Dental Laser Care/Ana M. Triliouris, DDS

What is gum disease? Gum disease is a condition of the gums which eventually destroys the bone that supports our natural teeth. Bacterial plaque is a film that sticks to the enamel at the gum line and works its way up and between the teeth, and if not removed makes gum disease worse.

Signs of gum disease would be, bleeding while brushing and flossing, soreness and swollen gums, gum recession, periodontal pocketing, (which is measured by the amount of space in between the tooth and gum) shifting or loose teeth and persistent bad taste and odor in the mouth.

Gum disease also affects more than just the mouth, it affects our overall health. The mouth is the gateway for infection to travel through the bloodstream and reach other parts of the body. For example, gum disease is linked to heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, diabetes, respiratory infections and premature and low birth weight.

Here are a few steps to prevent gum disease at home and along with your dental professional. First priority, is learning how to achieve proper home care. We highly recommend using an electric toothbrush along with daily flossing and using a tongue scraper. It is very important to avoid habits such as-nail biting, chewing ice and acidic foods, and most of all smoking. Once correct home care is established your dental professional can do the rest.

We recommend visiting the dentist at least twice a year for a hygiene visit. We strongly believe every exam should include periodontal measurements, oral cancer screening, reviewing home care, monitoring the amount of acid producing bacteria in the mouth, and reviewing patient medical history to see if any changes have occurred dental wise, as well as any health concerns. Once we are ready to start a cleaning we use the ultrasound instrument first to remove hard tarter build up.

We then use hand scale instruments to remove plaque, tarter, and stains from all teeth surfaces. We end the cleaning with polishing paste to remove stain and then do a fluoride treatment. Before leaving our office, we appoint the next hygiene visit and follow up with a reminder call to help our patients remember to keep up with their oral health care.

With the correct guidance and teamwork between the patient and the dental professional, Gum disease can be managed. THE KEY TO GREAT ORAL HEALTH IS REGULAR HYGIENE VISITS!

        

For patients who do not look forward to needles, drilling, or numbness, Laser Dentistry may be the right choice.

Laser dentistry is one of dentistry’s latest advances. The laser delivers energy in the form of light. Depending on the intended result, this energy travels at different wavelengths and is absorbed by a “target.” In dentistry, these targets can be enamel, decay, gum tissue, or whitening enhancers. Each one absorbs a different wavelength of light while reflecting others. Laser dentistry can be used for both tooth and soft tissue related procedures. Oftentimes no local anesthesia is required. Unlike the dental drill, with a laser there is no heat or vibration making the procedure quite comfortable for most patients. For soft tissue (surgical) procedures, there is no bleeding for the most part, it eliminates the need for suturing most times, and the healing process is almost painless.

Lasers can be used to diagnose cavities. They can find hidden decay in teeth in early stages, and in some cases the decay can be reversed through hygiene and fluoride treatment and may never need filling.

Areas of dental care that benefit from laser technology:

• Cavity diagnosis and removal
• Curing, or hardening, bonding materials
• Whitening teeth
• Periodontal, or gum care
• Pediatric procedures              
• Apthous ulcer treatment (canker sore)                    
• Frenectomy (tongue-tie release) without anesthesia or sutures
• Root canals and apicoectomies
• Crown lengthening, gingivectomy and other gum corrections

Dental lasers have been shown to be safe and effective for treating both children and adults.

We take great pride in the care we provide for our patients. Whether we use our lasers or not “Our patients will never be in pain while having dental procedures performed” We can assure you that the “fear of dentistry” is a thing from the past at Dental Laser Care. Sincerely, Dr. Ana .

I’ve been in practice for over 30 years in Merrick, N.Y. Graduating from NYU and attending  continuing education seminars to further my education has led me to being nominated and elected as the President of the Academy of Laser Dentistry in 2012.   Our office has evolved into a state of the art dental practice, as well as one of the first dental offices on long island to use laser technology. Painless dentistry, with a family atmosphere, helps make the feared dental appointment not so scary. We are a team who puts caring into dental care.

 

So what else separates us from the rest? In addition to offering a family atmosphere, we strive to provide the most thorough  exams. We include oral cancer screenings clinically, and with an instrument called the Velscope, which is the latest technology, to detect any abnormalities in the mouth. We also measure the amount of acid producing bacteria in the saliva, as well as measure the space between the gums and the teeth to check for areas of periodontal disease at every check up. Once we gather all findings, we will sit down together and decide what dental treatment is best for you.

I’m looking forward to sharing all of the latest techniques, and all the most recent information about oral health with you. Come join me weekly.

Sincerely, Dr Ana.