Why is Laser Periodontal Therapy ( LPT)™ Better for the Treatment of Gum Disease?

WHY IS LPT™ better for the treatment of gum disease?

• LPT^TM is about as easy as erasing a blackboard — there's no cutting and no suturing.
  
• There's much less discomfort with LASER PERIODONTAL THERAPY^TM 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^TM gives better, longer-lasting results. In fact, 98% of LPT^TM 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^TM is safe for patients with health concerns such as diabetes, HIV, hemophilia, or those taking medications such as Plavix or aspirin.
  

Source: http://www.millenniumdental.com/patbenefits.html

For more information about Laser Periodontal Treatment in Philadelphia, PA area, visit Dr. Stephen Brown on the web at www.theperiogroup.com or call (215) 735-3660 to schedule a consultation appointment.

Philadelphia Periodontist Treats Gum Disease With LANAP Laser Therapy

Philadelphia Periodontist, Dr. I. Stephen Brown employs laser technology in his Montgomery County dental practice to treat gum disease without the cutting, bleeding, stitching, swelling, and long recovery times associated with traditional osseous surgery.

Have you been told that scaling and root planing alone aren't enough to control your periodontal disease? Has your family physician told you that you are too medically compromised to undergo gum surgery? Are worried about bleeding during oral surgery because you are taking blood thinning medications like aspirin or coumadin? Now, patients like this can have the treatment they need without the worry. LANAP Laser therapy allows Dr. Brown a treatment to offer patients who were previously unable to go through traditional treatments for gum disease.

For many patients, LANAP Laser Therapy has been life-changing. This short video demonstrates this breakthrough dental treatment.

For more information about the laser alternative to treating gum disease, contact Dr. Stephen Brown at The Perio Group in Philadelphia, PA (215) 735-3660 or on the web at www.theperiogroup.com.

Brush to Prevent Heart Disease?

The American Academy of Periodontology
Patient Information Pages
July 2009

Gum disease and cardiovascular disease are both major public health issues that impact a large number of Americans every day. While these two diseases impact separate areas of the body, research indicates that periodontal disease and cardiovascular disease are connected; having one disease may actually increase your risk of developing the other.

Inflammation’s Role
Periodontal disease and cardiovascular disease are both considered chronic inflammatory conditions. Inflammation is the body’s instinctive reaction to fight off infection. Inflammation is initially good for your body because it helps in the healing process. However, chronic and prolonged inflammation can lead to severe health complications. Researchers believe that inflammation provides the basis for the connection between gum disease and heart disease1. And now, periodontists and those who treat cardiovascular disease are working together to provide the best care to patients.

The Perio-Cardio Connection
In July 2009, a consensus paper2 was published in both the Journal of Periodontology and The American Journal of Cardiology. The paper was jointly developed by periodontists and cardiologists. Periodontists are dentists with advanced training in the treatment and prevention of periodontal disease, and cardiologists are doctors who specialize in treating disease of the heart. The paper summarized the evidence that links periodontal disease and cardiovascular disease and provides clinical recommendations for periodontists and cardiologists to use in managing their patients living with, or at risk for, either disease.

What Does This Mean For You?
You might be surprised when your periodontist now asks even more questions about your medical history, especially questions about your family history of heart disease and any behaviors that may affect your heart health such as smoking. Your cardiologist may start to ask you about your dental history and might even look in your mouth to evaluate your teeth and gums! These new recommendations are intended to help periodontist and cardiologist better manage your risk factors for future disease progression, and ensure your well-being. Hopefully by working together with your periodontist to ensure healthy teeth and gums, you will also ensure a healthy heart throughout your entire life.

1Journal of Periodontology. August 2008, Vol.
79, No. 8s, Pages 1501-1614.
2 V Friedewald, K Kornman, J Beck, et al.
Editors' Consensus: Periodontitis and
Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease.
Journal of Periodontology. July 2009, Vol. 80,
No. 7, Pages 1021-1032.

You can learn more about the Perio-Cardio Connection by visiting the AAP website at http://www.perio.org/ . To learn about this connection in the Philadelphia, PA, Camden, NJ, Montgomery County area, call Dr. Stephen Brown at (215) 735-3660 or visit The Perio Group on the web at http://www.theperiogroup.com/.

Study Shows Scientific Support for Laser Procedure in Treating Moderate to Severe Periodontal Pockets

A story published in the March 2008 issue of Inside Dentistry (Volume 4-Number3) highlighted the results of a peer-reviewed manuscript demonstrating histologic success in the treatment of moderate to severe periodontal pockets using the patented Laser Assisted New Attachment Procedure (LANAP) developed by Millennium Dental Technologies. New connective tissue attachment and regeneration of cementum was achieved in 100% of the cases in the study. These results suggest the FDA-approved and patented LANAP is a viable alternative for treating gum disease with traditional cut and suture blade surgery.

The study was led by Dr. Raymond Yukna, director of Advanced Periodontal Therapies, University of Colorado, School of Dental Medicine, and showed repeatedly positive responses in LANAP-treated patients. Twelve single-rooted teeth that had chronically shown moderate to severe periodontal infection participated in this split-mouth designed study. While six teeth received the laser LANAP therapy, the other six teeth were treated with scaling and root planing only.

Following three months of observation, 100% of the teeth treated with LANAP showed not only new cementum but also new connective tissue attachment. Under the same observation, the control teeth which had received only scaling and root planing showed no evidence of either new attachment or regeneration. No evidence of any adverse changes was recorded around any of the LANAP-treated teeth. The study was the fourth largest prospective comparative histology project in the entire peer-reviewed, periodontal literature.

Study leader, Dr. Yukna was "quite pleased and encouraged by the results of this study" and remarked, "Recent years have seen major advancements in periodontal technology, and this study is a successful demonstration of using a free-runnning pulsed Nd:YAG laser applying the specific LANAP protocol."

Philadelphia Periodontist, Dr. I. Stephen Brown has been extensively trained in this newest technology available for periodontal patient care. If you are interested in a no cut, no sew, no fear laser alternative for the treatment of gum disease Philadelphia, contact The Perio Group at 215.735.3660 or on the web at www.theperiogroup.com.

Inflammation and Periodontal Disease

Inflammation and Periodontal Disease
December 2008 Patient Page
from the American Academy of Periodontology

Most people know that maintaining healthy teeth and gums is a necessary step in achieving overall wellbeing. In fact, now not only dentists encourage brushing and flossing, but many physicians also promote oral hygiene as a way to help keep the rest of the body healthy. Several research studies have suggested that gum disease may be associated with other health issues, including heart disease, stroke and diabetes. And with more and more research reinforcing the connection between periodontal and systemic health, scientists are beginning to understand why these connections exist. One theory points to chronic inflammation as the culprit.

Inflammation is the body’s natural response to harm, such as an injury or infection. For many years, dentists believed that gum disease developed as a result of a bacterial infection caused by the build-up of plaque between the teeth and under the gums. While plaque build-up is still a factor in the development and progression of gum disease, researchers now suspect that the more severe symptoms, namely swollen, bleeding gums; recession around the gum line, and loss of the bone that holds the teeth in place, may actually be caused by the chronic inflammatory response to the bacterial infection, rather than the bacteria itself. Scientists hypothesize that the chronic inflammatory response mechanism may be the reason behind the periodontal-systemic health link.

Many of the diseases associated with periodontal disease are also considered to be systemic inflammatory disorders, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, kidney disease and even certain forms of cancer, suggesting that chronic inflammation itself may be the
basis for the connection. More research is needed to pinpoint the precise biological mechanisms responsible for the relationship between gum disease and other disease states. However, since previous findings have indicated that gum disease sufferers are at a higher risk for other diseases, it is critical to maintain periodontal health in an effort to achieve overall health.

Dentists recommend daily oral care, including regular brushing and flossing, and routine visits to the dentist to avoid gum disease. If gum disease develops, consultation with a dental professional such as a periodontist can lead to effective treatment. A periodontist is a dentist with three years of additional specialized training in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of gum disease.

For more information on the role of inflammation in oral health, tips on how to prevent or treat gum disease, to find out if you are at risk or to schedule a gum disease evaluation in the Philadelphia, PA area visit Dr. I. Stephen Brown at http://www.theperiogroup.com/ or call 215.735.3660. To see more patient pages like this one, visit http://www.perio.org/.

Talking With Patients About Systemic Diseases and Dental Treatment

Today, more than any time in history, dental patients are hearing about and researching the "oral-systemic" link. Oral disease and it's recently publicized link to other systemic infections, has become a popular topic among dental patients. Physicians and Dentist alike have known for years that this connection exists, however, only recently has ample evidence existed to back up what these practitioners have long been aware of.

Dental treatment for the management of periodontal disease and other oral afflictions is now being recognized as part of a full-body wellness plan. The challenge for dentists to to be able to talk to their patients about the importance of good oral health and how that relates to the overall well-being. What is the best way for these practitioners to broach this topic in such a way that patients feel compelled to get the treatment they really need? Luckily for these practitioners, patients today are more educated about how their bodies work and are more apt to do the research themselves before their dental visit. Patient communication and education is key.

The Connection is the Inflammation

Most people understand the concept of infection and the ways in which the body can become infected. A relatively high number of the population understands also the basics of inflammation. Talking to patients about the link between inflammation/infection, oral diseases, and their overall health status can be a critical element in their understanding about why dental care is needed. Patients should be reminded that studies have shown that bacterial infection and tissue inflammation are important causative factors in periodontal disease. Bacterial by-products and inflammation in the body can also be major contributors in the development of diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and other serious problems. Most importantly then, inflammation appears to be a significant link between systemic and oral disease.

Literature defines inflammation as the body's first response of the immune system to injury, infection, or irritation. Your body sets off a series of automatic reactions which are designed to protect the entire body during an infection, and redness and heat occur around the site of the infection due to the dilation of the blood vessels. Blood vessels may also constrict further away from the infection site causing swelling, pressure and pain. White blood cells move to the affected area in response to the amount of blood vessel activity happening. Once in position, the white blood cells surround the bacteria to prevent spreading. As a result, the purpose of inflammation can be described as a method of isolating and eliminating infection.

The inflammatory process has the ability to affect the entire body, which can leave a patient with symptoms such as fever, body aches and fatigue. However, patients may be surprised to know that an infection can exist in his/her body and the process of inflammation can be occurring while the patient isn't experiencing any symptoms at all. If the cause of the inflammation goes away, the inflammatory response may stop and the situation may resolve itself. However, that doesn't always happen. If the cause of the inflammation fails to go away or becomes worse; organs, blood vessels, the heart, and even joints and nerves can suffer significant damage. Therefore, since gum disease has the ability to trigger a body-wide inflammatory response, the body can suffer damage if the periodontal disease remains uncontrolled.

Reference:

Systemic Diseases and Dental Treatment: Talking With Your Patient

Carol Tekavec, CDA, RDH

Dentistry Today - June 2009

If you are a dentist who is interested in reading more information about how to talk to your patients about the oral-systemic connection or if you are a patient who is interested in learning more about the topic yourself, the full story is available at http://www.dentistrytoday.com/.

Dr. I. Stephen Brown is a gum disease Philadelphia dentist and Montgomery County Dental Implant specialist who can answer your questions about this topic and other related topics. Submit your questions online by visiting him on the web at http://www.theperiogroup.com/ and filling out one of the online question submission forms.

What Your Gums Can Expect When You Are Expecting

The American Academy of Periodontology
AAP Patient Page
September 2007

Congratulations! You are pregnant or planning on becoming pregnant! Whether or not you want it, everyone you know will be giving you advice about how to eat, sleep, exercise, and take care of your body during this exciting time. However, what some might forget is the importance of taking care of your oral health.

Good oral health is always important. However, it may be especially important for expecting mothers as recent research suggests that pregnant women with periodontal diseases may be up to seven times more likely to have a baby that’s born too early and too small. Preterm births are dangerous for both baby and mother. They are the leading cause of neonatal death and can lead to life-long health problems such as cerebral palsy, mental retardation, and difficulties with blindness and lung disease.

The likely culprit of this possible connection is a labor-inducing chemical found in oral bacteria called prostaglandin. Very high levels of prostaglandin are found in women with severe cases of periodontal disease.

In addition, other research has identified bacteria commonly found in the mouth and associated with periodontal disease in the amniotic fluid of some pregnant women. Amniotic fluid is a liquid that surrounds an unborn baby during pregnancy. Any disruptions in the amniotic fluid, such as a bacterial infection, could potentially be dangerous to both the mother and baby.

Don’t panic! Take your concerns to your dental professional. If you’re diagnosed with periodontal disease, your periodontist might recommend a common nonsurgical procedure called scaling and root planning. During this procedure, your tooth-root surfaces are cleaned to remove plaque and tartar from deep periodontal pockets and to smooth the root to remove bacterial toxins. Research suggests that scaling and root planning may reduce the risk of preterm birth in pregnant women with periodontal disease by up to 84 percent.

For more information on gum disease and pregnancy visit The AAP Website at www.perio.org or visit Philadelphia Periodontist Dr. Stephen Brown on the web at www.theperiogroup.com.

A Laser Approach to Gum Disease Treatment

More than one in three people over age 30 have some form of periodontal disease that has advanced beyond early stage gingivitis. Since periodontal disease is often painless, developing silently, most people do not even realize they have it.

Not only are periodontal disease and tooth decay the primary cause of adult tooth loss, but research has shown that there is a link between periodontal infection and other systemic health conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, respiratory disease and preterm low birth weight babies. Good periodontal health is paramount to a healthy body and a healthy mind.

A periodontist is a dentist whose specialty is the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of gum disease. Periodontists are skilled in the latest techniques for diagnosis and treating gum disease and performing periodontal plastic surgery to correct gummy smiles.

General Dentists typically refer patients to a periodontal disease when they first detect signs and symptoms; however, patients to do not need a referral to see a gum specialist or implant dentist. There are occasions when patients choose to seek out the advise of a periodontist on their own or on the recommendation of a family member or friend. Seeking the advice of a gum disease specialist may be especially important if a patient:

1. suspects they are experiencing symptoms of gum disease including bleeding gums, swollen or tender gums, gums that have pulled away from teeth, persistent bad breath, pus, loose teeth, or a change in the way teeth fit together.


2. is planning to become pregnant


3. have a family history of gum disease


4. have other health issues including heart disease, diabetes, respiratory disease or osteoporosis


5. feels that they have a "gummy smile" or teeth that appear either too short or too long


6. has decided to replace a missing tooth/teeth and would like to explore all the options


7. is experiencing mouth irritation that doesn't quickly subside

Much can be done to prevent and treat periodontal disease today more than ever. Laser periodontal treatment is quickly becoming a popular option among patients with gum disease. If you'd like more information about treating gum disease with a laser instead of a scalpel, contact Dr. Stephen Brown at The Perio Group by calling (215) 735-3660 or visiting http://www.theperiogroup.com/ on the web.

Philadelphia Periodontist Uses a Laser to Treat Gum Disease in Seven Steps

The newest technology available for treating periodontal disease is the Millenium Dental PerioLase Laser. Philadelphia Periodontist Dr. Stephen Brown can now treat gum disease in seven steps with the LANAP laser gum treatment. Watch this video to learn more about this life-changing technology.

Call or Click for More Information

Dr. Stephen Brown

www.theperiogroup.com

(215) 735-3660

Laser Periodontal Treatment™ - The Seven Steps to Healthier Gums

Are you one of the 100 million Americans who has periodontal (gum) disease? If you have been diagnosed with gum disease or have been told that you need gum surgery, you should know that you now have an alternative to traditional treatments. The new standard of care for periodontal disease is Laser Periodontal Therapy™.


The laser is an effective tool for improving overall dental health with less pain, less bleeding, less swelling, less tissue removal, and less recovery time than traditional gum surgery or periodontal treatment, and the treatment can be explained in seven steps.

1. Periodontal probe indicates excessive pocket depth.

2. Laser light removes bacteria and diseased tissue.

3. Ultrasonic scaler and special hand instruments are used to remove root surface tartar.

4. Laser finishes cleaning pocket and aids in sealing the pocket so new bacteria can't enter.

5. Healing of gums to clean root surfaces occurs.

6. Bite trauma is adjusted.

7. Healing occurs.

This video illustrates the LANAP procedure:

For more information about this life-changing laser dental procedure, visit Dr. Stephen Brown on the web at http://www.theperiogroup.com/ or call The Perio Group at (215) 735-3660. Learn more about the PerioLase and Laser Periodontal Therapy at http://www.lanap.com/.

Pennsylvania Gum Specialist Dr. Stephen Brown Harnesses the Power of the Millennium Dental Laser in His Philadelphia Periodontal Practice

The PerioLase® from Millennium Dental Technologies is the first and only laser designed with the needs of the periodontal patient in mind. This Nd:YAG laser is equipped with all the unique features necessary to perform Laser Periodontal Therapy™. It has a full complement of new soft tissue laser treatment options. Manufactured by Millennium Dental Technologies, the PerioLase® is not only the first laser in dentistry to utilize digital technology for enhanced performance and reliability, but is also built on the world’s most widely used dental laser platform. While early dental lasers were very limited in what they could do, The PerioLase® can now be used effectively to reach down into the pockets to help eliminate inflamed tissue and destroy pathogenic bacteria.

The FDA-Approved and patented LANAP laser therapy is a pocket reduction procedure that reduces pockets by establishing a new connective tissue attachment to the tooth at a coronal level. The LANAP procedure provides the ideal situation in which new bone, cementum, and periodontal ligament can form on root surfaces that were diseased before treatment began. This is a minimally invasive periodontal procedure like no other. In most instances, treatment with the LANAP laser eliminates the need for conventional cut and suture periodontal surgery, also referred to as flap and osseous surgery.

Approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2004, this pulsing laser can distinguish between healthy and diseased gums by color. The infected tissue, which has a darker pigment than healthy tissue,and bacteria are “zapped” away by the laser, leaving behind only healthy gum tissue. LANAP then helps connective tissue and bone form between the gums and teeth, according to a study in the December 2007 issue of the International Journal of Periodontics and Restorative Dentistry. The laser’s heat also seals the gums with a “thermal blood clot” which creates a physical barrier, blocking any bacteria or tissue that could recreate a gum pocket.

For patients who are concerned about traditional cut and suture surgery to treat periodontal disease, the new laser treatment can be a life-changing event! Teeth can be saved, natural smiles can be preserved and some potentially life-threatening systemic effects of bacteria from gum disease left untreated can be avoided. Laser treatment gives patients a new option.

If you would like to find out more about using laser therapy to treat periodontal disease and to save your teeth and smile, please call Dr. I. Stephen Brown at The Perio Group (215)735-3660 or submit your questions online, utilizing one of the contact forms distributed throughout our website at www.theperiogroup.com.




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Philadelphia Periodontist Talks About How Patients Benefit From LANAP Laser Therapy

Laser surgery provides another option for patients who have already undergone a scaling and root planing procedure without sufficient results. Normally traditional blade surgery would be indicated for such a patient; however, with the addition of the PerioLase® to our treatment armamentarium, patients have available to them a realistic alternative with comparable results. The benefits of LANAP™ include less pain, less gum recession, decreased bleeding, swelling and root sensitivity, and maybe the most important benefit, less downtime after treatment. An added benefit of laser surgery is the antibacterial effect that helps discinfect the periodontal pockets.

Laser treatment is also beneficial for patients who have medical problems requiring medications such as aspirin, Plavix, and Coumadin. Since LANAP® causes much less bleeding than traditional surgeries; patients do not have to discontinue using these life-saving medications prior to surgery. Patients with advanced periodontal disease who take bisphosphonate medications such as Fosamax can avoid having extractions because even teeth with a poor prognosis can often be saved with this life-changing procedure. This is especially important because studies have shown that Fosamax can lead to osteonecrosis of the jaw following tooth extraction.

For more information about how Philadelphia Dental Patients can benefit from LANAP Laser Therapy, contact Dr. I. Stephen Brown at The Perio Group 215.735.3660 or visit the "Laser Alternative" page of The Perio Group Website.

Successful Laser Periodontal Treatment in Seven Steps

The Millenuim PerioLase's fiber optic tip not only kills bacteria in the periodontal pockets, but also eradicates unhealthy tissue, leaving the healthy tissue relatively unaffected. Ultrasonic scalers and hand instruments are then used to remove the calculus deposits that were loosened during the initial laser pass. A different setting is then applied to the laser before making another pass in order to kill bacteria in the bottom of the pockets and on the bone. Establishment of a sticky fibrin clot is then initiated by the laser in order to seal the pockets and allow regeneration of bone and other soft tissue.

The Laser Treatment Procedure can be broken down into seven steps:

1. An evaluation is done in order to measure the depths of periodontal pockets with a probe.
2. Bacteria and unhealthy tissue are removed with the initial pass of the laser.
3. Root surface calculus is removed with the help of an ultrasonic scaler and special hand instruments.
4. Blood clot formation in the pocket and seals off the pocket and prevents the epithelium from growing back into the pockets without the use of a barrier membrane.
5. With the root surfaces now clean and the pocket sealed, the soft tissue and bone begin the reattachment process.
6. A bite adjustment is completed to prevent any bite trauma from occuring.
7. With the procedure complete, new bone growth and connective tissue attachment occur.

Direct your Laser Periodontal Treatment questions to Philadelphia Periodontist and Dental Implant Specialist Dr. I. Stephen Brown at The Perio Group 215.735.3660 or http://www.theperiogroup.com/.

Clinical Advantages of Laser Periodontal Therapy

The newest technology available for periodontal care is the Nd:YAG Millenium Periolase®. This is the latest generation of the Nd:YAG laser and it's designed specifically to treat periodontal disease using LANAP (Laser Assisted New Attachment Procedure). Instead of cutting away tissue, we're now able to regenerate soft tissue and bone in most cases by using the laser technology to encourage the body to heal itself naturally.

The LANAP procedure is patented and FDA-approved. The LANAP laser therapy works by providing an environment in which new bone and periodontal ligament can form on previously diseased root surfaces. The LANAP procedure is minimally invasive and in most cases eliminates the need for traditional blade surgery.

Some of the clinical advantages of the Periolase® include:

• Precision
• Deeper penetration - kills bacteria beyond the tip up to 1.5mm into dentin tubules
• Selective photo-thermal ablation of red inflamed tissue
• Bactericidal especially to black pigmented bacteria
• Effects calculus so it is easier to remove
• Neutralizes endotoxins in root and tissue
• Biostimulation of stem cells in the periodontal ligament to promote regeneration
• Hemostasis
• Less recession
• Much less sensitivity
• Quicker overall healing time
• Minimal postoperative discomfort by reducing prostaglandins
• Reduced stress for doctor, staff and patient

Additionally, the laser therapy is beneficial to patients because LANAP patients generally experience significantly less pain, recession, bleeding, root sensitivity, swelling and healing time than patients who have had more invasive traditional periodontal surgery.

If you have questions regarding this breakthrough periodontal treatment, call Philadelphia Periodontist, Dr. I. Stephen Brown at 215.735.3660 or submit your questions online at http://www.theperiogroup.com/gum_disease_philadelphia/index.html.

Philadelphia Periodontist Treats Gum Disease With a Laser Instead of a Scalpel

Dr. I. Stephen Brown, periodontist and dental implant specialist now treats gum disease with a laser in his Philadelphia Dental Practice. Using LANAP (Laser Assisted New Attachment Procedure), an FDA cleared and patented laser procedure, Dr. Brown is able to treat gum disease in a way that greatly reduces the pain and recovery time associated with more traditional forms of gum disease treatment.

The laser is valuable tool in Dr. Brown's treatment armamentarium which allows patients to undergo therapy for periodontal disease Philadelphia with less pain, less bleeding, less swelling, less recovery time and less tissue removal than with traditional therapies. Periodontal patients in Camden, NJ area can now benefit from the world's first digital dental laser which was specifically designed to remove harmful bacteria and diseased tissue from the gum pockets of periodontal patients. This procedure has been proven to save teeth that were once considered hopeless.

If you have been told that you have gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, it is important for you to know that you have an infection that destroys the gum and eventually the supporting bone around your teeth. If left untreated, this infection can cause tooth loss and may lead to systemic health issues. Periodontal disease should not be left untreated. You should also know that now, more than ever before, you have treatment options that are much less invasive than traditional therapies. If you would like to learn more about laser periodontal treatment, contact Philadelphia Periodontist Dr. I. Stephen Brown at the Perio Group 215.735.3660.