By EKalman January 15, 2024 - 2:51am

Laser therapy for gum disease is an innovative treatment for more advanced forms of periodontal disease (gum disease). Laser therapy uses lasers with precise wavelengths to kill hazardous germs while eliminating dead or diseased gum tissue. This treatment's goal is to destroy dangerous bacteria and eradicate infection while allowing the gums to recover, renew, and tighten back up around the teeth.

Laser therapy for periodontal disease treatment has various advantages over traditional, surgical gum disease treatment that involves the use of a knife and incisions. These advantages include a lower risk of infection, less bleeding and edema, more comfort, a faster recovery period, and the elimination of the need for general anesthesia. Despite these advantages, laser gum therapy is still a sort of surgery that necessitates a period of rest and rehabilitation after treatment.

What Happens After Periodontal Disease Treatment With Laser Gum Therapy?
While laser gum treatment has a shorter recovery time and a lower risk of complications, patients still have to go through a recovery phase during which they will receive aftercare instructions and follow-up dental checks to track their healing progress and assess their periodontal disease status.

What to Expect After Laser Gum Therapy: Possible Symptoms
Some people feel completely normal the day following surgery and are ready to resume their routine activities. Others require a few days to feel normal again.

For several days after therapy, a lot of patients may have some of the following symptoms:
- Minor bleeding
- Mild soreness
- Gum discoloration
- Tooth Sensitivity
- Slight swelling

Over-the-counter anti-inflammatory drugs should be used to treat any pain or discomfort. If you have more severe pain, swelling, discomfort, or other symptoms, this could be a sign of complications, so please contact your doctor immediately.

Laser Gum Therapy Aftercare Instructions
Aftercare recommendations are tailored to each patient's specific recovery requirements. In general, however, aftercare guidelines include the following:
- Using a prescription mouthwash
- Rinsing with warm salt water every few hours for relief
- Not brushing or flossing around the treatment area
- Eating a soft diet, avoiding hard, scratchy, crunchy, or chewy foods
- Not rinsing or spitting vigorously, but letting the salt water or mouthwash rest in the mouth before allowing it to gently run out
- Not using any tobacco products
- Avoiding overly hot (temperature) or spicy foods and beverages

Keep in mind that your instructions may differ significantly from the aftercare advice provided above depending on your treatment and medical health history.

Signs of Potential Complications
Because the heat of the laser utilized in laser gum therapy efficiently sterilizes the treatment region, problems such as bacterial infections are quite rare. They are, however, not completely impossible, particularly if the treatment area gets damaged or irritated during the recuperation time.

Signs of a bacterial infection:
- Fever
- Pus
- Swelling
- Oozing
- Worsening pain

If left untreated, bacterial infections of the oral tissues can be highly deadly. To be adequately cured and to avoid subsequent complications, infections must be treated with antibiotics. Contact your doctor right away if you see any signs or symptoms of an infection.

How Long Does It Take to Recover From Laser Gum Therapy?
The healing time after laser therapy periodontal disease treatment is always shorter than the recovery time for surgical periodontal disease treatment. However, the length of this period is mostly determined by the particular patient, their medical history, the quantity of laser therapy treatment required, and their willingness to follow aftercare guidelines. On average, laser gum therapy takes about a week to heal.

Ongoing Preventive Dental Care and Periodontal Disease Treatment
While laser gum therapy can help with periodontal disease, it is not always 100 percent effective. Although it will significantly improve your oral health, you may still require ongoing maintenance treatments such as scaling and root planing, more frequent in-office dental cleanings, or prescription antibiotic mouth rinses or trays.

After your healing time has ended, we will arrange an aftercare follow-up consultation with you to inspect your teeth and gums and evaluate your periodontal disease status to propose an ongoing treatment plan to control your periodontal disease and prevent it from worsening in the future.

This treatment plan will include steps for you to do at home, such as maintaining good oral hygiene practices in between appointments, in addition to in-office care.