Question:

I believe that I have the start of gum disease and am really worried as I haven't gone to a dentist for years. I really look after my teeth, brushing three or four times a day. I am very stressed out about going to the dentist and what they may need to do to treat my gum disease. I have looked up on the internet for information and came across laser LANAP for gum disease. Do you recommend it? And how much do the treatments cost approximately? We don't have private cover.

Answer:

You may be jumping the gun here and stressing yourself unnecessarily. Given that you haven't seen a dentist for years, you really don't know that you have any form of destructive periodontal disease. Like so many of the questions I receive on this site, you are self-diagnosing, and that is a dangerous practice, especially when you start looking for exotic treatment solutions to possibly non-existent problems.

As a first step, you need to see a dentist for a thorough examination and cleaning. This will at least allow for a proper diagnosis and treatment plan for treatment. Generally gum disease can be treated easily with conservative scaling and cleaning.

Laser treatment, including LANAP, is indicated for more advanced forms of gum disease and it does show some promise. It is my understanding that LANAP is not yet available for use in Australia, nor is it endorsed by the Australian Dental Association or the Australian Society of Periodontology.

Back to my earlier point, devote some energy to finding a good dentist who can advise and treat you after a thorough examination and diagnosis. Google is hardly the place to research the appropriateness of medical or dental procedures without first having a qualified opinion or two.

For more information please visit Dr Angelo Lazaris's website.