LASER
DENTISTRY............
LASER
PERIODONTAL THERAPY
What is Periodontics?
Periodontics is that
specialty of dentistry which encompasses the prevention,
diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the supporting and
surrounding tissues of the teeth or their substitutes and
the maintenance of the health, function and esthetics of
these structures and tissues.
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Why You Need
A Periodontal Screening
Periodontal disease
is a bacterial infection that affects the attachment fibers
and supporting bone that hold your teeth in your mouth.
A periodontal screening is an easy way for your dental care
professional to determine the state of your periodontal
health. During this screening, a small measuring probe is
gently placed between your tooth and gum to assess your
periodontal health. Early detection and treatment of periodontal
disease can help you keep your teeth for a lifetime.
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CONTRIBUTING FACTORS
TO PERIODONTAL DISEASE
The response of the gums and bone
to dental plaque may be modified by one or more of the following
factors.
- Poorly fitting dental restorations
- Smoking
- Crowded teeth, improper bite alignment
- Clenching or grinding of teeth
- Hormonal changes, including pregnancy, menstruation and
menopause
- Diet
- Systemic diseases, including blood disorders and diabetes
- Medications, including calcium channel blockers and anti-convulsants
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Warning
Signs Of Periodontal Disease
- When gums bleed
during brushing
- Swollen, red or tender gums
- Longer teeth
- Pus appears when pressing the gums
- Loose teeth
- Change is position of teeth
- Change in the way your teeth fit when you bite
- Bad breath or bad taste
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What Is Periodontal Disease?
Periodontal disease
starts by a bacterial infection that destroys the gums,
bone and ligaments supporting the teeth. Periodontal disease
progresses silently, often without pain or symptoms. It
may develop slowly or progress rapidly.Nine out of ten people
are afflicted with some form of periodontal disease in their
lifetime. Periodontal disease affects more than half the
population over 18 years of age. After 35, approximately
three out of four adults develop some form of gum disease.
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How
Does Periodontal Disease Develop?
Bacteria called plaque
forms at the point where the teeth meet the gums, as well
as between the teeth. If it is not removed daily, plaque
multiplies into colonies. Unremoved plaque hardens into
tartar, a tough gritty deposit which, because of its roughness,
collects more plaque. Tartar can only be removed by a dentist
or dental hygenist. If plaque is allowed to develop, an
inflamation of the gums occurs called gingivitis. As gingivitis
worsens, gums begin to pull away and recede from the teeth.
Pockets of bacteria form and deepen, reaching the bone and
destroying the bone that anchors the teeth. The advanced
stage of this disease is called periodontitis, which can
lead to tooth loss if not treated. Other causes of periodontal
disease, aside from plaque (the chief cause), are conditions
affecting the immune system such as diabetes, hormone imbalances,
thyroid malfunction and pregnancy, and also some medications
and hereditary factors.
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Diagnosis
Of Periodontal Disease
During checkup, the
periodontist uses an instrument called a periodontal probe.
This determines if there is any breakdown in the attachment
of the gums to the teeth, or early development of pockets
between the teeth and gums. The depth of the pockets is
measured in millimeters with the periodontal probe. Up to
three millimeters is considered normal.. deeper than three
millimeters indicates a potential problem. X-rays are taken
if there is concern over possible bone destruction.
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TREATMENT
OF PERIODONTAL DISEASE
The main goal of
periodontal treatment is eradication of the disease process
from the gums, ligaments and bones that surround the teeth,
and restoration of health that can be predictably maintained
in the future.
PHASE I
Initial treatment
involves educating patients in the proper methods of effective,
daily plaque removal and oral hygiene. This is a critical
component of successful therapy.
Scaling and root planing are performed to clean the tooth
structure and remove bacterial plaque and calculus deposits
(the source of the infection) from the gum pockets. This
may be the only treatment necessary in cases of gingivitis
and very mild periodontitis
PHASE II
In cases which demonstrate
deeper gum pockets and underlying bone loss, it becomes
necessary to eliminate the diseased gum pockets and bony
destruction with osseous (bone) surgery. The gum is "flapped"
and retracted away from the teeth to expose the underlying
roots and bone deformities. The bone is contoured to approximate
a normal physiologic profile, and the gum is sutured back
to place. When the gum heals, normal probing depth is re-established
between the gum and tooth (ideally 1-3mm). The attainment
of minimal probing depth facilitates easy removal of plaque
by patients at home and by hygienists during professional
cleaning.
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SEQUENCE OF EVENTS
DURING OSSEOUS SURGERY
Additional treatment modalities
may be necessary to treat periodontal disease and restore
health.
These may
include:
- Bone
grafts for bone regeneration
- Gum grafts to
treat gum recession and pathological root exposure
- Cosmetic plastic surgery of the gums
to improve appearance
- Fabrication of night guards for bruxism
( tooth grinding )
- Splinting or bonding
teeth together for increased strength and stability
- Orthodontics ( braces ) to straighten
and realign teeth
- Removal of diseased roots on some types of molars
- Use of medications such as antibiotics, fluoride and antimicrobial
rinses
Laser Dentistry Procedures and Effects:
LASER
PERIODONTAL THERAPY
Laser dentistry or
laser periodontics allows for the treatment of gum disease
at any earlier stage. In addition, it can be useful to pregnant
women and people with debilitating medical conditions. While
there is no guarantee of total "pain free laser dentistry"
discomfort is greatly reduced. By receiving dental laser
treatments, patients often have no need for Novocain or
other anesthetics! Dental laser treatment, often referred
to as laser periodontal treatment, works well for treating
canker sores and bacterial infections around teeth and gums.
During a treatment
it is also common for the patient to wear protective glasses
toprotect his/her eyes from continued exposure to bright
light. The laser emits a tiny ticking sound-a far cry from
the days of traditional dental drills. However, keep in
mind that a laser might not be appropriate for all procedures.
Today, many dental services can be performed with either
the laser or traditional treatment, and are generally covered
by most insurance plans. Dr Phillip F. Ajaje should be able
to determine whether or not laser dentistry is right for
you.
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LASER
PERIODONTAL PROCEDURES
• Full thickness flap
• Partial thickness flap
• Split thickness flap
• Laser soft tissue curettage (The
removal of tissue or growths from a body cavity)
• Laser removal of diseased, infected,
inflamed and necrosed soft tissue within the periodontal
pocket
• Removal of highly inflamed edematous
tissue affected by bacteria penetration of the pocket lining
and junctional epithelium
• Removal of granulation tissue from
bony defects
• Sulcular debridement
(removal of diseased or inflamed soft tissue in the
periodontal pocket to improve clinical indices including
gingival index, gingival bleeding index, probe depth, attachment
loss and tooth mobility)
• Osteoplasty and osseous recontouring
(removal of bone to correct osseous
defects and create physiologic osseous contours)
• Ostectomy (resection of bone to
restore bony architecture, resection of bone for grafting,
etc.)
• Osseous crown lengthening - refer
below
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Osseous Crown
Lengthening
When it comes to a procedure like
osseous crown lengthening, the OPUS 5 excels. Because it
cuts soft tissue, hard tissue and bone, you can use a single
instrument to create the biologic width necessary for problem-free
aesthetic restorations.Pre-op
view, no biologic width for crowns
Trough soft tissue, shaving osseous
tissue
Immediately post-op, temporaries
in place
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MAINTENANCE
AND PREVENTION
Once the active phase
of treatment is complete and health has been restored, it
is extremely important that patients be seen by a hygienist
for routine dental and periodontal cleaning on a regular
basis. This regimen, along with diligent home care and oral
hygiene, will give the best chance for preventing recurrence
of disease and maintaining long term periodontal health.
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The
following are the different types of Laser Dental procedures
that are available:
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LASER ENDODONTICS
What
is Endodontics?
Endodontics is the
area of dentistry dealing with the prevention, diagnosis,
and treatment of disorders of the dental pulp.
Endodontic therapy (root canal) is a treatment modality
that will save diseased or injured teeth. The alternative
to endodontics is extraction. Typically, a severely decayed
tooth or a tooth with a large filling will begin to ache.
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MORE............
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LASER PERIODONTICS
What is Periodontics?
Periodontics is that
specialty of dentistry which encompasses the prevention,
diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the supporting and
surrounding tissues of the teeth or their substitutes and
the maintenance of the health, function and esthetics of
these structures and tissues. READ
MORE............
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LASER PEDODONTICS
What
is Pedodontics?
Pedodontics or Pediatric
Dentistry refers to a branch of dentistry that specializes
in dental care for children under the age of 16. Pediatric
dentists require an extra two to three years of dental training
that prepare them in meeting the unique dental needs of
infant, children, and adolescent dental care. This also
includes those with special health care needs.
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LASER SOFT TISSUE APPLICATIONS 1
SOFT TISSUE
PROCEDURES INCLUDING PULPAL TISSUES
• Excisional and incisional biopsies
• Exposure of unerupted teeth
• Fibroma removal - A benign tumor
that consists of fibrous tissue.
• Flap preparation – incision of soft
tissue to prepare a flap and expose the bone
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LASER SOFT TISSUE APPLICATIONS 2
• Implant recovery
• Incision and drainage of abscesses
• Laser soft tissue curettage of the post-extraction tooth
sockets and the periapical are during apical surgery
• Leukoplakia - refer below
• Operculectomy
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MORE............
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LASER SURGERY
Laser surgery for
soft tissue management and tooth whitening to enable cosmetic
dentists tp provice the superior dental care.
For soft tissue and
tooth whitening procedures:
- Gingivectomy Gingivoplasty
- Gingival troughing
- Gingival curettage
- Soft tissue crown
lengthening
- Frenectomy
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MORE............
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