Lasers have been used in dentistry for many years because of the precise control they afford the dentist and the comfort they provide to patients. In Laser Assisted Periodontal Therapy, the teeth are first cleaned of any debris or calcified deposits. Then the laser is used to selectively remove diseased or infected gum tissue lining the pockets around your teeth. At the same time the laser will kill the bacteria that cause your gum disease and promote healing of your gums around your teeth. It also helps increase circulation and collagen formation at the bottom of your periodontal pockets and helps speed healing. This treatment is performed multiple times over a period of a few weeks, and the results typically exceed what was previously accomplished with traditional “scaling and root planing” or “deep cleanings.” One of the biggest advantages of laser therapy is that many times procedures can be performed with minimal or no anesthetic.