LANAP Treats Gum Disease Before It Worsens
When gum disease starts, it is known as gingivitis. The condition begins when bacteria, plaque, and food debris aren’t removed from those hard to reach places that the toothbrush doesn’t hit. At first, you may just notice that your gums are tender, red, or bleed a little after brushing. When left untreated, the reversible gingivitis can lead to the more serious periodontal disease, which may mean gum recession, inflammation that affects the entire body’s health, and lost teeth. When you understand more about this disease you are better prepared to spot it and treat it with LANAP laser gum surgery.
Symptoms of Gum Disease
Some of the most common symptoms of gum disease include:
- Change in your bite
- Mouth sores
- Constant bad breath, also known as halitosis
- Separating or loose teeth
- Receding gums that seem to pull away from the teeth; this may also make the teeth look longer
- Bleeding after flossing, brushing, or eating hard food
- Gums that are swollen, tender, or red
- Pus between the teeth and gums
Million of Americans are unaware that they suffer from this condition. If it is caught early, the effects can often be reserved with simple treatment, but when it gets serious the treatment may need to be more regular to maintain oral health.
What Should You Do?
If you are concerned that you have gum disease, the first thing you should do is schedule an appointment with Dr. Andrés R. Sánchez to discuss your options and determine the severity of your condition. There are many ways to treat the disease, but one of the most advanced and beneficial ones that we offer at PerioWest is the LANAP treatment.
Where stitches, scalpels, and sutures were common in previous treatments, LANAP uses a precision laser to kill up to 99% of the bacteria in the gums that cause disease. Because the laser is so precise, very little gum tissue is removed, the procedure is minimally invasive, and recovery is faster. As the bacteria is removed by a laser, it has no chance to develop an immunity to the treatment.
To learn more about LANAP and how it is used to treat gum disease in Minneapolis, MN give periodontist Dr. Sanchez a call today and schedule a consultation.