New Laser Dental Surgery Services

 Understanding Your Laser Dental Surgery Minimally Invasive Options

Periodontal treatments continue to evolve to make the procedures more effective, safer, and less uncomfortable for patients. Many of the treatments use lasers to accomplish what was once only possible with invasive surgical techniques. Awareness of the options can prevent people from delaying needed dental treatments due to the fear of pain, surgery, or lengthy recoveries. Laser technology and other minimally invasive or non-invasive options enable all patients to access safe and effective dental care.

LANAP Treatments

LANAP is a minimally invasive method used to treat gum diseases. Receding gum lines and severe infections, like periodontitis, no longer require invasive surgical techniques. Instead, laser treatments offer all patients an easier and potentially more effective solution. 

The accuracy of the laser prevents the loss of healthy tissue. The formation of fibril clots avoids unnecessary blood loss and a need for sutures. The tighter gum-to-tooth connection produced by the laser and the absence of sutures lowers the risk of post-treatment infection.

Patients must still use particular care over the following days or weeks after their treatment to avoid infection. Focusing on dental hygiene and following a recommended diet can prevent pain and damage to the repaired areas. However, these aftercare requirements are shorter and more manageable than what people often experience after dental surgery.

LAPIP Treatments

Dental patients with implants rather than natural teeth also have the option of laser treatments. LAPIP works like LANAP but is specifically for those with dental implants. LAPIP enables a periodontist to address the causes of failing implants without removing the implant or replacing an otherwise viable implanted tooth.

Removal of the diseased tissue, removal of infection-causing bacteria, and bone modifications can occur using LAPIP. The treatment can boost oral health in the patient and make them more comfortable at the same time. The benefits of LAPIP are the same as LANAP with shorter recovery times, reduced infection risk, and no need for painful and unsightly sutures.

Laser Frenectomy

Laser frenectomies can include altering or removing labial or lingual frenum as needed. The procedure eliminates the connection between two soft tissue areas in the mouth. Frequent uses are to remove the frenum connecting the underside of the tongue to the bottom of the mouth and the tissue that connects the lip to the top gum. 

A too-short frenum may cause speech impediments, make it difficult to eat, or cause dental issues, leading to tooth misalignment. Patients undergoing the laser treatment can eat and talk comfortably once the anesthesia wears off. The simple aftercare and no stitches will appeal to everyone, but especially to parents of young children.

Laser Gingivectomy

Gummy smiles, which show more gum than people traditionally see, can make people self-conscious about their appearance. An overgrowth of gum tissue may cover more teeth than usual and cause them to look smaller. Thick gums may also cause gaps between the teeth. Gummy smiles do not cause any heightened risk to the teeth. The decision to remove the gums in these instances is purely cosmetic. People that want to undergo the treatment can choose laser surgery for a faster and easier process.

Gingivectomy treatments can also become a necessity for dental health purposes. Thick gums can cause a tooth impaction. An impaction is where the tooth cannot erupt through the gum on its own. Impactions can cause pain and lead to infection if not managed quickly. Removal of the gum during a laser gingivectomy instantly reveals the tooth beneath. Healthy teeth uncovered during a gingivectomy are left to continue growing on their own. Sometimes the failure of the tooth to erupt could occur because of a weakness in the tooth caused by decay or damage. Repairs or removal can take place immediately after a laser gingivectomy treatment.

Emdogain Treatments

Emdogain is a topical gel that periodontists use to repair the damage from gum disease. Emdogain can help regrow gum tissue, bone, and connective tissue to replace the damage from infection and disease. Traditionally periodontists applied Emdogain to the root of a tooth uncovered during surgery. Patients that seek out laser surgery because it is minimally invasive will appreciate that the Emdogain FL (flapless) method does not require surgery. Instead, the closed periodontitis treatment uses a syringe to inject the gel. The minimally invasive technique has produced regenerative results equal to the invasive surgical methods used by many dental clinics.

Minimally invasive techniques continue to grow in popularity for many reasons. The medical community has encouraged patients to consider these options for years. As a result, the dental industry now has access to many of the tools and technology needed to transform oral health care. Fewer risks, faster results, recovery, and less pain should appeal to anyone. The benefits may even make necessary procedures a little less frightening to those with a dental phobia. 

About the Author

Dr. Stephanie Sfiroudis, DDS, MS is a leading Nassau County Periodontist and the first in Nassau County to offer patients laser surgery options. Learn more by visiting her website at www.NassauCountyPeriodontist.com