Is Laser Gum Surgery Painful?
Perhaps you have recently had your six-month dental checkup and after an examination were told that you have periodontal disease. No one wants to discover they have a gum infection, but there is a wide range of treatment options available that will depend on the severity of your situation. For example, laser gum surgery therapy is a less invasive option than traditional oral surgery, and it is gaining popularity.
You are probably aware that lasers have revolutionized quite a few industries. Now that list includes the dental health care field. This is an exciting innovative breakthrough, with more scientific studies ongoing for this periodontal disease treatment option. Speak with your dental office about how your unique treatment plan should be created.
How Does Laser Gum Surgery Work?
Dental lasers are tubes that use powerful, specific, pinpointed light beam frequencies of thermal energy to perform multiple tasks during gum surgery. Lasers can:
- Target and remove diseased tissue.
- Coagulate blood vessels to form solid blood clots to enrich healing.
- Eliminate all germs and damaging bacteria.
- Sterilize the entire damaged area.
Dental lasers work by creating an energy change in atoms. The laser light creates a shift with the atoms from their current resting state to a stage known as an excited state. This then causes the atoms to produce energy called spontaneous emission.
When the atoms return to their resting state, they emit particles of light called photons. This process provides the calculated energy necessary to perform certain functions, such as cutting soft tissue without the use of a scalpel.
Is Laser Gum Surgery Painful?
Laser gum surgery should indeed be completely painless. However, it is still a medical treatment. It is possible you may feel an itching or burning sensation when the laser is directed at your gums.
Since laser gum surgery treatments are less invasive than gum flap surgery, you will expect significantly less pain. You might experience some very minor discomfort during the procedure, and your dentist may administer a local anesthetic to help manage it.
Is Gum Surgery Effective?
The vast majority of clinical trials on laser gum surgery have yielded a success rate of 88 percent or above. It is as effective as the traditional method of gum treatments and delivers a reduced healing period.
Healing and Recovery
You might resume your normal activities the day following surgery, or it may take a few days to feel completely normal. You might feel mild soreness for several days. Other temporary side effects might include:
- Some very slight bleeding.
- Very minor swelling.
- Some discoloration of the gum tissue.
The healing process usually lasts a week. During that time, your dentist may recommend:
- To not brush or floss the affected area.
- Rinse your mouth and let the water or mouthwash fall out gently.
- Eat a soft diet.
- Abstain from using nicotine products such as cigarettes.
Laser surgery can decrease and eliminate gum disease. However, to keep your mouth clean and free from infection, you must maintain good oral hygiene habits. These include:
- Daily brushing and flossing.
- Seeing your dentist twice a year for preventive care and cleaning.