Aerni Dental offers the latest technology for treating gum disease

By Patricia Nugent

Research has shown that over 50% of adults have some form of gum disease, with that percentage rising to over 70% for those 65 years and older. Of those who suffer from it, only 3% receive treatment. Traditional treatment for moderate to advanced gum infection may include invasive therapy such as incisions, bone grafting, gum grafting and sutures.

When Dr. William Aerni heard about a new breakthrough technique to accomplish the best results in treating gum disease through a far less invasive methodology—FDA-approved Laser Assisted New Attachment Procedure (LANAP)—he wanted to introduce it to his patients.

“This fiber optic laser selectively targets and vaporizes disease in the infected pocket without damaging the connective tissue,” explains Dr. Aerni, who last year purchased the new laser for his Strongsville practice. “LANAP is a regenerative procedure rather than re-sectional. That means there is no cutting involved, and it helps the body continue to heal after treatment. In the old treatment, we used to have to incise tissue, clean out the infection, then suture it back up.” He says the new procedure regenerates healthy new growth of previously lost bone and gum tissue over a period of three to eight months afterward.

“Benefits include less downtime, less pain, less swelling and faster healing time,” he says. “Plus, it’s a much better experience for the patient. Instead of a knife or scalpel, I only use a laser beam with a thickness of less than three human hairs. There is no need for stitches. We only use local anesthesia, and the patient can drive themselves home or return to work right away.” Dr. Aerni underwent clinical training and testing before bringing LANAP to his practice.

Why is Gum Health so Crucial?
“Dr. Nabil Bissada, a professor of periodontics at Case Western Reserve Dental School, first made a connection between oral health and systemic diseases about a decade ago,” says Dr. Aerni. “His research found that infected gums and teeth provide an open doorway for bacteria in the mouth to travel through the blood vessels to the rest of the body, and may be linked to heart disease, diabetes and other types of health issues. He actually discovered that the same bacteria that lives in the pockets of infected gums were also found in the arteries of someone with heart disease, which is profound.” Dr. Bissada’s research was eye-opening enough to cause a paradigm shift in the lens through which the medical field viewed oral health. “Our mindset was to look for ways to ensure a patient achieves his or her best level of a sterile mouth, free from infection or decay,” he adds. “This new laser treatment is a game-changer for giving us the springboard to achieve that.”

LANAP is just another example of how Dr. Aerni has sought to bring world-class care to his patients over the past 30 years in practice. “Our goal is for each patient to achieve a lifetime of good oral health,” he adds. “Gum disease is something we can easily detect during a routine visit. It’s also preventable through daily oral care and avoiding risk factors such as smoking and poor diet.”

Aerni Dental is located at 11177 Pearl Road, in Strongsville. Office hours are Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, 8 a.m.- 5 p.m.; Friday, 8 a.m.-2 p.m. The Aerni Dental team offers the full spectrum of dental care from general preventive dentistry to dental implants, same-day crowns, orthodontics and cosmetic enhancement. Call 440-390-3690 to discuss the many options available or visit AerniDental.com.