Treating Gum Disease Can Save Your Teeth
Plaque and tartar buildup can aggravate gum tissue, causing your gums to swell, bleed, and recede. As periodontal disease advances, periodontal pockets form between the teeth and gums and can lead to tooth loss. Ultimately, gum disease can cause widespread damage to the body, causing conditions like respiratory disease and heart disease.
Gum disease treatment involves removing diseased gum tissue and reattaching healthy gums to teeth. After treatment, periodontist John Starr can help you create an oral care routine to prevent future periodontal health issues and protect your health.
The Symptoms of Gum Disease
- Puffy or swollen gums
- Bad breath
- Abscesses
- Pain when chewing and speaking
- Tender gums that bleed easily
- Loose teeth
- Bright red or purple-looking gums
- New spaces around your teeth
The sooner you have the diseased gum tissue removed and the periodontal pockets reduced, the more likely our periodontist can save your oral health and prevent the need for restorative dentistry like dental implants.
Precise and Comfortable The Revolutionary LANAP Treatment
LANAP, which stands for Laser-Assisted New Attachment Procedure, uses laser technology to eliminate diseased tissue, address inflammation, and reduce the depth of periodontal pockets. This revolutionary development in the field of periodontics also leaves healthy tissue intact and encourages the regeneration of supporting tissues.
As a periodontist who has treated patients since 1984, Dr. John Starr believes the FDA-approved LANAP procedure is one of the most effective methods for treating periodontal disease. He has seen firsthand how this dental technology has benefited many patients at his Starkville and Columbus dental offices.
LANAP Is an Optimal Choice for Patients
Less Pain
Periodontists traditionally used a scalpel and sutures to treat gum disease. Laser treatment is gentle and focuses only on the treatment site, making it a more comfortable procedure with less pain for patients.
Quicker Treatment
Laser dentistry treatment is faster than invasive surgical methods. Most treatments can be completed in one or two visits, depending on the extent of your gum disease.
Faster Recovery
Incisions and sutures require days of recovery. Laser dentistry treatment usually only takes about 24 hours for recovery and does not prevent you from performing regular daily activities.
Regenerated Tissue
Gums and bone tissue can deteriorate as periodontal disease progresses. LANAP stimulates gum and bone regeneration.
Are You Suffering From Gum Disease? Call Our Dental Office Today
Not only can periodontal disease cause uncomfortable symptoms, but it can also harm your oral health, cause your teeth to fall out, and lead to widespread health concerns.
Dr. John Starr has specialized training in the field of periodontics, enabling him to treat a variety of dental issues, no matter their severity. If your gums are swollen, bleeding, or showing other signs of gum disease, our periodontist may be able to treat your condition with the Laser-Assisted New Attachment Procedure.
To get started, request a consultation with our form or call our periodontics office in Columbus or Starkville, MS, today:
We Take on Complex Cases
"Very professional and super nice staff. I really thought I was too far gone with my teeth, gum disease, and bone loss. I decided I would just go see if Dr. Starr could help me and I am so glad I did. He did the laser surgery to cure my gums and to grow bone back... It was the best thing I ever done." Michael Merchant
Will Insurance Cover Treatment?
Your dental and medical insurance may include coverage for periodontal care. Treating gum disease is considered restorative dentistry, which is usually covered by insurance. Our team at Golden Triangle Periodontal Center in Columbus and Starkville can help communicate with your insurance provider and get the most out of your coverage. We also accept financing to help manage out-of-pocket expenses.
How LANAP Treats Periodontal Disease
Your LANAP treatment should take about an hour to complete. For extensive gum disease, patients may have to undergo two treatment sessions. Your treatment will involve several steps:
LANAP has minimal side effects, allowing patients to recover faster than they would from traditional gum disease treatment.
Patients should recover within about 24 hours after their procedure. Don't brush or floss the treated area for 7-10 days after leaving our Columbus or Starkville office.
Unique Treatment for All Kinds of Patients
LANAP is unique because it can be performed on patients who:
Have Dental Implants
Lasers can successfully treat gum disease and help regenerate gum tissue around dental implants, too. When LANAP is used to treat gum disease around dental implants, it is called LAPIP®, or Laser-Assisted Peri-Implantitis Protocol.
Have Advanced Gum Disease
Laser gum treatment can address moderate to severe periodontal issues, just like traditional surgery with a scalpel and sutures. LANAP is a faster and more comfortable procedure, making it a great option to treat advanced gum disease.
Are on Blood Thinners
Laser therapy causes minimal bleeding, making it a safe option for patients who take blood thinners. Patients do not have to stop taking medication prior to receiving LANAP treatment.
Are Pregnant
Research shows that advanced periodontal disease during pregnancy can increase the risk of birth complications. Fortunately, LANAP can safely remove diseased gum tissue without affecting pregnancy.
Comfortably Treating Gum Disease
"We had a very pleasant experience with Dr. Starr and all of his staff when he performed gum surgery on our son. He is very personable and made sure that our son was comfortable and understood exactly what he was going to do. Couldn't have asked for a better experience!" Karen Fitch
Replace Your Missing Teeth With Dental Implants
If your gum disease has resulted in missing teeth, we have the solution. Dental implants and implant-supported restorations can replace your teeth, keep surrounding teeth from shifting out of place, and prevent the jawbone atrophy that occurs with tooth loss.
Our dentist has performed thousands of successful dental implant placement surgeries since 1989. During a consultation at his dental practice serving Columbus and beyond, Dr. Starr can review your candidacy for dental implant placement surgery.
If you have advanced gum disease that has resulted in widespread tooth loss and significant jawbone atrophy, Dr. John Starr may recommend the All-on-4® method. This method can secure a denture on just four implants placed at strategic angles for maximum support.