If you have periodontitis or gum disease, your dentist may have told you that you need surgery to restore your smile. At Boulder Dental Designs, we offer an alternative to traditional surgery. Our dentists, Dr. Montoya and Dr. Lai, offer laser therapy to treat gum disease in Boulder, Colorado. 

WHAT IS GUM DISEASE LASER THERAPY?

With the help of the Waterlase laser, Dr. Montoya or Dr. Lai can vaporize problematic areas of your gums. Excess inflamed gum tissue builds around the tooth’s root during gum disease. Traditional treatment involves undergoing surgery where a dentist will remove the inflamed tissue with a scalpel. 

Dr. Montoya or Dr. Lai can remove the soft tissue with the Waterlase laser. The laser technology does not only work on soft tissues like gums. It can also work on hard tissues, like teeth. Your dentist at Boulder Dental Designs can use the Waterlase laser also to remove plaque and tartar buildup. Without removing these, your gum disease can worsen. Overall, gum disease laser therapy is more comfortable for the patient than traditional gum disease surgery. 

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF GUM DISEASE LASER THERAPY? 

Patients that undergo gum disease laser therapy with the Waterlase laser experience many benefits such as more comfort, faster recovery, and decreased infection risk. 

More Comfort. The laser often does not cause as much discomfort as a traditional scalpel during laser therapy. For example, many patients that undergo laser therapy do not need numbing medications before the treatment. 

Faster Recovery. The Waterlase laser is more accurate compared to traditional surgical techniques. With a more precise cut to remove the inflamed tissue, fewer affected areas lead to quicker recovery times. 

Decreased Infection Risk. There is a risk of infection with every surgery because a wound is created. As mentioned above, laser treatment targets the area to remove more precisely, leaving more areas untouched. With more minor areas affected, there is a decreased risk for infection. 

Saves Your Natural Tooth and Gums. It is essential for Dr. Montoya and Dr. Lai they do everything they can to keep your natural teeth and gums. With laser therapy, less of your gums will be removed because the laser is highly accurate. Additionally, undergoing laser therapy can save your teeth from potential dental decay and infection from gum disease. 

DO I ONLY NEED LASER THERAPY FOR MY GUM DISEASE?

Laser therapy should be used in conjunction with your regular periodontal maintenance plan. Often our dentists recommend that you visit Boulder Dental Designs every three months for a periodontal cleaning, meaning a scaling, rooting, and planing (SRP). This procedure helps to remove plaque and tartar on your teeth regularly. Laser therapy in conjunction with SRP and your regular at-home oral health routine will help you keep your gum disease under control. 

WHAT SHOULD I DO AFTER THE LASER THERAPY TREATMENT?

After your laser therapy treatment, you may experience a few mild symptoms such as gum or tooth soreness and light bleeding around the affected site. For the first few days following your treatment, you should avoid hot, complex, and spicy foods. Additionally, avoiding gum may also help you avoid discomfort. Following these simple guidelines will help you avoid pain in the days following your treatment. 

DO I NEED TO TAKE TIME OFF FOR LASER THERAPY?

Most patients only need to take time off for laser therapy. Laser therapy to treat gum disease is a minimally invasive procedure, and patients can often return to school or work on the same day. If you are looking for a comfortable and safer alternative to traditional gum surgery, consider laser therapy from Boulder Dental Designs. 

Gum disease laser therapy is a unique treatment that offers more comfort, better precision, and faster recovery times for patients. Additionally, laser dentistry helps the dentists at Boulder Dental Designs reach their mission of preserving your natural teeth and gums. For more information about gum disease laser therapy or to schedule an appointment, call our office.