Gum Disease Treatment and Fotona Lightwalker® Osseous Surgery

We’ve all heard that flossing is important, but not everyone knows exactly why. Flossing can help keep your teeth clean, but it also plays a significant role in keeping your gums healthy. Without proper gum care, you run a significant risk of gum disease.

Gum disease can be treated with professional cleanings and gum disease treatment in Flower Mound, Texas. However, it’s much better to avoid gum disease in the first place. Drs. Angelie Zamora, Nick Cobb and Ruasha Shrestha have found that understanding the risks of gum disease, as well as how gum disease can be treated, is very helpful as our patients work towards healthier gums and teeth.

The Risks of Gum Disease

One of the biggest risks of gum disease is that it can lead to pockets within your gums. These pockets occur when gum disease becomes severe enough that the gums begin to pull away from the teeth, leaving small, exposed spaces, or pockets, that the gumline used to securely cover.

Pockets harbor plaque and bacteria, especially if you’re already dealing with gum disease. If these pockets are left untreated, they will continue to harbor bacteria, which can lead to infections, loose permanent teeth and potentially, even tooth loss.

Osseous surgery can reduce the consequences of gum disease, shrink gum pockets and dramatically improve your oral health. We use Fotona Lightwalker® lasers in order to make our osseous surgery faster, easier and more comfortable.

What is Osseous Surgery?

Osseous surgery is one of the most effective ways to treat severe gum disease and clean out plaque and bacteria from gum pockets. It is often used when other methods, like scaling and planing, haven’t been successful.

A typical osseous surgery proceeds as follows:

• Anesthesia. Your dentist will always numb your gums to make sure you are comfortable and don’t feel any pain throughout the treatment.
• Deep Cleaning. Next, the dentist will make a small incision in your gums so that it’s possible to reach deep enough inside the gums to completely remove all plaque and bacteria hidden there.
• Bone Check. During the deep cleaning process, your dentist will be able to closely examine the jawbone around your teeth to make sure it’s undamaged and can support your teeth.
• Recovery. After the area has been cleaned and sanitized, your dentist will close the incision and cover it with a dressing to aid recovery.
• Aftercare. Your gums should feel normal within a few days. In the meantime, your dentist may recommend avoiding certain foods, and they will give advice on managing discomfort while you heal.

How Do Fotona Lightwalker Lasers Change Osseous Surgery?

We use the Fotona Lightwalker laser to assist with cleaning during osseous surgery. Dental lasers are extremely effective at cleaning and sterilizing, and they do so in a very minimally invasive way. Lasers are very gentle on soft tissues and make a noticeable difference in surgical procedures.

The Fotona Lightwalker laser is gentler on the gums, reduces bleeding and makes healing periods faster. The use of lasers has been proven to give patients a more comfortable experience, which is something we value highly. We’re excited to share the benefits of the Fotona Lightwalker laser with you!

How Can You Avoid Gum Disease?

While our gum disease treatment is top of the line and can stop gum disease in its tracks, the best option is to avoid gum disease in the first place. Here are some of the most important tips to keeping your gums healthy:

• Floss Every Day. If you aren’t in the habit of flossing regularly, develop that habit now. Flossing at least once a day can significantly reduce your risk of gum disease by removing debris and eliminating plaque.
• Pay Attention to Your Gums. If you notice that your gums are sore or bleed when you floss, it’s a sign that you need to pay closer attention to your gums. Make sure to continue brushing and flossing, and visit your dentist if it gets worse.
• Keep Regular Dentist Appointments. Sometimes gum disease can fly under the radar, which is one reason why it’s so important to visit your dentist regularly. Not only will we check for signs of gum disease, but we will professionally clean and floss your teeth.

Treat Your Gum Disease at Smiles Family Dental

You don’t need to live with painful gum disease when there are so many solutions available. Whether your treatment is a simple cleaning or osseous surgery with our laser technology, we can eliminate gum pain and help you maintain positive oral health.

Contact us today at 972-346-1100 to learn more about osseous surgery or to schedule an appointment with our dentists!