In dentistry, doctors use laser therapy to whiten your teeth, so the laser-based procedures are not very new in dental care. Before getting into the details of laser gum surgery, the first important step is to understand when it is used. Just as the name of the procedure says, you may need this type of surgery when you are suffering from gum diseases. You should take very good care of your gums, as gum disease can affect the bones that support and surround your teeth.
The mildest form of gum disease is gingivitis. The most severe one is advanced periodontitis. If left untreated, gum diseases can negatively influence your overall health. Studies show that severe gum diseases can cause heart problems. You will not get, however, laser gum surgery from a doctor unless he sees you and evaluates the situation. Now let us get into those details and learn all you need to know about laser gum surgery!
Laser Gum Surgery Procedure
In this type of therapy, your doctor uses a dental laser. The purpose is to access and remove the inflamed gum tissue from around the root of your ill tooth. Your doctor will work with the laser until he removes the entire inflamed and infected tissue and exposes the tooth root.
The next step of the process involves “root scaling”. Your dentist will scrape off the calculus and plaque built up below the gum line and around the root. He will then smooth your tooth root so it stays safe from future bacteria and infections.
Does Laser Gum Surgery Hurt?
This is one of the most frequent questions patients ask when it comes to this procedure. The answer is no. Your dentist will use a local anesthetic to make sure you will feel no pain during the procedure. You may experience some discomfort, but the laser therapy treatment does not hurt.
What Are the Laser Gum Treatment Side Effects?
While the procedure comes with a handful of benefits all dental experts agree upon, it also comes with some warning. The main issue with laser gum surgery is the laser’s wavelength. If your doctor uses the wrong wavelength for you, the procedure may cause further damage to the periodontal tissues.
So far, evidence suggests that when masterfully employed, the procedure leads to positive results and is safe. However, before jumping at the opportunity, dental associations recommend you to pick your dentist carefully.
A proven expertise in laser surgery, a serious portfolio of success cases, and laser gum surgery before and after photos and case studies should give you a complete picture of your doctor’s skills and experience.
Laser Gum Surgery Recovery
If you went through a complex dental procedure at least once in your lifetime, you know dental recovery can be a slow and painful process. Laser gum surgery recovery and healing are shorter in time. This is because laser gum surgery is less invasive than traditional therapy (which involves heavy amounts of drilling, bleeding, swelling, and post-op pain). Since lasers can target the infected tissues with extreme precision, the doctor limits the damage to a small area. This is why recovery is faster and easier to endure.
Laser Gum Surgery Cost
There is no fixed price for this procedure. The costs directly and entirely depend on your needs as a patient. An experienced professional will not commit to a price until he sees you and assesses the situation. Nevertheless, according to dental professional associations, laser therapy can take less money out of your pocket. This is because it requires fewer visits to the dentist and less post-op medical treatment and interventions.
As insurance is concerned, you should first get confirmation from your insurance company before you undertake the procedure. Insurance companies usually cover laser gum surgery, but it does not hurt to make sure.
Laser-Sharp Conclusions
Laser gum surgery is still under scrutiny and research. However, laser therapy changed the game completely in many medical areas and surgical procedures. For this reason, researchers are confident it will also become the new standard in treating gum diseases as well.