Restore your gums with LANAP treatment in Clearwater, FL
Periodontal disease can destroy your gum tissues and create large pockets around your teeth where bacteria can thrive. Many patients have required surgery to reattach their gum tissues for years because your body typically cannot heal diseased gum tissue even after the infection is cleared. Dr. Beata A. Carlson and the team at Natural Dentistry in Clearwater, FL, offer LANAP treatment as an alternative to conventional surgery for restoring your gum health.
The progression of gum disease
Pathogenic bacteria in your mouth cause gum disease. As bacteria eat sugars in your mouth, they create toxins that cause swelling in your gums. You may notice puffy, tender gums and blood when you brush or floss and persistent bad breath at this early stage, known as gingivitis. Gingivitis is fully reversible with treatment, but many people fail to address it with a trip to the dentist before it advances.
Over time, your gums will release the seal around your teeth and create pockets where bacteria can hide and form tartar to protect themselves. That allows bacteria to spread deeper into your tissues, permanently damaging your gums. Eventually, they can reach your tooth root and bone, causing tooth loss and painful infections.
Periodontal disease is preventable with proper oral hygiene and routine trips to the dentist, yet it is the most prevalent reason for tooth loss in adults. The older you get, the more likely you will deal with infections in your gums. Risk factors for periodontal disease include smoking, drinking, poor diet, diabetes, age, certain medications, genetics, and stress.
The importance of treating periodontal disease
Tooth loss can have severe implications for your oral health if left untreated. Missing teeth affect how your jaw fits together, increasing your risk for TMJ disorders, snoring, and sleep apnea. Eventually, your remaining teeth will shift around, making them harder to clean, and your jawbone will begin to shrink without stimulation from the tooth root.
Beyond tooth loss, periodontal disease can also increase your heart disease risk, complications in pregnancy, and other health issues. It is because the bacteria associated with gum infections can spread throughout your body through your bloodstream.
While treating gum disease is crucial for your overall well-being, many dentists treat it without considering the impact on your body. They often recommend surgery, harsh chemicals, broad-spectrum antibiotics, and hours of scaling and root planing to clear out tartar and other debris from periodontal pockets.
Dr. Beata A. Carlson and Associates have invested in less invasive treatment options that increase patient comfort and decrease the amount of time you need to spend in the dental chair, including laser periodontal therapy.
What is gum disease and LANAP® as a treatment procedure at Natural Dentistry
What is periodontal disease?
Periodontal diseases are serious bacterial infections. Gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss in America.
The toxins produced by the bacteria stimulate a chronic inflammatory response in which the body, in essence, turns on itself, and the tissues that support the teeth are destroyed.
Many people suffer from sore and bleeding gums, painful brushing, bad breath, and other signs of gum disease.
How important is treating gum disease?
Early detection is the key to successful treatment. The early stages of periodontal disease are often painless, and you may not be aware that your gums are infected.
We offer a complete range of services to treat periodontal disorders. We examine, not just screen, all patients on their first visit and annually after that.
We recommend a personalized course of treatment to arrest the disease and optimize your dental health.
What is LANAP, and how effective is it for gum disease?
LANAP, or laser-assisted regeneration, is the only FDA-approved periodontal disease treatment that can restore lost bone and gum tissue.
The treatment uses PerioLase MVP-7, a dental laser that uses long pulses of 1064 wavelength Nd: YAG laser energy to clear away infection and disease without cutting any tissue.
LANAP procedures activate your body’s natural healing abilities to create new alveolar bone, cementum, and periodontal ligaments to support your teeth and prevent future issues that lead to tooth loss.
Call us today if you have any signs of gum disease to get an evaluation and treatment from a qualified dentist.
Benefits of a LANAP procedure
LANAP, or laser-assisted regeneration, is the only FDA-approved periodontal disease treatment that can restore lost bone and gum tissue. The treatment uses PerioLase MVP-7, a dental laser that uses long pulses of 1064 wavelength Nd: YAG laser energy to clear away infection and disease without cutting any tissue. That’s because the specific wavelength passes through healthy tissue without harming it.
Our highly trained holistic dentist will numb the treatment area and insert a thin laser fiber into your gums during the procedure. The device will use laser energy to clear out infection and damaged tissues. This energy can penetrate up to 4 mm into your tissues to reach deep infections. The laser energy also highlights areas with tartar buildup, making them easier to address. The process takes about 2 hours total to complete, and we typically recommended addressing one side of your mouth at a time.
LANAP procedures activate your body’s natural healing abilities to create new alveolar bone, cementum, and periodontal ligaments to support your teeth and prevent future issues that lead to tooth loss. The procedure allows your dentist to restore your gum and bone health without grafts, cuts, or stitches. Patients who undergo LANAP have reduced bleeding, pain, and discomfort and speedier recovery times compared to traditional treatment methods.
Our holistic dental practice also utilizes alternative treatment methods such as Perio Protect trays and ozone therapy to enhance your oral health and prevent gum disease from recurring and reduce the need for scaling and root planing procedures. If you’re looking for a “LANAP treatment near me,” contact our office in Clearwater, FL, today at 727-888-6929 to set up a consultation.
