root planing, to remove harmful oral bacteria. In more advanced cases, perio cleaning may be followed by a regular routine of periodontal maintenance. In some severe cases, the best way to protect your smile from gum disease may be to surgically trim away areas of gum tissue that have become severely affected by the disease. At our Encinitas/San Diego periodontal office, we can perform laser periodontal treatment (or LANAP) to remove diseased tissue more comfortably, and with a higher level of precision, than traditional surgery.

The traditional role of periodontal surgery

When gum disease progresses enough, it can cause extensive damage to certain areas of your gums. The more the disease progresses, the more of this tissue it will affect, eventually reaching the jawbone structure underneath your gums. Traditional periodontal surgery involves using a scalpel to trim away small areas of tissue that have become too compromised to save, which helps stop the disease from reaching more of your healthy gums and periodontal ligaments. After surgically trimming away the compromised tissues, further treatment may be necessary to allow your healthy gums to heal properly.

How lasers improve the process

Instead of using traditional surgery, we often utilize the laser assisted new attachment protocol (or LANAP) to perform tissue removal without the need for a scalpel. The specially calibrated laser offers significantly enhanced precision compared to a scalpel, which means Dr. Kania can perform the procedure with minimal affect to surrounding tissues and minimal tissue trauma at the surgical site. There is typically little or no bleeding due to the concentrated heat of the laser, which means patients often don’t require sutures to heal properly afterward.

The benefits for treatment and recovery

In addition to a more comfortable and precise procedure, LANAP involves a faster and more comfortable healing process, as well. With no sutures needed, you won’t have to schedule an additional visit to return and have them removed. There is also a reduce risks of infection due to more rapid healing, and the laser helps effectively eliminate bacteria around the treated tissues for improved protection against gum disease’s progression.

Learn more about laser periodontal treatment

If treating your gum disease requires surgery, then learn about the benefits of choosing laser periodontal treatment, instead. For more information, schedule a consultation with Dr. Kania by calling her periodontal office in Encinitas/San Diego, CA, at (760) 642-0711.