Periolase MVP-7

Have you been told that you have gum disease?  There is now a FDA approved LASER that we can use to treat gum disease without the cutting and stitching involved with traditional gum surgery!

With Periolase Laser Periodontal Therapy, Dr. Bilow will use a tiny beam of laser energy to treat your moderate to severe gum disease. The laser light gently removes harmful bacteria and diseased tissue from the gum pocket. Laser Periodontal Therapy is faster—less expensive—and less invasive than surgery.

Since there is no incision and no stitches, you can quickly return to your natural return.  Plus, your body heals naturally so that the gum pockets improve and your teeth become more stable. 

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Laser Periodontal Therapy offers many advantages over conventional gum surgery:

  • No cutting and no suturing
  • Less discomfort during and after the procedure
  • Less time involved—only two, two-hour visits to the dentist and two follow-up visits.  Traditional surgery requires four sessions of one hour each, plus several subsequent visits for suture removal and checkups.
  • Better, longer-last results.  98 percent of laser periodontal therapy patients remain stable after five years, while only 5 percent remain stable after traditional surgery.
  • Faster recovery period—less than 24 hours with laser periodontal therapy.  While you may have to eat a soft diet for a day or two, you’ll probably feel good enough to eat anything you want right after the procedure.  Contrast that with traditional gum surgery, where recovery may take two to four weeks during which patients can experience considerable pain and swelling.
  • Safer – patients with health concerns such as diabetes, HIV, hemophilia or those taking medications such as Coumadin or Cyclosporin can be safely treated using laser periodontal therapy.

What to expect with Periolase Laser Periodontal Therapy

The procedure will take two visits, each lasting 1 ½ to two hours. These must be scheduled within three weeks of each other so that the bacteria on the untreated side will not have a chance to invade the tissue and bone already treated.

You’ll also need a few short follow-up appointments to check your progress.

  • The day before the surgery, you will be given an antibiotic & Advil.
  • During the procedure we will numb your teeth and gums. 
  • We will use the laser to painlessly open the area around your teeth to thoroughly clean off any tartar and infected tissue. 
  • At the conclusion of your appointment, we will use the laser to sterilize the tissue, promote bone regeneration and begin the healing process. The doctor will have to adjust your bite if necessary.
  • We will give you specific post-operative instructions.  Since recovery time is  less than 24 hours in most cases, you can return to work the next day.
  • Most patients report only slight, if any, post-surgery discomfort.

The surgery is relatively painless, but some patients do request Valium to take to help them relax during treatment.  If you chose to take Valium, you must have a ride to and from your appointment.

Your home care is very important, and we will make specific recommendations for your particular situation.  We cannot stress enough the importance of good daily oral hygiene habits.

We will also continue three-month maintenance appointments with our hygienist to help you treat this serious disease.

©2008 Bruce P. Bilow DMD FAGD FICOC
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