Dental Training Clinic Specializing in Laser Treatment of Gum Disease Serves Surrounding Communities

By Gina Ramsey

Dental visits have long been seen as an uncomfortable yet necessary part of life. However, avoiding routine dental care doesn’t just affect your teeth, it can lead to serious health problems, and the discomfort of a dental visit is not as bad compared to the pain of gum disease. Gum disease is a chronic inflammatory disease that damages the tissue and bone around the teeth. If left untreated, this can lead to receding gums, loss of bone, tooth loss, among other issues that could affect your entire body.

For so many people with periodontitis, the stress of experiencing the pain of possible surgery keeps them away from the very people that can help. For years the general course of action for gum disease has been surgery, although the benefits of laser treatments are becoming more and more available at offices where the dentist has been trained specifically in this type of remedy.

One of the leaders in teaching this technology is The Institute for Advanced Laser Dentistry in Cerritos. The Institute for Advanced Laser Dentistry is a non-profit educational and research office dedicated to helping patients and uses a patented protocol that was developed by one of the directors. Dr. Robert H. Gregg has been using lasers clinically since 1990 and has lectured internationally on the topic of clinical laser applications.

“Our motto has always been ‘All about the patient,’” said training director Dr. Dawn M. Gregg at their ribbon cutting ceremony recently to celebrate the grand opening of their training facility and clinic. Members of the Cerritos city council and chamber of commerce were among those in attendance at the dedication.

The clinic treats patients suffering from gum disease as part of the LANAP training program,

including residents from Long Beach. Qualification depends on the severity of gum disease and treatment is free to the patient.

The Institute is committed to teaching dentists from all over the world on the LANAP (treatment around the teeth) and LAPIP (treatment around implants) laser protocols over the course of a year by a series of lectures and hands-on training with patients. Once trained, the dentists can offer this treatment options to their patients. There are talks about expanding this dental training to Japan.

Some of the benefits of LANAP laser surgery to treat gum disease include less pain, less bleeding, less sensitivity, and very little downtime. The Institute uses a laser protocol that has been FDA cleared, as well as clinically proven to regenerate new gum tissue and bone. Candidates for laser surgery include patients with moderate-to-severe gum disease who are fearful of traditional scalpel surgery. Unlike traditional surgery, patients on blood thinners do not need to stop medication, and it is safe for those with implants.

To find out if laser treatment for gum disease is right for you, contact the Institute for Advanced Laser Dentistry: (877) 31-LASER

www.theIALD.com