Recovering from gum disease is rarely a straight path. Gum disease can feel overwhelming and discouraging because it can feel like the damage keeps getting worse no matter what you do.
If you struggle with bleeding gums, bad breath, tooth sensitivity, or shifting teeth due to periodontal disease, you may worry about the future of your smile. At Fort Washington Dental Associates, we’re proud to provide comprehensive care under one roof, including specialty procedures like laser gum disease treatment in Washington Heights, NYC.
Laser gum disease treatment is less painful and more predictably successful than traditional osseous surgery for periodontal disease. Here is a step by step guide to laser gum disease treatment so you know exactly what to expect!
First things first: understanding how gum disease happens
Gum disease almost always starts because of bacteria. When plaque builds up on your teeth and below your gums, it can harden into tartar (which is called calculus in dentistry). The combination of rough, hard deposits and bacterial invasion causes inflammation and gum infections.
In its early stages, gingivitis can make your gums bleed easily, appear red and puffy, and cause mild bad breath. Left untreated, the inflammatory process can damage your gums, the ligaments that hold your teeth in place, and even the bone sockets surrounding the tooth roots.
This damage can cause tooth sensitivity, changes to your bite, and even tooth loss. The good news? Laser gum disease treatments, called LANAP for short, can stop gum disease in its tracks and even help your gums and bone tissue heal.
Next, let’s take a closer look at what to expect during the LANAP procedure.
What is the LANAP laser gum treatment process?
Many people feel nervous about gum disease treatments. Traditionally, treating advanced periodontal disease meant invasive surgery with a long and uncomfortably recovery process. With LANAP, osseous surgery is no longer necessary in many cases (although it can still be an excellent option in some cases).
The LANAP process is minimally invasive, quick, and much more comfortable than gum surgery. Here is how it works.
Step 1: Your comprehensive gum disease consultation
As with any dental treatment at Fort Washington Dental Associates, your path to restored oral health starts with a personalized consultation. We’ll perform a thorough examination of your teeth and gums.
This includes measuring the gum pockets around your teeth and using dental x-rays to check for signs of bone loss. When we have a complete understanding of the severity of your gum disease, we’ll create a customized treatment plan for your unique needs.
Step 2: Eradicating bacteria and removing diseased tissue painlessly
We want every visit to be as comfortable as possible, so the first step in our LANAP process is to thoroughly numb the area. Then, we’ll do the first round of your laser gum disease treatment.
The laser is a very thin device, about the width of three human hairs, which we’ll slip below the gum line. The first laser application eradicates bacteria and diseased tissue, which are darker and absorb the specific frequency of the laser’s light. Because the laser doesn’t interact with healthy cells or water, it can completely clean the area without damaging your healthy cells at all, a major improvement over osseous surgery.
Step 3: Removing hardened buildup below the gums
When the first laser application is complete, we’ll remove any hardened calculus (tarter) using the same scalers we use for routine dental cleanings. Specifically, we’ll use an ultrasonic scaler, which vibrates to gently break up hardened deposits and sweep them away while oxygenating the area to kill any exposed bacteria.
When the pocket is completely clean, we’ll apply the laser a second time.
Step 4: Stimulating healthy cells and sealing the site
The second pass of the laser uses a different setting, which stimulates healthy cells in your gums and underlying bone. This time, the laser will help to create a sticky, fibrin-rich clot which will seal the gums to the tooth root.
This seal creates a completely clean and healthy environment and prevents bacterial invasion during your healing process. We’ll gently press the gums to the teeth to ensure the best possible seal.
Step 5: Adjusting your bite to prevent further damage
Finally, we’ll evaluate your bite to ensure your teeth are meeting appropriately. One of the major challenges of advanced gum disease is that it can cause the teeth to shift slightly, which can create areas of heavier pressure when you bite and chew. This can damage your teeth as well as your gums and bone socket.
If necessary, we’ll make conservative adjustments to your bite to prevent future problems and keep your smile as healthy as possible!
What happens after laser gum disease treatment?
Most people report minimal discomfort or soreness, just for the first day or two after LANAP. Over-the-counter medications like ibuprofen are usually all it takes to stay comfortable.
Depending on the severity of your gum disease, we may have specific recommendations for caring for your teeth and gums after laser treatment. In many cases, that may mean sticking to a soft food diet for about a week, or even a liquid diet for a few days immediately after your procedure.
We’ll go over brushing and flossing instructions during your healing process, and it’s critical to follow them as closely as possible to prevent issues. Rinsing with warm salt water can be helpful in minimizing discomfort and keeping things clean.
We’ll also get you set up for follow-up appointments to ensure your healing process is going smoothly and address any questions or concerns you may have.
Why choose Fort Washington Dental Associates for your gum disease treatment in Washington Heights, NYC?
Because we offer specialty treatments like LANAP in the same practice you can trust for routine dental care, we can help you get the best long-term results from your treatment. We’ll be with you throughout your recovery, including maintaining your results with periodontal dental cleanings.
Regular cleanings are critical to ensure you make a full recovery from periodontal disease. Our expert team will be with you every step of the way to ensure you can enjoy a strong, healthy smile for years to come!
