HOUSTON—The dentist’s chair is becoming a much more pleasant place for dental patient Michael McKenna. Thanks to new technology, his teeth are improving after years of fighting a common, yet embarrassing, problem—gum disease.
“I noticed it in the back first and slowly worked my way around the front and I started noticing my front gums starting to recede,” said McKenna.
His teeth were loose, and bacteria filled his mouth. That is, until he found out about a laser treatment for the disease.
“I wish I would have known about it three years prior,” he said.
Dentists now use a laser called Lanap, which wipes years of bacteria and decay away in a matter of hours. The laser kills the infection below the gums while leaving healthy tissue alone. Studies show it also helps regenerate lost bone and gums.
“Once we get the gums healthy you don’t have the inflammatory disease process going on in your body,” said Dr. Dale Brant, cosmetic dentist.
Traditional surgery involves cutting open the gums which can cause intense pain and downtime.
“You cut the gum tissue and you push it back. You clean around the bone and clean around the roots of the teeth,” said Brant.
McKenna says it’s a much different story with the laser. There is minor discomfort and no downtime—and that has him smiling about the recovery and the results.
“I can smile again. I can go on dates again. I’m not worried about, ‘do I have bad breath?’ I can eat whatever I want.”
This is an improvement in health and lifestyle that should last.
