Does laser periodontal therapy hurt?

If you’ve recently been to a dental screening and have discovered that you have periodontal disease, you’ll want to know more about the procedure. Does periodontal therapy hurt?

If you have periodontal disease, your gums are infected. Your gums become swollen, red, painful, and may bleed when they are infected. If the infection is left alone to heal itself, you might get worse and even lose teeth. Dr. Gurinsky may recommend laser periodontal therapy to rid you of your gum disease and protect your teeth. Laser periodontal treatment remains about 85 percent successful for most patients.

Periodontal laser therapy uses a dental laser to remove inflamed gum tissue from the area around the tooth. After the infected tissue is removed, the dentist root scales the excess plaque from under the gum line and around the root of the infected area. Next, Dr. Gurinski smooths the root, and the space between the root and gums regenerates and heals.

Does periodontal therapy hurt?

The correct answer to that question remains “Yes.” But if you have a gum infection, your gums most likely have pain. If you and your dentist catch periodontal disease in the early stages, you’ll experience less pain during treatment. Many people report feeling afraid of the pain of a periodontal laser therapy treatment. But only a few individuals report having extreme pain during the procedure.

No general anesthesia remains needed during the process. The lasers target the infected area and remove it more accurately than other types of gum surgery. Laser periodontal surgery is less invasive than traditional methods of gum surgery, and healing occurs much faster.

Advanced periodontal laser therapy plus improved anesthetic use add up to make treating your gum disease tolerable. Dr. Gurinsky uses pain medications, local pain anesthetic, and even sedation to aid in keeping your pain levels down during the treatment. He also suggests or prescribes pain medication for his periodontal patients after the procedure. Some individuals only need over-the-counter pain medications to relieve their gum pain.

You’ll receive specific instructions on oral care for after your periodontal laser therapy. You may also be prescribed antibiotics to fight infection. Don’t stay away from the dentist due to a little pain. Dr. Gurinsky will do everything in his power to keep your periodontal therapy as painless as possible during and after your procedure.

Cigarette smoking has been know to promote gum disease for years, but what about the dangers of vaping on the teeth and gums?

We are learning  that the bacteria in the mouth from vaping is almost the same as those who smoke cigarettes.  Smoking  cigarettes and vaping can both upset the bacterial balance of the mouth.  This in turn can make it more prone to inflammation and infection.

While cigarette smokers showed more gum disease than those who just vaped,  both were significantly higher than in those who did not.

Even though there is not tobacco in the vape devices, what seems to be most damaging to the cells in the vaping devices is the heating up of the liquid that contains nicotine and other substances, like propylene glycol, glycerol and flavoring. The heating creates a “vapor” and additional toxic chemicals that are inhaled.

Why are my teeth shifting?

What is causing my teeth to move? Various cause can include grinding your teeth, growth of jaw and jawbone, aging, gum disease, wearing an oral appliance such as a CPAP, nightguard or occlusal splint.  It is best to see a dentist or periodontist to rule out if you may have gum disease and to evaluate your bite.  

Synthetic enamel?Did you know that the hardest substance in the body is tooth enamel? Enamel is essentially the tough outer covering of the portion of the tooth above the gumline. Over time, dentists have repaired damaged and decayed teeth with many different materials such as beeswax, amalgam alloys, resin composites, ceramics and now newer materials that are stronger and more esthetic than previous generations. But all these options are synthetic materials and display wear and weaknesses. A team of scientists are in the process of making a new material that mimics enamel’s fundamental properties of strength and elasticity. Not only could this material be used in the oral cavity, but could also possibly be used to strengthen fractured bones, improve pacemakers and treat other biological indications. Stay tuned! Do I still need to take antibiotics before my dental appointment just because I had my knee/hip replaced? For decades, we have been advocating taking antibiotics prior to dental visits in those who have artificial joints. However, according to a study from England, we no longer have a reason to take antibiotics before a dental visit. (That said, your medical doctor might still request that you do.) Much of the rational for no longer prescribing these medications to patients is due to a large and unnecessary financial burden on individuals and the health care system. It also creates an unnecessary risk to patients, from adverse drug reactions, and can contribute to antibiotic resistant bacteria.

The risk of heart disease risk increases after COVID — even with a mild case

A study has shown that even with a mild case of COVID-19, a person’s risk of cardiovascular problems (heart attack and stroke) can increase for at least a year after diagnosis. Age and risk factors did not seem to play any role in this either.

Could a Chewing Gum in Pregnancy Help Prevent Premature Deliveries?

Gum disease has been linked to a number of systemic health concerns, including increased risk for preterm birth. A long-term 10 year study which included over 10000 women suggests that chewing sugar-free gum with xylitol during pregnancy may lower this risk. While xylitol is chemical responsible for lowering this risk, the study only looked at its use from chewing gum and not using it other forms (i.e. lozenges, rinses, drinks, etc).
The findings showed that pregnant women who chewed the gum were less likely to deliver early, as compared to women who only received education (12.6% vs 16.5%. Women even saw improvements to their overall oral health.

Want to schedule an appointment?

Contact us to schedule