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LASER PERIODONTAL DISEASE SCREENING

“Emerging research links periodontal disease to other health problems including heart and respiratory diseases; preterm, low birthweight babies; stroke; osteoporosis; and diabetes.”
-American Academy of Periodontology

What is periodontal (gum) disease?

The word “periodontal” literally means “around the tooth.” Periodontal diseases are bacterial gum infections that destroy the gums and supporting bone that hold your teeth in your mouth. Periodontal disease can affect one tooth or many teeth.
 
Facts about periodontal disease:

• About 50 percent of adolescents and 66 percent of young adults have periodontal disease.
• Approximately 15 percent of adults between 21 and 50 years old and 30 percent of adults over 50 have the disease.
• Research proves that up to 30% of the population may be genetically susceptible to gum disease
• Periodontal bacteria can enter the blood stream and travel to major organs and begin new infections.
• Chronic inflammation, resulting from a periodontal disease, is responsible for 70 percent of all adult tooth losses, and affects 75 percent of people at some point in their lives.

 
Our dental team at Pendleton Family Dental has access to the latest technologies for periodontal disease management. Our dental hygienist use the latest device to assist in the detection and treatment of periodontal disease. It is both painless and non-invasive.

Because calculus fluoresceses differently than healthy tissue, the advanced probing system uses laser fluorescence to quantify calculus left behind by standard cleaning procedures. In short, it verifies successful root cleaning. The device senses the difference and sends a signal to the display, indicating calculus has been identified or in other words, left behind.

The Laser probe can detect 82% of subgingival calculus deposits which allows our dental providers to track the disease over time. Hygiene treatments become more effective, by telling the hygienist to continue root planning or scaling to remove any missed calculus. Best of all, the Laser is safe and comfortable.