Laser Dental Cleaning
Even the most diligent brushers need their teeth cleaned professionally at regular intervals to stave off gum disease before it even starts to take hold. Those who are too busy to remember to brush and floss need it more often to keep their smile looking fresh and clean.
Nearly half of people ages 30 and over suffer from gingivitis, or gum disease, to some extent. Your best way to prevent it is by brushing and flossing regularly and ensuring you get regular cleanings from a professional. Fortunately, technology has made ridding your teeth of the plaque that causes cavities and gum disease more effective.
At 6th Avenue Periodontics & Implant Dentistry, we are pleased to offer laser treatment — a gentle, non-surgical and effective approach to cleaning teeth. We can easily treat mild to moderate cases of gum disease at our state-of-the-art downtown San Diego facility. When you come in for a cleaning, you will walk out with more than clean teeth. You’ll leave knowing what options are available to improve the health and appearance of your teeth and gums — both from a medical and a cosmetic perspective. In addition to your laser cleaning, Dr. Niakiani will assess the health of your teeth and gums and let you know the options you should consider to further improve your smile in all ways.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Laser Dental Cleaning?
Unlike you were led to believe in Star Wars, lasers are a safe, sound and effective treatment tool. Dental professionals have been using them for two decades now.
Removing tartar and pockets of bacteria from your gums and teeth below the gum line is easy with soft-tissue laser dentistry. Utilizing a combination of water and laser energy, this procedure safely and gently removes decayed material on teeth without harming surrounding gum tissue. It also removes tartar and bacteria pockets from the places beneath your gum line where your toothbrush cannot reach. There’s typically no need for an anesthetic.
The doctor may use Arestin, a dental antibiotic powder, during the cleaning to promote the health of your teeth. Dr. Niakiani places the Arestin powder inside infected pockets below the gum line. Arestin will rid the area of bacteria and fight against any that enter those periodontal pockets.
How Often Should I Get My Teeth Cleaned?
The traditional answer to this question is twice annually — or about once every six months. If followed regularly, this time frame allows us to stay on top of any problem spots in your mouth and attack tooth decay and gum disease before they really get started.
However, recent research suggests the real answer isn’t so simple. It depends on you, your teeth, your dental history and your teeth-cleaning regimen. One person may get by with one cleaning a year and not experience problems, while someone else will need two or more cleanings annually to keep their teeth clean and healthy.
But it’s safe to say that if you think you are in need of a cleaning, you should come in for one.
At 6th Avenue Periodontics & Implant Dentistry, Dr. Roya Niakiani personally evaluates each patient for gum disease. She performs what we call a “smile evaluation” — a professional assessment of the appearance and health of your teeth and gums. That way, you can know the options that are available to you to get your teeth as healthy as they can be and looking the best they can, too.
What Causes Gum Disease?
Gum disease is caused by bacteria. In the first stage of gum disease, the gums may bleed easily and become red and swollen. This may not be readily visible, however, because the affected portion may be below the gum line and invisible to you. Bacteria are good at hiding. That’s why you need a professional laser cleaning to make sure those important yet hidden areas are kept clean. You can’t do it with your toothbrush alone — though you should still brush regularly, of course.
It is essential that gum disease and its severity be recognized and diagnosed correctly so we can take the right steps to address it. At 6th Avenue Periodontics & Implant Dentistry, we can craft an appropriate plan to attack gum disease directly and prevent it from spreading or progressing.
We encourage you to learn more about how you can help prevent gum disease.
