Laser or traditional gum surgery
Gum surgery treats pockets and damaged gum tissue that a cleaning can't reach. Dr. Montes can do it with a soft-tissue dental laser or with traditional instruments, and explains both before you choose.
What happens
Usually one or two visits for each area, with a recheck weeks later.
- 01
Step 1: Options
She shows your measurements and X-rays, and explains how a laser and traditional surgery would each work for you.
- 02
Step 2: Numbing
A local anesthetic numbs the area, and we check that it is numb before we begin.
- 03
Step 3: Treatment
With a laser, with a scalpel, or with both, she removes diseased tissue, cleans the roots and, if needed, reshapes the gum.
- 04
Step 4: After-care
We give you written instructions, a soft-food plan and a number to call. A recheck follows in a few weeks.
Comfort, choices and care
Comfort
A local anesthetic numbs the area. You may feel pressure and movement, and you can raise a hand to stop. We don't offer sedation in this office; we can refer you to a dentist who does.
If you wait
Pockets that stay deep keep collecting buildup, and the bone around the tooth can keep wearing away. Dr. Montes will say how fast she expects that to go in your case.
Risks and after-care
Soreness, swelling and bleeding are expected for a few days. Gums can recede, teeth can feel sensitive, and the area can become infected. A laser carries its own risks, such as heat damage to tissue, which Dr. Montes explains.
How it's billed
The fee is in your written estimate before treatment, with the procedure and the tool named. Your plan decides what it pays.
How fees work
How she chooses
Neither way is better for every patient. These are the questions Dr. Montes weighs.
What the gum and bone look like
How deep the pockets are, how much bone has been lost and whether the root has to be seen to be cleaned.
What you want
Some people prefer to avoid a cut and stitches if that's an option. Others prefer the method with the longer record.
What the plan costs
The estimate names the procedure and the tool, so you can compare before you decide.
Questions about gum surgery
Which laser do you use?
The make, the model and what the FDA has cleared it for are in writing on request, along with Dr. Montes's training with it.
Can I choose the laser?
Yes, if it's a fit for your gums. If it isn't, she tells you why and what she would do instead.
When can I go back to work?
Many people go back the next day. Dr. Montes tells you what to expect for your own treatment.
Will I have stitches?
Sometimes. It depends on what she does and where.
- Swelling that spreads to your face, eye or neck, trouble breathing or swallowing, a serious blow to the head, or bleeding that won't stop needs emergency care now. Go to an emergency room or call 911. If a tooth is knocked out or broken, call our office right away.
Practice limited to periodontics
Dr. Rita Montes, DDS, completed a residency in a periodontics program and is licensed in California.