State College laser dentistry treats gums with a minimum of bleeding and discomfort. Chris Devlin DMD PC provides this modern service for precise results.
State College laser dentistry delivers state of the art treatment of various gum conditions. Eliminating sutures and reducing discomfort and bleeding, the soft tissue laser is accurate and fast, returning gums to optimal health and appearance.
Back in the 1990s dentists began to use soft tissue lasers for various treatment applications. Lasers now help diagnose and biopsy oral cancers, treat bothersome cold sores, and sculpt lengthy gum tissue to make room for restorations such as porcelain crowns. Also, lasers remove excess connective tissue such as frenums under the tongue of infants and children (tongue ties), and uncover wisdom teeth impacted by gums. Some dental offices use lasers to activate whitening chemicals.
Others dentists employ soft laser therapy to reduce the size of tissues at the back of the throat as part of a treatment plan for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). When a patient has OSA, his or her airway becomes blocked as excessive oral tissues relax at night. Disruptive snoring and serious systemic health problems often result from OSA.
Lasers and periodontal disease
The CDC (Centers for Disease Control) estimates that approximately 65 million adults in the United States have some degree of gum disease–-from mild gingivitis to advanced periodontitis. While preventive exams and cleanings at Devlin Dental help avoid the oral and systemic health issues associated with gum disease, Dr. Devlin sees many patients who suffer bad breath, tooth mobility, tooth loss, gum and bone recession and their associated infection related to bacteria in accumulated plaque and tartar. Some people have gum disease due to hereditary factors, cancer therapies, diabetes and other health conditions.
A common treatment is non-surgical scaling of tooth enamel and root planing to smooth roots below the gum line. This manual, in-office procedure helps re-attach gums to teeth, debrides gum tissue and removes infection. More advanced infections often require complex surgical procedures involving cutting and sutures.
However, laser gum treatment accomplishes healing with far less bleeding and discomfort. The laser light effectively disinfects gum pockets without antibiotics. The dentist accurately targets the diseased areas, removes the bacteria and infected tissue, and seals the incisions without sutures. There is little to no collateral damage surrounding tissues, and post-operative swelling is well-contained. Patients usually drive themselves home from laser dentistry procedures and require nothing more than over the counter analgesics such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen to control mild discomfort.
Don’t be nervous about gum disease therapy
Dr. Devlin marvels at the advancements he has seen in today’s dentistry. He offers laser dentistry in his State College office as one of many innovative techniques designed to improve and preserve oral health for patients of all ages. If you are wondering about gum disease and how it is treated, contact Dr. Chris J. Devlin today for your personal consultation.