Using curettes, the hard surfaces of the tooth are “scraped” and polished to remove deposits and bacteria that cause gum inflammation, bone loss, and ultimately tooth loss—periodontitis. Periodontitis is a disease affecting the supporting structures of the tooth, including the gums, fibers connecting the tooth root to the gums and bone. Symptoms include gum bleeding, swollen and dark red gums, and bad breath.
Bacterial deposits form pockets that need to be cleaned to reduce their depth. Removing these deposits halts tissue destruction. It also reduces pocket depth because shallow pockets create less favorable conditions for bacterial growth, resulting in improved periodontal health.
Therapy should begin as soon as possible. At our clinic, curettage is performed using a laser, which enhances the effectiveness and success of the treatment. Additionally, laser therapy is less invasive and therefore less painful.
During curettage, the depth of the pocket is first measured. Then, bacteria and damaged tissue are removed with the laser, while tartar deposits are mechanically cleaned. The laser also treats the surface to eliminate bacteria, allowing the gums to reattach to the clean tooth surface.
The laser energy is directed only at the inflamed area, leaving healthy tissue intact.
In some cases, therapy can be done using only the laser, while in others a combination of laser and curettage is necessary.
