Q: Can you cure a periodontal fistula?
A: A fistula is a hole in the gum with an infection (pus) in it. Sometimes we gently place a “gutta percha” point in the fistula – a rubbery material that’s used for root canal filling. It’s radio-opaque, so you can see it on an x-ray. This enables us to see where the fistula is going. If it’s going to the root of the tooth, it’s probably a root canal problem. If it’s going to the side of the root, it could be a cracked root (which the laser usually can’t treat), or gum disease. I had a recent patient with a fistula present. The front tooth had a deep pocket. I treated it with LANAP and I also went into the fistula with the laser at a reduced power setting. Periodontal fistulas respond very well to the laser. We have treated many of these types of infections with great success.
