Treating Periodontal Disease With Laser Dentistry

As dental professionals, we see a wide variety of gums and teeth, some of which are healthy while others are diseased. Consequently, we have added laser dentistry to our comprehensive line of services here at Stony Brook Family Dentistry in order to treat the different types of gum or periodontal disease. If you’re in your 30’s or 40’s, there is a good possibility that you may already have this condition, even though it isn’t apparent. However, visiting the dentist every 6 months is the key to detecting it, unless you have noticed the signs at home already.

We typically use lasers to remove diseased tissue and treat a variety of other conditions because they can be programmed to perform specific procedures and can be easily adjusted to accommodate the needs of our patients. In addition to treating periodontal disease with laser dentistry, dental lasers can also be used to perform biopsies and implant surgeries. The two primary types of periodontal disease that we treat at Stony Brook Family Dentistry are gingivitis and periodontitis.

With gingivitis, the patient may experience bleeding and inflammation of the gums which is attributed to the build-up of plaque on the teeth. We typically refer to this condition as a non-destructive type of periodontal disease despite some of the discomfort that is involved. However, gingivitis can become periodontitis by spreading through bacterial infection which can eventually lead to deterioration of the bone structure and gum tissues. We also use lasers in conjunction with SRP (scaling and root planing) procedures which helps to improve the effectiveness of it.

The primary benefit of treating periodontal disease with laser dentistry is that it results in less bleeding, discomfort, and swelling during any surgical procedure. Periodontal therapy using lasers helps to interrupt and stop the advancement of the disease which enables healthier tissues to re-establish themselves. If you would like more information regarding laser dentistry and the treatment of periodontal disease, we encourage you to contact Stony Brook Family Dentistry and schedule an appointment.