Gum Disease Laser Therapy
Gum disease affects nearly 10 percent of Americans of all ages. While poor oral hygiene is a leading cause of gum disease, you can also develop it due to smoking, genetic factors, having a chronic health condition like diabetes, or the effects of certain medications.
Gum disease laser therapy in Fergus Falls, MN is a new, more comfortable way to treat gum disease. We encourage you to schedule a consultation if you feel concerned that you could have gum disease or just want to learn more about treating it with laser therapy.
How Does Gum Disease Develop?
Your gums are tissues that cover your teeth and help to hold them in place. You have gum disease, also known as periodontitis, when your gums become infected. The symptoms of untreated periodontitis can range from mild to severe.
When plaque and tartar remain on your teeth and gums, they develop into bacteria that attack your gum tissues and tooth enamel. The good news about gum disease is that you can reverse it in the early stages with a firm commitment to a daily oral healthcare routine at home. The longer you go with untreated symptoms, the more likely it is that you will have to deal with the irreversible consequences of severe gum disease.
What Are the Symptoms of Gum Disease?
We urge you to schedule an exam at our Fergus Falls, Minnesota dental practice as soon as possible if you have at least a few of the symptoms listed below.
- Blood on your toothbrush after brushing
- Chronic bad breath, despite daily brushing, flossing, and using mouthwash
- Deep pockets have formed between your teeth and gums
- Gums are red and swollen instead of pink and firm
- Gums feel painful or tender when touched
- Loose teeth
- Pain when you bite into and/or chew your food
- Pus on your gumline or between teeth
- Receding gums
- Teeth feel different when you bring the top and bottom rows together
During your exam, Dr. Scott Wagnild or Dr. Kell Schroeder inspect your teeth and gums, take several X-rays, and ask questions about your medical history and oral health. They use this information to determine if you are a good candidate forgum disease laser therapy in Fergus Falls MN.
How Laser Therapy Works to Treat Gum Disease
Before laser therapy became available, the primary way to treat gum disease was root planing and scaling. The process involved using handheld instruments to scrape plaque and tartar from one-quarter of your mouth at a time. We now use a laser to loosen the plaque and bacteria from around your gumline and the roots of your teeth. The last step is to smoothen rough spots on your teeth to prevent another bacterial infection in the future.
Please feel free to reach out with additional questions about gum disease or to schedule an exam.
