Laser dentistry is an effective treatment for gum disease that is used to remove bacteria and to rid the mouth of diseased gum tissue. Lasers have been used in dentistry since the 1990s, and they have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Our very own Dr. Nicholas is highly skilled at using the Laser-Assisted New Attachment Procedure (LANAP) for periodontal therapy and to treat gum disease. LANAP employs the revolutionary PerioLase® laser, which is the world’s first digital, dental laser!
Here’s how this remarkable treatment works: Infected gum tissue has a darker color than healthy tissue, so the laser removes only the infected tissue while leaving the healthy tissue safely in place. After the infection is eliminated, the laser covers the treated area again in order to heal the area and to form a clot.
The clot seals the exposed gum tissue and protects it, allowing the gums to heal naturally. Through this process, gum pockets are improved and the teeth become more stable.
Dr. Nicholas is also well-qualified with extensive training to perform Laser Periodontal Therapy (LPT), which is an FDA-approved, non-surgical treatment for gum disease. With LPT, Dr. Nicholas safely uses the light beam to eliminate infected tissue while also removing hardened calculus buildup. Dr. Nicholas can also re-contour the damaged bone for bone regeneration treatments.
LPT preserves as much of your healthy gum tissue as possible, while also removing disease. In short, laser dentistry is an excellent advancement in technology that can assist you in recovering from gum disease and preserving your smile.
For more information about cutting-edge laser dentistry, contact Dr. Anne Nicholas at the Palm Desert Center for Advanced Periodontics, Cosmetic, Sedation and Implant Dentistry. She can be reached by phone at 760-851-0314 or at her office in Palm Desert, California.