I would like more information on the laser used to correct pockets around the teeth. I may need to use this in the near future.

Thank you,
Richard Sinclair

Richard,

The procedure that we use to treat pockets around teeth (periodontal disease) is LANAP. You can find information in our website http://www.cosmetic-dentistry-center.com/lanap-t-48.html. LANAP effectively treats periodontal disease and the treatment is easy on the patient and there is very little post operative discomfort. If you currently have pockets around your teeth then it would be in your best interest to get treatment sooner than later. Periodontal disease is a silent disease and when you have an infection or pain that is related to it, and then this will mean that now you have a severe form of it.

Thanks,

Dale J. Brant, DDS
Charles Campbell, DDS

Labels: LANAP, laser assisted new attachment procedure, laser periodontal therapy

What do I need to tell my Houston dentist about my diabetes?

· Discuss any changes or new developments in your medical history
· Let your Houston dentist know if the disease is under control or not.
· List all prescription and over-the-counter drugs you are taking

How can diabetes affect my oral health?

· It can cause tooth decay and periodontal disease.
· It can cause salivary gland dysfunction.
· It can cause fungal infections.
· It can trigger inflammatory skin diseases like lichen planus and lichenoid reactions
· It can complicate infection and delay healing.
· It can impair taste buds.

Does diabetes cause periodontal disease?
Diabetes weakens the immune system, so gum tissue is likely to be affected. Periodontal disease is often linked to the control of diabetes. You may have periodontal disease and not have all of the warning signs. If you notice any of the warning signs of gum disease, see your dentist immediately.

Because diabetes lowers resistance and a prolongs, the longer healing process, periodontal disease often develops among persons with diabetes. It also tends to be more severe.

How can I fight this?
Stay on top of your blood sugar levels. A well-balanced diet is also necessary that will meet your nutritional needs. Practice good oral care at home, and see your Houston dentist on a regular basis. In fact, if you are a diabetic either Type I or Type II, you need to see the dentist more often because of the many complications to oral health you potentially face.

What do I do about the dry mouth I often get?
Chewing sugarless gum will help. If you do not like gum use sugarless mints. You can also sip on water or use melting ice chips. DO NOT chew on ice. Also, restrict your use of caffeine and alcohol. Nothing good comes from smoking so we do not even need to elaborate on that point.

What other some other oral conditions that can be associated with diabetes?
Oral candidiasis, which is a fungal infection in the mouth, seems to be more prevalent among diabetics, including those who wear dentures. Your Houston dentist may prescribe antifungal medications to treat this condition. Consistent and proper oral hygiene is a must.

Another problem is a skin disorder called Lichen planus. It produces lesions in the mouth. More severe strains produce painful ulcers that erode surface tissue. While there is no permanent cure, your Houston dentist may prescribe a topical anesthetic or other medication to reduce and relieve the condition.

What if I need oral surgery?
Infection is a risk for those with diabetes. This can make it more difficult to control blood glucose levels. If you are having extensive oral surgery, your Houston dentist may prescribe antibiotics to minimize the risk of infection. LANAP is a much better procedure for diabetics because it involves minimal cutting of tissue, and because the laser is sterilizes tissue as it removes diseased material.

Labels: diabetes, houston dentists, laser periodontal therapy

For a long time, Houston dentists have known that risk factors such as smoking, alcohol use, and drug use contribute to the premature birth of infants with a low birth weight. New evidence is appearing that suggests a new risk factor – gum disease.

Pregnant women with periodontal disease could be as much as seven times more likely to give birth to a baby that is born too early and too small. It is important for us to answer a few questions in regards to what causes this.

At what stage does periodontal disease have this effect?
Periodontal disease is long-term, chronic infection of the gums. Pregnancy will not cause periodontal disease. Most pregnant women have experienced gum disease a long time before conception. That is why it is so important to get a dental examination before getting pregnant.

This is the one way to ensure that you will have a healthy baby. While pregnancy does not call Periodontitis, it can cause pregnancy gingivitis to develop. This is caused by the elevated hormone levels of pregnancy, and it can occur in women with healthy mouths.

How can pregnant women reduce these risks?
It is also important that every pregnant woman have her teeth cleaned at least 2 to 3 times during her term. This helps ensure the delivery of a full term, healthy baby. More research is required to confirm just how periodontal disease affects pregnancy outcomes.

It appears that gum disease triggers increased levels of biological fluids that induce labor. In addition to this, data indicates that women whose periodontal condition worsens during pregnancy have a higher risk of premature delivery.

All infections are grounds for concern among pregnant women because they can affect the health of the baby. The Academy of Periodontology recommends that women considering pregnancy have a periodontal evaluation.

What specific things does The Houston Medical Center Dental Group do for pregnant women during the course of such evaluation?
We perform a comprehensive dental exam. This includes all the necessary x-rays, digital photos, oral cancer screen, periodontal screening, a head and neck exam and an evaluation for their teeth.

If you discover a mild case of periodontal disease, how do you treat it?
In most cases, we can treat mild cases of periodontal disease with scaling and root planning. This is done over a course of 3 to 4 appointments. The hygienist is an expert at this treatment.

How do you treat a severe case of periodontal disease?
We use LANAP. We have found that Laser Periodontal Therapy is far more effective than traditional periodontal surgery because it poses less risk of infection and facilitates faster healing rates.

At what point do you have to involve an MD?
If necessary, we will involve the MD if the patient has a severe periodontal problem while the mother is pregnant. We will also consult them before and during treatment.

Labels: laser periodontal therapy, perio-preterm low birth rate, periodontal disease

Laser Periodontal Therapy is a highly sophisticated dental procedure that is approved by the FDA It is used primarily for the treatment of periodontal disease and bone regeneration.

LPT can help eliminate infection and heal diseased gum tissue which, if left untreated, can lead to early tooth loss. Research suggests that dental infections may also be associated with hardening of the arteries, heart attack, stroke and premature births.

Laser periodontal therapy (LPT) represents a true technological revolution in the treatment of periodontal disease, analogous to the advance that LASIK brought to the world of ophthalmology. LPT takes some of the most effective treatment methodologies that have been used for decades and improves them with the conservative use of a laser.

This very unique blend of treatments now proves to be just as effective as surgery for the treatment of periodontal disease.

Houston cosmetic dentists prefer to use the LPT procedure as often as possible because it allows us to preserves as much of the healthy gum tissue as possible. It also better maintains the height of the gums around the teeth, and it minimizes the amount of discomfort felt by the patient.

The laser generates a tiny beam of concentrated light energy. This energy sterilizes the area, removes diseased tissue only, and it facilitates the scaling and root planing that is also critical to the procedure.

The LPT procedure is basic enough, with the advanced Periolase™ laser doing the majority of the work that more primitive, metal cutting tools once did.

A Perio probe reveals exactly how much excessive pocket depth is present.
B The dentist uses the laser to remove bacteria and diseased tissue.
C The dentist then cleans root surface tartar using an ultrasonic scaler and special hand instruments.
D The dentist uses the laser to finish cleaning the pocket and to also seal the pocket closed so new germs cannot enter.
E The healing of gums to now clean root surface occurs.
F Any bite trauma is adjusted.
G Healing occurs.

Benefits of LPT:

• Because laser periodontal therapy involves no cutting of tissue, it results in faster healing.
• Also, because there is not cutting of healthy tissue, there is also minimal post-operative pain. What discomfort there is can easily be managed with Motrin®.
• Because the laser cauterizes blood vessels as it cuts away diseased tissue, there is less bleeding both during the procedure and after the procedure.
• Patients spend less time in the dental chair than they do in traditional surgery.
• The heat of the laser sterilizes the periodontal pocket, so the risk of infection is minimized.
• Laser periodontal therapy also decreases sensitivity both during and after the treatment.
• There are other benefits besides treating gum disease. These include:
  -Removing the stinging sensation of Aphtous ulcers.
  -Performing frenectomy and gingivectomy procedures.

Labels: LANAP, laser assisted new attachment procedure, laser periodontal therapy, LPT

Houston smokers have felt increasingly pressed upon to quit their habits due to recent city-wide cessation laws. While many Houston smokers have complained about what they perceive to be an absurdity in disallowing smoking from places such as bars and nightclubs, some consideration needs to be given to the fact that recent studies have linked smoking to more than what was previously known about heart and lung diseases.

Tobacco use of all kinds is now showing to have definite causative links to many problems related to oral health including, but not limited to, gum recession, bone loss, and resulting tooth loss. Even smokers who smoke less than half a pack a day are three times more likely to develop gum disease than people who do not smoke at all.

This is sobering news for Houston smokers who have recently been considering giving up the habit due to the increasing unpopularity of the practice even in places that have been considered heretofore nefarious and shady.

Houston smokers need to educate themselves about some of the more unpleasant facts of periodontal disease before they assume that this is simply a case of minor irritation and occasionally bleeding gums. In reality, only a mild case of Periodontitis proves even that mild.

More severe cases, or course, are both more painful and damaging to the body as a whole.

The condition involves the chronic spread of infections bacteria that affects gum tissue, bone, and attachment fibers that hold the teeth to the jaw bone. As plaque forms on the teeth, bacteria have breeding ground multiply and move into these areas where they can cause gingivitis (inflammation and reddening of the gums) and start progressing toward moderate or even advanced Periodontitis—the type of gum disease that can destroy your mouth and even cause other conditions such as heart disease.

The Houston Medical Center Dental Group is here to help smokers move away from both the destructive causes of such horrific outcomes and move toward a brighter, healthier future. Our cosmetic dentists and dental hygienists want to help Houston smokers—not condemn them.

We offer proactive, individual dental self-care programs, thorough dental examinations, examinations and checks for possible oral cancer, and advanced Laser Periodontal Therapy for even the most severe cases of gum disease.

So whether you think you are ready to quit smoking or not, at least come see us now and let us help you better understand your current condition so you can make an informed, quality decision about yourself and your future dental health.

Labels: Gum Disease, Houston smokers, laser periodontal therapy, periodontal disease

Ask the Dental Experts
Our philosophy is to help our patients achieve and maintain exceptional dental health. We work hard to make sure that our level of care is deserving of our patients’ respect and confidence. Our tradition of preventive dentistry is the basis for all service and care in our practice. We welcome all questions and comments regarding dentistry in the hope that we increase your dental "IQ" and help you make better dental health decisions.

DR Campbell:
My dentist wants me to have periodontal laser treatment. My gums have always been red at the gum line. The spaces are only 3mm and I have no bleeding. I have all veneers and crowns in my mouth. The hygienist will be performing the procedure and has only been doing it for 8 months. Does it sound like I need this procedure?
Thanking you in advance,
Ellen

Thanks for the question, Ellen. It is hard to tell you what we would recommend without seeing you, but let me tell you that laser treatment for periodontal issues is very conservative and current therapy. Red gum lines that you describe are not what we want – we try to achieve pink, non-bleeding tissue as our ideal. We use the Millenium Laser in our office to perform LANAP, an FDA-approved procedure with a lot of science behind it. Again, it is a very conservative and minimally-invasive procedure for periodontal problems, whether those problems be early or advanced.

There is some discussion on our website that might help you with your understanding of what a laser does.

http://www.cosmetic-dentistry-center.com/lanap-t-48.html


Thanks for the question. Feel free to contact our office if you would like to discuss it further.

Chuck Campbell, DDS

Labels: LANAP, laser assisted new attachment procedure, laser periodontal therapy

Dentistry and gum disease go hand and hand back to the beginnings of recorded history. Both Hippocrates and Aristotle wrote about Periodontis in their writings. They recommended certain painless remedies for it, such as ointments, and also mentioned some rather harsh and painful remedies, like the use of a hot wire laid across the gums to sterilize them. During the Middle Ages, gum disease treatments were similarly crude and barbaric, inflicting more discomfort than true healing on the patient.

In the 1800s Dentistry began to advance, yet gum disease treatments still remained primitive by comparison. Many dentists would try to prevent it by cleaning teeth with scrapers or by fixing cavities with oddly-shaped and painful dental tools.

20th-century dentistry treated advanced stages of gum disease by cutting away diseased tissue and grafting healthy tissue in its place. Other method involved removing bacteria from tooth surfaces through the practices of root scaling and planing. It has been proven that a cleaner tooth surface will result in more healthy gums surrounding that tooth.

Twentieth-century general dentistry typically treated gum disease with several types of surgery. One type of surgery was cutting away the diseased portion of the gum and grafting healthy tissue in its place. Another solution used by general dentistry to treat gum disease is root scaling and planing. This involves removing bacteria from the surfaces of teeth that touch the interior of the gums. Creating a more healthy tooth surface contributes to the healing of the gums themselves.

Today, gum removal is more a function of cosmetics than periodontal treatment. It helps make excessively large gums look more proportional to the teeth. In terms of medical treatment for both moderate and advanced Periodontitis, LANAP has proven to be the most effective.

LANAP is done with a sophisticated ND: YAG laser called a PerioLase® MVP-7 that emits an infrared beam that removes diseased tissue and sterilizes gums in the process. An ultrasonic scalar and other very unique hand instruments are then used to remove root surface tartar. This makes LANAP the least invasive of all dental treatments for gum disease, and also the least painful.

Laser Periodontal Therapy
Gum Disease Cure
Gingivitis Treatment
Gum Disease Symptoms

The Cosmetic Dentistry Center specializes in all kinds of dentistry and focuses on making patients both look better and feel better. If you have bleeding gums, or feel soreness around your teeth, call toll free 1-888-790-0309 to schedule an appointment. Gum disease caught early is much easier to treat and alleviate than the more advanced stages of Periodontitis.

Labels: general dentistry, Gum Disease, LANAP, laser periodontal therapy

Dentists estimate that more that 80 percent of the American population has a form of gum disease. However, it is also estimated that only 3% of these people ever seek professional help. Many people assume that gum disease is really not big deal. In reality, there are a number of complications it can lead to that are very severe, or even possibly life threatening.

• The bacteria that cause gum disease can get into the blood and infect internal organs. This can increase the risk of coronary disease, stroke, and infective endocartitis.
• Breathing these bacteria can affect the lungs and cause diseases like obstructive pulmonary disease and emphysema.
• These bacteria can also affect increase production of prostaglandins (hormones that trigger labor) in pregnant women, leading to premature birth.

There are several stages of gum disease, each being more severe than the other. The sooner you get help, the easier Periodontitis is to treat.

Gingivitis
This first stage of gum disease, characterized by gums that are inflamed, red in color, and that frequently bleed. This stage is completely reversible, and presents no risk of bone loss, if it is caught in time.

Mild Periodontitis
At this stage of gum disease, tissues begin to separate from teeth, resulting in gum recession and deep pockets characterized by probing depths of 3-4 mm.

Moderate Periodontitis
This next phase of gum disease is more severe, and can result in bone loss between 4-6mm. Bad breath, loose teeth, and sore gums also appear at this point. Moderate Periodontitis is irreversible with hygiene alone, but it can still be managed.

Advanced Periodontitis
Deep pockets at this stage of gum disease can be 6mm or more in depth and can only be treated by surgery or LANAP.

Refractory Periodontitis
Bone loss and impending tooth loss are inevitable at this point. However, even this stage of Periodontitis can be reversed with cosmetic dentistry. Tooth splints can be used, and some teeth can be extracted and replaced with bridges. Selective teeth can be extracted if need be and replaced with bridges. The best option, however, is a combination of LANAP (also known as Laser Periodontal Therapy) and cosmetic dental implants. LANAP is less invasive than previously preferred forms of surgery, and offers the benefits of speedier recovery time and less damage to healthy tissues.

LANAP
Laser Periodontal Therapy
PerioLase Laser Treatment
LANAP Post Operative Instructions

Gum disease is nothing to take lightly. If you have any of the symptoms described above, you should call our office and schedule an appointment as soon as possible. If we can catch Periodontitis soon enough, only minimal treatment will be needed to restore a bright and healthy smile to you.

Labels: Gum Disease, LANAP, laser assisted new attachment procedure, laser periodontal therapy, periodontal surgery, periodontal treatment

• Light bleeding
• Slight swelling
• Minor soreness

7. If the surgical pack the dentist uses to treat your gum line with falls out, do not be alarmed.
8. Soft and nutritious foods, and particularly high protein foods, are the best diet to eat during this time.
9. Take all your medication that the dentist may give you as proscribed and in the full dosage instructed.
10. It is normal for teeth to be sore during the postoperative stage following LANAP. This occurs because previously loose teeth are now reattaching themselves to the gums and bones.
11. Very intense pain, fever, or severe bleeding is NOT normal after LANAP. Call us immediately if you experience either one of these.

LANAP
Laser Periodontal Therapy
PerioLase Laser Treatment
Gum Disease

The Cosmetic Dentistry Center recommends the quick and relatively painless LANAP procedure for busy Houston area professionals. Both the procedure and the recovery time take much less time than standard surgery takes. We routinely service business owners and executives from Sugar Land, The Woodlands, Clear Lake, Katy, and from other cities like Austin, Dallas, and San Antonio. Call 713.795.5905 today for an appointment.

Labels: LANAP, laser assisted new attachment procedure, laser periodontal therapy, ND: YAG laser, periodontal surgery