Ballston Dental Arts
900 North Taylor Street, Suite #150
Arlington, VA 22203
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New Advancements In Gum Disease Treatment
There are millions of Americans who have gum disease, and many of them do not seek treatment. Traditional gum surgery can be very painful and can require a long healing process. Yet, many risks exist when gum disease is left untreated.
These risks include sore and bleeding gums, bone degradation, and tooth loss. In addition, gum disease has been linked to health problems of a more serious nature, such as heart disease and diabetes.
For most patients, dealing with gum disease requires learning about the problem and deciding what to do about it. This can cause a lot of unnecessary stress and can deter people from receiving the treatment they need, which only increases the potential health risks.
A few common treatments are available for gum disease. From minor services such as professional dental cleaning to remove plaque and tartar, to more extensive services like scaling and root planning that may require surgery, especially in cases that were left untreated too long.
The good news is that advancements in dental technology have made gum treatments more comfortable and effective. One of these new technologies, laser-assisted new attachment procedure, more commonly known as the LANAP procedure, helps to eliminate gum disease and heal the affected gum tissue. LANAP is a minimally invasive procedure in which a probe is used to determine how deep the bacteria are located so they can be targeted by the laser for regeneration.
This procedure does not require a scalpel or sutures, unlike traditional gum surgery. The PerioLase MVP-7 laser is designed to specifically target damaged or diseased tissue and bacteria while allowing healthy gum tissue to remain intact. This means that there is a reduced amount of gum recession, which can help protect teeth.
Next, the gum tissue is stimulated through clotting to re-attach to the nearby tooth, and the bone is also stimulated to begin the regeneration process. Pain is reported to be minimal throughout the procedure, and no stitches are required.
There is very little downtime required for this procedure and most patients are able to return to normal activities within a short time.
The PerioLase MVP-7 is the only laser treatment for periodontal disease that has been cleared by the FDA to date. It is also the only laser with the science, research and human histological studies backing its success.
So, if you have signs of gum disease, don’t wait – get treatment now. And, if you’ve been putting it off, new laser technology could be the key to getting it taken care of now.
