Periodontitis is a bacterial infection that destroys the bone supporting your teeth. As bone is lost, pockets form between gum and tooth that are too deep to clean at home, so the infection becomes self-sustaining. The foundation of treatment is always mechanical — removing the bacterial deposits from the root surfaces by scaling and root planing. Laser therapy is used as an adjunct to that.
What the laser adds
A fine laser fibre is placed into the pocket, where it removes diseased soft tissue lining the pocket wall and reduces bacterial load in areas instruments reach less effectively. Because it seals small vessels as it works, bleeding is limited and many patients find recovery more comfortable than conventional flap surgery.
It is important to be clear about what this is: an adjunct that supports scaling and root planing, not a replacement for it, and not a cure for periodontitis. Bone already lost does not grow back. The realistic goal is to halt progression, reduce pocket depths and inflammation, and give you pockets shallow enough to maintain at home.
What to expect
Your dentist or hygienist at Parkway Dental records pocket depths and bleeding points to establish a baseline. Treatment is usually delivered by quadrant under local anaesthetic, with scaling and root planing followed by laser application in the affected pockets. Several appointments are typical.
Afterwards and long term
Expect tenderness for a few days and some sensitivity to cold as inflammation resolves and gums tighten. Gum recession may become more apparent — this is the swelling settling rather than new damage, though it can make teeth look longer and roots more sensitive.
Re-evaluation takes place after about six to eight weeks. The outcome depends heavily on two things you control: daily plaque removal, and attending maintenance appointments at the shorter interval prescribed, usually every three to four months. Smoking significantly reduces the response to any periodontal treatment.