Owasso Periodontal Treatment
Do you have red, swollen, or tender gums? Do you have constant bad breath that won’t go away no matter what you do? Are your teeth looking longer than usual due to gum recession? Do your gums often bleed when brushing?
If the answer to any of these questions is yes, then there’s a good chance that you have periodontal disease.
Periodontal disease is the medical term for gum disease. It’s caused by bacteria that normally live in your mouth. An overgrowth of these bacteria in your dental plaque can trigger inflammation in your gums. The first stage is gingivitis, a common but reversible condition in which gums swell and bleed when brushed. If gingivitis is not treated, the plaque will accumulate and turn into hardened deposits known as calculus, or tartar. The calculus attracts more bacteria, and the inflammation will spread deeper in the supporting tissues around your teeth. As periodontal disease advances, it destroys the bone and ligaments that hold your teeth in place and can eventually result in tooth loss.
Gum disease is a serious condition, but worse still is the fact that periodontal disease is extremely common, affecting close to 8 in 10 adults. Even more alarming is the fact that the vast majority of people are unaware that they have symptoms of periodontal disease, and they visit their dentist only when the disease is already quite advanced.
Besides causing gum recession and tooth loss, periodontal disease is dangerous because it has been linked to health problems such as cardiac and respiratory disease, low birthweight in newborn babies, heart attack, stroke, osteoporosis, and Alzheimer’s disease.
If you are concerned about the health of your gums, Dr. Lim and the rest of our team here at Life Smiles of Owasso can help you.
Treatment for Gum Disease
The first line of defense in fighting off established gum disease is a procedure called root planing. This treatment is sometimes called “deep cleaning” because our hygienist uses special instruments to remove plaque, tartar, and other debris below the gum line. The hygienist smooths out the roots of teeth that have deep pockets around them that formed when the gums started pulling away from the teeth. Smoothing the roots gets rid of the irritating debris and creates a clean surface which allows the gums to heal and reattach.
In some cases of advanced periodontal disease, surgery is necessary to access tooth roots to thoroughly clean them.
The TwinLight Periodontal Treatment
TwinLight Periodontal Treatment is a minimally invasive treatment for periodontal disease that uses two laser wavelengths (Nd:YAG and Er:YAG) with unique clinical and therapeutic abilities. The two wavelengths are used together to achieve optimal results during periodontal treatment, with increased comfort and less recovery time.
The TwinLight laser is effective because it reduces the need for surgical intervention, kills bacteria in the pocket around the tooth, and cauterizes the tissue to promote rapid healing. The result is blade-free treatment with no sutures and little to no postoperative discomfort.
Advantages of TwinLight Periodontal Treatment
- Less invasive than conventional periodontal treatments
- Reduces the chance of gum disease recurrence
- Promote the growth of new healthy gum tissue
- Minimal or no discomfort after the procedure
- Quick recovery time
At Life Smiles of Owasso, we are pleased to offer a modern solution to a common dental health issue. If you know or suspect that you need treatment for gum disease, contact us today by calling our office or requesting an appointment online.
