If your gums bleed, it can be the first symptom of gum disease, a widespread problem. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates at least 50% of Americans suffer from this condition.
Gum Diseases
Gingivitis is a dental condition that begins with an inflammation of your gums. It often develops due to genetics or hormonal changes, smoking, certain medications, or diseases. Another reason which is also the most common one is poor oral hygiene. If you do not follow a proper oral care routine, you will face dental conditions sooner or later. Plaque may build up on your teeth and irritate the surrounding teeth, which will cause gum inflammation or bleeding. It would help if you treated this condition as soon as possible, or it will turn into periodontitis. The plaque will become tartar and form a colony of bacteria, which you cannot remove by brushing or flossing. Pockets can be the final result. They deepen and get increasingly infected, which causes your bone and gum to pull away from the teeth.
Your body naturally starts fighting off the infection while enzymes attack the surrounding bone.
Unlike gingivitis, periodontitis needs professional dental treatment and cannot be treated with good oral hygiene. There are some clear but painless warning signs of gum disease you should look out for. A bad breath due to the bacteria on the plaque, horrible taste due to the infection, sensitive or bleeding gums, and loose teeth.
What Happens If You Ignore Gum Disease?
Left untreated, your gums and bones will decay until they can no longer hold the teeth, which will finally fall out. Tooth loss is not the only result. This will cause severe health conditions, as well. The bacteria can break into the bloodstream and affect your organs, like the kidney and heart.
Gum Disease Treatments
Gum diseases are often subtle, and it is always important to care about your oral hygiene. It would help if you also visited your dentist for regular checkups to treat any potential conditions or gum problems in time to prevent the spread of gingivitis. Early stages of gum disease will be treated with the help of an ultrasonic tool. Your dentist will clean your tooth above and below the gum line and breaks up the tartar. You will be prescribed specific mouthwash, enzyme suppressants, or antiseptic chips. If your gum disease is advanced, you may undergo more invasive procedures to restore your gums to their natural condition.
What Is The Traditional Treatment for Gum Disease?
The traditional treatment for this condition involves surgical procedures. The diseased gum will be cut to reveal the bone underneath, the infection will be removed, some bone materials will be applied to replenish the bone loss, and finally, the gums will be attached back to the teeth using stitches. The gums will then heal and grow to a natural look over time.
Though helpful, this traditional method has significant downsides:
- A significant disadvantage of traditional gum disease treatment is the time it takes. You will need a few days to recover from the pain. You will also need follow-up sessions to get the sutures out.
- Another issue is the limitation that this treatment will pose. You must be careful with what you eat because the tissues are sensitive and sore for several days.
- The most noteworthy downside can be the pain and discomfort you will feel after the treatment, although you will take medications.
What is LANAP gum surgery?
Many patients prefer laser gum treatment because of the difficulty of the traditional treatment for gum diseases. This modern technique offers a more comfortable solution with the help of lasers, namely, LANAP or Laser-assisted new attachment procedure. LANAP will target the diseased gum tissues through a minimally-invasive process involving no scalpels or pain.
The procedure is FDA approved and safe, with no risks of radiation or interaction with other medications. LANAP gum surgery is performed with the help of a precise laser known as PerioLase MVP-7, which addresses the diseased gums to restore the gum condition while maintaining its healthy tissues.
The dentist will examine your gums to evaluate the extent of the disease. A laser system will then be applied to diminish the bacteria, remove the tartar, and reconnect the gums to the root. The procedure lasts about an hour, depending on the condition, and the recovery will be very quick with minimal discomfort.
LANAP gum surgery will cost the same as traditional gum treatment, and many insurance carriers will cover the costs. The procedure may not be for you if the gum disease is too advanced, and you will need to consider other alternatives.
Benefits of LANAP gum surgery
Laser-assisted new attachment procedure has meaningful benefits over traditional gum surgery:
- Less bleeding, pain, and sensitivity;
- Lower risk of infection after the operation;
- Minimal swelling and gum loss; and
- Quick recovery.
It would help if you did not try to tough out your gum disease and seek professional treatment instead. LANAP is a revolutionary system that delivers a helpful solution that can naturally restore your gum. There are virtually no downsides, and there’s no need to suffer through the surgery.
Only qualified periodontists and dentists, who have received proficiency certificates after undergoing an intensive training program can carry out LANAP treatments. Luckily, many trained dentists already have experience in treating gum disease these days.
If you’re looking for a LANAP-trained doctor in California, you should check out Aria Dental in Orange County, where you will find board-certified dental specialists. Backed by decades of experience, we are committed to helping you with any oral condition, from routine checkups to complex therapies, in a convenient environment.
