TwinLight Periodontal Treatment (TPT) is a minimally invasive periodontal disease therapy combining Er:YAG and Nd:YAG to provide a less invasive, more acute treatment to gum disease. TPT targets and kills bacteria that causes gum disease, removes unhealthy gum tissue, regenerates soft tissue and bone, and provides long term predictable results with significantly shorten recovery time. It is FDA approved for lased based treatment for gum disease and tissue regeneration. This remarkable surgical protocol allows for targeted removal of diseased gum tissue, leaving your body’s own healthy tissues, creating an environment where you can actually heal yourself!
Traditional gum surgery utilizes scalpels and sutures to cut away diseased and infected gum tissues, often time resulting in unaesthetic results and exposed root surfaces. However, with TPT, there is no loss of tissue volume, and because there is no cutting or sutures, patients can go straight back to work or continue with their normal routine. Depending on the severity of your gum disease, your whole mouth can be treated in one visit, with little to no downtime.
Contact us today to schedule a consultation for your gingiva/gums. Dr. Chen and her staff have a huge emphasis on overall health, which is strongly correlated to the health of your gums. With TPT, patients do not need to stop their medications, as the laser creates such complete healing and there is no concern about any excess post operative bleeding.
Q. How do I know if I am a candidate for TPT?
A. If you have been told that you have gum disease, notice that your teeth have any mobility, or your gums bleed when you brush and floss, you will need periodontal therapy (gum treatment) and likely TPT would be a great option for you. A thorough consultation with a complete set of x-rays in conjunction with a review of your medical and dental history will be necessary to advise you on the proper treatment options.
Q. I’m a smoker. Can I have TPT?
A. Yes, if you are a candidate for TPT, smoking will not preclude you from having this procedure. However, smokers may have impaired healing and results may not be as successful. Please bring up smoking cessation programs during your consultation if you are interested in helping drop the addiction.
Q. I take blood thinners. Do I need to stop my medications?
A. TPT does not require the traditional scalpel and sutures. The laser causes slight bleeding but can control it because laser light energy can create a clot that acts as a bandage that seals the wound, thus eliminating post operative bleeding.
Q. I life far away from the office? How long do I have to be in town and what happens with my follow up care?
A. Central Park Dental Aesthetics is very fortunate to see patients from around the world who travel to our office for their dental needs. With TPT, most patients can be treated in as little as one visit with little to no post operative pain or swelling. Many are able to travel home as early as the next day. With the patients that are not able to travel back for follow ups, we keep open lines of communication and work with your local health care providers to ensure the appropriate course of care for your healing after TPT.
Q. Will I be able to eat after TPT surgery?
A. Yes but in a modified way. You’ll be given a specific dietary guideline that complement the home care guidelines. Soft, non sticky foods will be the ideal diet. Think pasta, yogurt, eggs, fish, rice, soups, and other soft non sticky foods. Fluids – coffee, shakes, tea, water, etc are also very important to healing.
Q. I have dental implants. Can I have TPT?
A. Yes, TPT can be done with implants as well. With the two wavelength lasers, there is no danger of thermal damage to the surrounding bone and no significant alterations of the implant surface. Lightwalker laser is unique that it has both Er:Yag and ND:Yag, while most lasers only have one of the two. This makes the Lightwalker unique in its ability to safely perform TPT on implants.
Q. Is TPT permanent or will I have to do this again in the future?
A. TPT can help bring you to optimal health, but it is incumbent upon you to maintain proper oral hygiene and keep up with regular maintenance appointments. With proper home care and regular maintenance appointments, we are not seeing a need to re-treat with TPT.
Q. How expensive is TPT and does my insurance cover it?
A. While there is a set fee for surgery, everybody doesn’t present with the same issues. We urge you to schedule a consultation so that we can examine you, review your case and discuss the appropriate treatment options to help you make an informed decision about your own healthcare options. Once the treatment plan has been finalized, we will discuss the associated fees and make the appropriate financial arrangements, including what insurance will cover.
