Most people know that periodontal disease is a disease of the gums. What they don't know, is, that it is linked to other health issues such as diabetes, kidney problems, and osteoporosis.
In the past, treatment was painful. Roxanne Stein shows us how new therapies are helping to ease the pain.
Eileen Schlagenhaft had this reaction when her dentist told her she had periodontal disease. "Oh no"
"Oh no" because Eileen was treated 15 years ago for this common gum disease.
"The surgery 15 years ago you were uncomfortable you had packing in the mouth you had stitches you had been cut."
That was then, this is now..not surgery, but a laser treatment for Eileen.
It's "Lanap" laser therapy used specifically to treat periodontitis.
"It doesn't damage the tissues and it doesn't damage the tooth."
Dr. Valerie Marino of North Palm Beach is one of about 1000 dentists in the country with the Lanap laser to treat periodontal disease.
"The bone level should be here..periodonal destroys the bone level and you can see the bone level has been reduced." "Lanap is specifically for bacteria that causes gum disease."
"Another benefit of the Lanap treatment for periodontal disease is the laser destroys a wider zone of bacteria and that helps to prevent the recurrence of the disease. When you use the laser if you think of it as light energy this energy is spread out in tissues around the tooth as well as on the tooth surface."
Two weeks ago, Eileen was treated with the Lanap laser and she's feeling much better than she did after the surgical procedure 15 years ago.
"It's as easy as getting a tooth filled."
Little down time, little pain and insurance, in some cases, does cover the Lanap laser procedure.
