Periodontal Treatment

Have you noticed the following symptoms?

• Red gums that bleed easily
• Persistent bad breath
• Loose teeth
• Receding gum tissue, making the teeth look longer than usual
• Tender gums
• Tooth pain when biting and chewing
• Swollen gums

If you are experiencing these symptoms, you may suffer from periodontal disease. Also known as gum disease, periodontal disease is an oral condition caused by bacteria in plaque. If the condition is not properly treated during its early stages, periodontal disease can lead to serious consequences including receding gums and the loss of teeth and bone. Our caring dentist, Dr. Brown, can provide periodontal treatment in Germantown, Tennessee, to help you improve your oral health.

We may recommend periodontal treatment if your smile is affected by gum disease. Periodontal treatment may include deep cleanings, called scaling and root planing, that are designed to remove bacteria, plaque and infected tissue. Scaling and root planing can halt the progress of the disease and encourage the growth of healthy gum tissue. We may recommend other types of periodontal treatment if needed. If you believe that you may suffer from periodontal disease, we encourage you to contact JC Brown, DDS, today at 901-758-1000 to learn more about periodontal treatment and to schedule your next visit.

Laser Periodontal Therapy

What Is Laser Periodontal Therapy?

Our dentist can heal your mouth of gum disease when we use our Nd: YAG free-running pulsed laser to perform surgical gum procedures. This approach to treating gum disease is very beneficial for our patients because the use of a dental laser offers some of the following advantages over traditional gum surgery:

• Reduced pain
• Reduced bleeding
• Reduced swelling
• Reduced tissue removal
• Reduced recovery time

When we perform laser periodontal therapy, we can then reduce gum pocket size by removing diseased tissues. This dental laser allows us to control periodontal disease and help your mouth heal.

The Treatment of Laser Periodontal Therapy
We complete laser periodontal therapy by performing some of the following steps:

• We begin by measuring the depth of your periodontal pockets (the spaces between a tooth and the gums) with a periodontal probe.
• We use laser radiation to remove bacteria in this area as well as diseased tissue pathologic proteins. We also use this radiation to expose areas of tartar (hardened plaque) on the tooth.
• We will remove tartar by smoothing the tooth root surface with an ultrasonic scaler and other dental tools.
• We use our dental laser to remove diseased gum tissues and to stop the area from bleeding. A stable fibrin clot forms to create a closed system which allows your mouth to heal.
• We adjust and repair the effects of any oral trauma by applying a high-speed handpiece and a diamond bur to your teeth. The new attachment is then regenerated.

Questions and Answers About Laser Periodontal Therapy

What is laser periodontal therapy?

It is a treatment for gum disease using a dental laser, specifically the PerioLase® laser created by Millennium Dental Technologies, Inc. The laser creates a patient-friendly treatment by replacing the need for scalpels and sutures.

How does this type of periodontal treatment work?

We will first remove tartar from the tooth root surface using an ultrasonic scaler and other tools. This part of the procedure is important because tartar is what causes the inflammation and bleeding gums of periodontal disease in the first place. We will then direct light energy through a tiny fiber that we place between the gum and the tooth. This light energy reduces the high bacteria count common to gum disease and also removes small amounts of damaged tissues. We then clean the area and allow the body to heal the mouth naturally.

Does this procedure hurt?

Discomfort is minimal with this service because we use a dental laser. In some cases, the treatment can be virtually painless. However, we may still inject a local anesthetic so you can feel completely comfortable during treatment. The discomfort felt afterwards is usually minimal and does not last long.

How long does periodontal treatment take?

After completing the initial scaling and root planing part of the treatment, the laser portion usually only lasts for a few minutes. Depending on the severity of your gum disease, the treatment can be completed in one office visit or several.

Is laser periodontal therapy more expensive than traditional gum surgery?

Because we use the same billing codes as traditional gum surgeries, our laser periodontal therapy usually costs about the same price. The expense may become higher if your gum disease is severe or more teeth require treatment. However, many insurances cover this service, and there are other payment and financing options available.