High-Tech Laser Gum Treatment
Laser Gum Therapy Causes of Gum Disease Cosmetic Gum Surgery Symptoms
Dr. Martin provides gentle, comfortable laser dentistry.
Even though gum disease is the number one cause of tooth loss, many people avoid treatment for gum disease because the treatment can be invasive or painful. At Richmond Smile Center, it doesn’t have to be. For mild cases of gum disease, Richmond dentist Dr. Charles Martin offers gentle cleaning and scaling to remove the bacteria causing the disease, as well as laser gum therapy intermediate or advanced cases.
Comfortable laser treatment for gum disease
Dr. Martin’s state-of-the-art laser treatment provides rapid, safe and comfortable gum treatment.
Dr. Martin personally evaluates every patient for gum disease. Many people don’t know they have gum disease, and even a mild case, if untreated, will only get worse, not better.
Gum disease can increase your risk of heart attack by two to four times, double your risk of stroke, worsen a diabetic condition (and vice versa), is associated with an increased incidence of cancer and increases the incidences of low birth weight babies and premature births. For a beautiful smile and a healthier life, make an appointment to see Dr. Charles Martin.
For more information, you can read Dr. Martin’s detailed article, Gum Disease, Diabetes & Systemic Inflammation.
Complimentary Consultation
If you are concerned about the health of your gums, please come in for a Complimentary Consultation. Dr. Martin will examine your mouth, and help you determine the best course of treatment for your oral health.
Dr. Martin will give you the smile you’ve always wanted.
Full oral examination
Smile evaluation
Before & After images so you can see how beautiful your smile can be
Dentist will listen to your needs
Fully explain your options
Review possible procedures
Answer your questions
Call us for a complimentary consultation and find out how Dr. Martin can give you a brighter, more beautiful smile.
For more information, or for your Complimentary Restorative Consultation, please call us at 888-22-SMILES to make an appointment, or click here to request an appointment online.
Laser treatment for pain-free gum care
Dr. Martin uses the LightWalker® dental laser for many procedures, including pain-free periodontal cleaning and laser gum surgery.
Removing tarter and pockets of bacteria from your gums and the teeth below the gum line is easy with the soft-tissue laser from LightWalker. This machine allows Dr. Martin to handle gum disease quickly and comfortably. The LightWalker safely and gently removes decayed material on teeth without harming surrounding gum tissue and is used for periodontal treatments, smile design, gum contouring and many other procedures.
Using the LightWalker dental laser, Dr. Martin can treat mild to moderate cases of gum disease, and even some advanced cases.
What is gum disease and what causes it?
Gum disease is the #1 cause of adult tooth loss in the US!
Gum disease is caused by bacteria in your mouth. In a healthy state, the gums around your teeth are tight, pink, do not bleed when they are gently probed, and there is little space between the gums and the teeth for bacteria to build up.
If the bacteria are not removed effectively, the first stage of gum disease is that your gums can start to bleed and may become red and swollen (gingivitis). This may not be readily visible, especially in between and around the back teeth, but the space between the gums and teeth becomes bigger. The bacteria now have somewhere to hide.
As the space (pocket) deepens, the bacteria change in nature and become more aggressive. Your body starts to fight this infection. The combination of the bacteria and your body’s response to them leads to a loss of the bone that supports the teeth. This is periodontal disease or periodontitis (periodontitis — a word that comes from the combination of the smaller words: “per” meaning around, “dont” meaning tooth and “itis” meaning inflammation or infection).
Therefore, the most important thing to do is correctly diagnose the presence and severity of gum disease. We test your gums for signs of gum disease and severity and then an appropriate plan can be made to prevent the spread and progression of the disease.
Symptoms of gum disease
Factors that contribute to gum disease include poor oral hygiene, irregular professional dental cleanings, smoking or chewing tobacco, certain medications, defective fillings, crooked teeth and systemic diseases.
Warning signs of gum disease are:
Gums that bleed during tooth brushing
Gums that have pulled away from the teeth
Persistent bad breath or bad taste
Permanent teeth that are loose or separating
Any change in the way your teeth fit together when you bite
A healthy lifestyle, regular brushing and flossing, and regular visits to the dentist for cleanings are the best way to keep your gums healthy and to avoid gum disease.
For more information please call us at (804) 417-7203 to make an appointment, or click here to request an appointment online.
Cosmetic Laser Gum Surgery
Your gum tissue is like a frame that provides form and shape to the top of your tooth. A less than attractive, ‘gummy’ smile results when the integrity of the gum is compromised, or the actual gum between your teeth becomes weak. Usually due to poor hygiene (gum disease), you actually begin to lose gum tissue.
Cosmetic gum surgery is the procedure of lengthening your teeth from the neck of the tooth upwards. Dr. Martin uses the LightWalker soft-tissue dental laser to painlessly correct a ‘gummy smile.’ Your teeth then appear to be longer and much less gum is seen when you smile.
