Laser Gum Disease Treatment in Elk Grove and Davis

LANAP

Dr. Chantry uses an advanced dental laser to provide effective, minimally invasive gum disease treatment.

gum-disease3Gum disease is a continuous bacterial infection that erodes the teeth and eats away at the surrounding gum and bone tissue. It advances in stages, each stage causing deeper and faster destruction. If allowed to continue untreated for too long, teeth could become loose or even fall out.

Dr. Chantry can effectively treat all levels of gum disease with a customized combination of high-tech, minimally invasive procedures, including state-of-the-art laser therapy. These modern techniques make gum disease treatment gentle and eliminate the need for periodontal surgery for most patients.

Expert, gentle care

Dr. Chantry has stayed on the cutting edge of dental laser technology in order to provide effective nonsurgical gum disease treatment, and has three different lasers that can be used to address infection and stimulate fast healing. Our hygiene staff are highly trained and provide gentle cleanings that are thorough, efficient and comfortable.

Determining the Level of Gum Disease

To determine the level of your gum disease, we gently probe the depth of the gum pockets (space between your teeth and gums), and inspect X-rays to see the levels of bone surrounding your teeth. The deeper the pocket and the greater the bone loss, the more severe the gum disease. On probing, we will find one of the three basic conditions described below.

  • Healthy gums—Healthy gums are pink, firm and do not bleed easily. Gums naturally attach to the teeth between 1 and 3 mm below the visible gumline.
  • Gingivitis— is the first stage of gum disease, and is characterized by inflamed or bleeding gums only. The gums have not yet started detaching from the teeth and no bone loss has yet occurred. This condition is usually resolvable with thorough professional cleaning and effective home oral care.
  • Periodontitis—Periodontitis is the second and more serious stage of gum disease. This is where the gums progressively detach from the teeth, and the surrounding bone gets eaten away. It advances from mild to moderate to severe, with the level of gum detachment and bone loss becoming worse until the tooth finally becomes loose and falls out.

Our Comfortable and Effective Gum Disease Treatment

Depending on your individual circumstances, Dr. Chantry may treat your overall situation with any one or a combination of the procedures below, and balance it with effective home oral care education.

Thorough deep cleaning

The first line of attack in treating all levels of gum disease is thorough removal of the accumulated bacterial deposits on the teeth and in the gum pockets. This is known as “scaling”. We use ultrasonic scalers which generate high-frequency vibrations that gently and thoroughly break up these deposits.

Ultrasonic scalers clean deeper than traditional instruments and are more comfortable for patients. We also smooth the surfaces of the tooth roots so the gums will reattach easily and close up the pocket. This known as “root planing.”

Antibiotic therapyperiodontal-gum-disease-treatment

When needed, Dr. Chantry places Arestin® time-released topical antibiotic onto highly infected tissues as an additional assault on any remaining bacteria. He can also use an oral antibiotic to attack the infection from within the bloodstream.

Gentle laser treatment

In addition to scaling and root planing for advanced cases of periodontitis, Dr. Chantry will use an advanced soft-tissue dental laser called the Millennium Periolase® to thoroughly remove any remaining infection and promote healing.

doctor with patient showing x-ray

Dr. Chantry thoroughly explains every step of the procedure before treatment.

He uses the laser to gently remove the surface layer of diseased gum tissue, sterilize the pocket of any remaining bacteria and stimulate fast healing and reattachment of the gums to the teeth. The procedure is formally known as Laser-Assisted New Attachment Procedure (LANAP).

The laser affects only the targeted gum tissues and leaves any other tissues unharmed. It also seals the blood vessels in the tissues as it operates. Thus, healing is fast and there is little to no post-treatment swelling or discomfort. The dental laser eliminates the need for traditional periodontal surgery with scalpels and sutures for most patients.

Periodontal surgery

In certain severe cases, periodontal surgery is needed to access the bacterial deposits buried deep below the gum line, and sometimes below the bottom of the pocket. Dr. Chantry is very experienced in periodontal surgery and provides precise, gentle treatment.

Sedation and natural relaxation

Dr. Chantry provides both oral conscious sedation and alpha-wave natural relaxation options for patients who need extra help with anxiety.

Home oral care education

Home oral care education is vital to the success of any gum disease treatment. Our hygienist will thoroughly educate you on effective home oral care techniques so you can keep your teeth and gums healthy between visits. She uses educational videos and demonstrations to help you do the best job possible.

Hygiene maintenance visits

Even the best home oral care cannot remove all the bacteria that accumulate, and a schedule of regular dental cleanings after treatment are needed to keep gum disease from recurring. Dr. Chantry will work with you to determine the frequency of cleanings that will be best for your situation.

Perio-Protect


Dr. Chantry uses PerioProtect to help guard against gum disease

Symptoms of Gum Disease

  • gumdiseaseRed or swollen gums
  • Tender or bleeding gums
  • Sensitive teeth
  • Painful chewing
  • An abscess below your gumline
  • Receding gums or teeth that appear longer than normal
  • Loose teeth or teeth that have shifted position

$69 New Patient Special

If you suspect you might have gum disease, take advantage of our New Patient Special Offer and see Dr. Chantry for a comprehensive exam and evaluation. He will be able to tell if you have gum disease, how far it has progressed, and what the options are to effectively treat it, including advanced laser therapy. Your visit will include:

Friendly greeting

  • Comprehensive oral exam
  • X-rays
  • Cleaning
  • Gum disease evaluation
  • TMJ (jaw joint) examination
  • Oral cancer screening

Usual value: $279

Call to request an appointment: Elk Grove 916‑249‑0360 • Davis 530‑601‑4201 • Yuba City 530‑491‑4448, or click here to request an appointment online.