Laser Periodontal Therapy

LASER PERIODONTAL THERAPY was developed by Robert H. Gregg II, D.D.S. and Delwin K. McCarthy, D.D.S., the founders of Millennium Dental Technologies, Inc. These pioneering laser clinicians were fascinated by the possibilities of lasers and dentistry soon after their first introduction. Over many years of laser dentistry and the performance of thousands of procedures, they gained an extraordinary understanding of laser/tissue interaction. Early in their experience, they visualized the potential of the Free Running Pulsed Nd:YAG laser for use in periodontal therapy and developed a "recipe" that would replace the scalpel/suture flap surgery that patients dread. This vision, and more than a decade of research, clinical trials and dedication, resulted in the founding of Millennium Dental Technologies, and the development of the PerioLase® II, the most significant achievement in soft tissue dental lasers since their inception and LASER PERIODONTAL THERAPY, the first patented periodontal procedure.

• LPT is about as easy as erasing a blackboard — there’s no cutting and no suturing.
• There's much less discomfort with LASER PERIODONTAL THERAPY than with standard surgery -- during and after the procedure.
• It takes less time than traditional surgery. All it takes is two 2-hour visits to the dentist and two follow up visits. Traditional surgery requires four sessions of about one hour each, with subsequent visits for suture removal and additional check-ups.  
• LPT gives better, longer-lasting results. In fact, 98% of LPT treated patients remain stable after five years, while only 5% reportedly remain stable after surgery.
• Your dentist will probably recommend a soft diet for a day or two, and common sense should prevail, but in most cases, patients feel good enough to eat anything they want right after the procedure.  
• Following traditional surgery, recovery can take between to 2-4 weeks during which patients can experience considerable pain and swelling, where they may be restricted to liquid or soft diets.
• There's less than 24 hour recovery period, so you won't lose time from work.
• LASER PERIODONTAL THERAPY is safe for patients with health concerns such as diabetes, HIV, hemophilia, or those taking medications such as Coumadin or Cyclosporin.

What is Periodontal Disease?
It's an infection of the gums. It starts out as plaque, an opaque film on the teeth that hardens to form calculus or tartar. As tartar accumulates, it harbors bacteria which attacks the soft tissue around the gums. This early stage of gum disease is called Gingivitis. Symptoms include red swollen gums, bleeding, bad breath and, sometimes, an unpleasant taste in the mouth. Untreated, Gingivitis becomes Periodontitis. At this severe stage, bacteria destroys both the gums and the supporting bone structurel Pockets form where teeth are separated from the gums and surrounding bones. Left untreated, Periodontitis eventually results in tooth loss.

What's the best way to treat Periodontal Disease?
LASER PERIODONTAL THERAPY (LPT) a patented new non-surgical laser alternative to gum surgery, is a less painful, less traumatic way to treat periodontal disease at any stage.

What's different about LPT?
LPT uses a special kind of laser called the PerioLase®, invented by two dentists in Cerritos, California. Dr. Robert Gregg and Dr. Delwin McCarthy spent years developing a better way to treat gum disease. The laser fiber, which is only about as wide as a couple of human hairs, is inserted between the gum tissue and your tooth, where it painlessly removes the noxious elements that cause gum disease.

How many treatments will I need?
LPT doesn't take much time at all -- just two two-hour sessions versus eight to ten one-hour sessions with surgery. You don't have to worry about bleeding, stitches or post-treatment infection, because your gums haven't been cut.

What about recovery - will I be in pain or need to follow a special routine?
The sense of recovery is immediate, due to the laser’s ability to seal blood vessels, lymphatics and nerve endings. Of course, your tissue needs time to recover, regenerate and heal over the course of time, but after LPT, you can drive your car, go back to work, or do anything else you like.

I can see how good LPT is - but is it very expensive and will my insurance cover it?
The good news is, LPT is actually less expensive -- by about 20% -- than periodontal surgery. Dental costs vary around the country, so find a PerioLase® dentist in your area for exact figures. There is no special code for our therapy, so if your insurance company will reimburse for conventional surgery, they will reimburse for LASER PERIODONTAL THERAPY.

www.millenniumdental.com