Laser Bacterial Reduction · San Ramon
Two minutes before your cleaning, and considerably less bleeding during it
The smallest thing we offer, and the one patients are most surprised by.
Who this is for
- Gums that bleed a lot whenever they are cleaned
- You are on periodontal maintenance every three or four months
- A heart condition or joint replacement where bacteraemia is a concern — ask us
- You would simply rather the appointment was less unpleasant
What it is
Before the hygienist starts, a fine laser fiber is passed briefly around the gumline and just inside each pocket. It takes two or three minutes for the whole mouth.
The point is to lower the number of bacteria sitting in the sulcus before anything mechanical disturbs them. Cleaning inflamed gums pushes bacteria into the bloodstream — that is ordinary and usually harmless, but reducing the load first is a reasonable thing to do.
No anesthetic. No noise. Most patients describe feeling nothing, occasionally a faint warmth.
What you will actually notice
Less bleeding during the cleaning itself. That is the effect patients report most consistently, and it is the reason people ask for it again.
For anyone who dreads the hygienist because of how much their gums bleed — and that is a surprisingly common reason people avoid appointments — this changes the experience more than its cost suggests.
We will not claim more than that. It does not replace cleaning, it does not treat gum disease on its own, and it is not a substitute for what you do at home.
Whether it is worth it for you
If your gums are healthy and do not bleed, probably not. We will say so.
If they bleed heavily, if you are on a three-month periodontal recall, or if you have a medical condition where your physician has raised bacteraemia as a concern, it is worth considering — and in that last case, tell us, because it changes the conversation.
It is optional every single visit. Nobody here will make it awkward to decline.
What to expect
Here’s how the visit actually goes.
No surprises. That’s the whole idea.
01
Offered, not assumed
We ask each visit. Saying no changes nothing else about the appointment.
02
Protective eyewear
Everyone in the room, every time.
03
The pass
Two or three minutes around the gumline. No injection, no vibration, no sound.
04
Then the cleaning
As normal — usually with noticeably less bleeding.
Questions
Answered before you ask.
Does it hurt?
No. There is no injection and most patients feel nothing at all — occasionally a faint warmth. It is the least invasive thing we do.
Do I need it every time?
No. Plenty of patients have it once, notice the difference, and then have it at maintenance visits only. Some never have it. It is genuinely optional.
Does it treat gum disease?
Not on its own. It reduces bacteria before a cleaning. Actual gum disease needs deep cleaning below the gumline, and we would tell you if that is what you need.
Is it covered by insurance?
Usually not — most plans do not have a code for it. We will tell you the cost before we do it rather than adding it to a bill.
In their words
Thirty years of families who stayed.
Every quote below is a patient's own, unedited, from our reviews.
“We LOVE LOVE LOVE Avalon Dental! Dr. B is the best dentist we’ve ever gone to”
Cassondra H. “Dr B. always does a great job and you don’t feel the work getting done”
Marie T. “The staff always make my experiences with them the best and most comfortable”
Rebecca C.