Laser Periodontal Therapy is a new treatment for periodontal (gum) disease that is FDA approved. An estimated eighty percent of the American population has some form of this disease. Periodontal disease is an infection of the tissues that support your teeth. This disease occurs when bacteria migrate between the tooth and gum causing infection and forming "pockets." At this stage, bacteria start to destroy the gums and the supporting bone structure. When infection is present, bacteria can enter the bloodstream and travel through the entire body. Besides eventually losing teeth, this can pose serious health risks. Studies have shown that gum disease can make it twice as likely to have a heart attack and three times as likely to die from stroke. It can reduce the ability to control blood sugar levels in people with diabetes. Also, a woman with periodontal disease is seven times more likely to deliver a baby prematurely.
The way to repair the damage caused by periodontal disease is to get rid of the infection and reduce the pockets. Laser Periodontal Therapy is a new, highly effective, and comfortable treatment for periodontal disease. Instead of traditional osseous surgery that involves cutting, stitching, and a painful recovery, this new laser therapy is minimally invasive, virtually painless, and actually promotes the body's healing process. The tiny PerioLase laser is inserted between the gum tissue and tooth where it removes only the diseased tissue and leaves the healthy tissue. The treatment involves two passes with the laser, with ultrasonic cleaning completed between laser passes.
Laser Periodontal Therapy is nearly pain free. The patient receives local anesthetic and can also receive oral sedation to help them relax. Recovery is fast because of the laser's ability to seal blood vessels and nerve endings. After receiving laser therapy, the patient can go right back to work.
Laser Periodontal Therapy is about the same cost as traditional surgery. If your insurance company will cover conventional osseous surgery, they will cover Laser Therapy.
Stevens Point Advanced Dental Care was the first trained and equipped practice in Central Wisconsin to provide this Laser Periodontal Therapy for gum disease. To date, Dr. Honl and his excellent team have provided this care to over one-hundred-forty satisfied patients. Please call us at 715-341-5000 to schedule a free consultation where we can answer your questions and discuss the right treatment for you.
To learn more about this special laser therapy you can visit Millenium Dental Technologies.
In The News:
Please visit us on WAOW Channel 9 Health Matters
What is the role of Lasers in the Treatment of Periodontal Disease?
January 2010
Inside Dentistry, Volume 6, Number 1
Laser Technique Makes Dental Surgeries Quicker, Less Traumatic
June 29, 2006
By Heather Clark
Stevens Point Journal
1200 Third Ct., Stevens Point, WI 54481
Hank Kadzielawski laid back in the dentist chair, hands folded over his stomach. "We're just going to give you a little more anesthetic and then we'll get started, OK?" Dr. Tom Honl said. Kadzielawski's nearly enthusiastic "OK" response was not quite the typical one when someone leans back in a dental chair for a three-hour procedure that includes laser surgery and scraping. But the new laser periodontal therapy procedure that Honl uses is cutting-edge, just one of five in the state, and affords patients little discomfort and the ability to resume daily functions immediately after the surgery. "I was a little apprehensive, but I'd rather have this done than a root canal," Kadzielawski said with a laugh. Kadzielawski of Junction City 
recently switched to Honl's office for dentistry after his previous dentist died. Dentists at Honl's office diagnosed the gum disease periodontitis quickly in Kadzielawski.
"He doesn't have severe gum disease, but he's got enough bleeding and infection that we're concerned," Honl said. "We don't know how much to be concerned, but it's all going into the blood." Periodontitis is a chronic gum infection that, if left untreated, can decay the bone that holds teeth in place. The bacteria in gum disease also can move from the mouth to other areas in the body, causing other illnesses and potentially life-threatening infections in the heart. Honl suggested laser therapy to treat the disease. "The neat thing about the laser is it's like a video game; it only kills the bad guys," Honl said. The laser cracks, a little like static shock, when it hits the bacteria, zapping them. Though it also will touch on the mouth's healthy bacteria, those and any uninfected gum tissue is not affected, dentists said. "It makes the healthier bacteria healthier", said Stephanie Notham, the dental hygienist who does a portion of the procedure and assists Honl.
Honl uses a free-running pulsed laser, which has different energy levels to kill the bacteria and remove the layer of gums infected immediately next to the tooth. The procedure previously would have required invasive surgery, cutting the gums back and cutting them out before cleaning and treating, then days of recovery, antibiotics, pain medication, swelling and bleeding. While laser treatment is not new, this particular procedure is the only one that's FDA approved. After much research, Honl said that he discovered the company that produces it is the only one that requires training prior to purchase. That impressed him. "You can see certain trends, and you can either get on board or sit the dance out," he said. "Some of those dances I've been sitting out. There's nothing new about lasers, but this is the first one I've used because it's the only one that allows me to do this procedure. I never had one before because they couldn't do anything I couldn't do cheaper and faster and with other instruments." As Honl passes the laser in the gum pockets, Notham shares the energy levels so they don't get too high or too low. "When the laser passes to the back teeth, the energy level increases because the teeth are larger", he said. Kadzielawski never clenched his hands or tensed his muscles during the procedure. Honl and Notham took periodic breaks for a few minutes at a time, to let his mouth relax. At one point, he looked as if he would doze off. "I just might take a little nap," Kadzielawski said. Honl was happy to hear that because it shows that the patient is comfortable. "The No.1 concern when conducting dental procedures," he said.
"That's important because this is not a cure," he said. "This is a chronic condition, and they may have this treated a number of times over their lifetime. If in five or 10 years we see some recurrence and we have to do it again, they don't hate the procedure. It's safe, comfortable treatment. In the past, surgical procedures were the only other option for treating severe periodontitis," Honl said. "But it was painful, and it cut away the gum tissue, which exposed the roots of the teeth to a high probability of decay, more treatment and likely tooth loss." For Kadzielawski, it was an easy decision to make, and immediately after the procedure this week, he was in good spirits. "A friend of mine went through the (surgery) and it was painful, it took a long time to recover," he said. "I worked with him, so I had a play by play (account). Imagine, gums slashed all over. ... I'm very satisfied with this. I'll take some antibiotic and ice cream," he said as he sat up to leave the office.
ABC NEWS
Dr. Robert Gregg, former professor at the UCLA School of Dentistry and developer of the Laser Periodontal Therapy (LANAP) is interviewed about the new procedure.
Please click here to see this video.
Laser Periodontal Therapy Testimonials:
"Thank you for the great care before, during and after my laser gum surgery. I must admit that I was afraid at first. A friend of mine experienced the standard scalpel and stitches type of surgery, and she related how painful it had been. Luckily, I had read about Dr. Honl in the "Stevens Point Journal" several months before my diagnosis, which was a severe gum infection causing pain in my lower jaw. The surgery relieved the pain immediately, and I began to feel better overall. Choosing Dr. Honl was the right decision, and I would recommend him to anyone needing this procedure. Once again, thank you."
-Avis
Dear Dr. Honl,
I have always approached dental care a positive prevention activity exercise since as a young person, a dentist said that if one took positive actions one should never have to face the issue of false teeth. So I have spend my years with dental check ups and cleanings and occasional crowns. When I was approached by the dental team to look at having the dental surgery necessary to really remove plaque that could pose problems in the future, I agreed. The procedure was made as comfortable as could be and it was doable. My recovery has been closely monitored and I have so appreciated the professional attitude of the team and Dr. Honl.
-Mary Ann Krems
I am writing this on 10/22/08 at 12:30 am while I’m working the night shift at the Nekoosa Paper Mill.
I believe it was 1978 when I had Periodontal Surgery. At that time, I wasn’t sure what this was all about. All I knew is I had 5, 6, 7s in the pockets of my teeth. This meant I needed my “gums opened up” and my ”roots scraped” as they called it at the time. I had my upper teeth done on a Thursday morning. I felt good and I went to work the next day.
At the time, I was a construction worker, so we were pouring concrete. I was wheeling concrete with a wheelbarrow and I didn’t realize there would be much strain on my teeth.
I began to bleed quite a bit, in fact, I was sent home from work. Needless to say, the next week when I had my lower teeth done, I took 4 days off of work.
When I had my Laser Periodontal Surgery done this time, I had probably less than ¼ of the pain. Dr Honl and Stephanie explained everything. I didn’t miss any work and the only thing I had to be careful was with my diet – eating soft things for a few days. This was a piece of cake compared to the surgery I had in 1978. In fact, I was able to have my whole mouth treated in one appointment. I know I arrived around 6:20am and I was finished a little after 10:30am. We took a couple of rests and bathroom breaks so everything went well.
If someone needs this procedure, it is a walk in the park compared to what I went through in 1978. If someone needs to talk to me, I’ll gladly answer any questions they have!
Thank You
Cliff Altmann