TREATMENTS

Canker Sore Therapy

What are Canker Sores?

Canker sores are painful open ulcerations that form in or around the mouth. They affect approximately 20% of the adult population and can present as a single ulcer or several. Canker sores are more common in women than men and may occur at any age, but generally first appear between the ages of 10 and 40.

Canker sores may be caused by a variety of things. Most common are stress, food and drug allergies, trauma, and viral illness. In some instances the cause cannot be identified.

The pain associated with these ulcers can be extremely intense, especially when the ulcers come into contact with hot, spicy, salty, or acidic foods/beverages. It is not uncommon for affected individuals to experience so much pain that they stop eating, brushing, talking, and even lose sleep, until the pain subsides (generally 1-3 weeks).

Laser Therapy - Treatment of Choice

Thankfully we are able to treat and eliminate these painful lesions before they become a problem. Dr. Stahl uses a soft tissue laser to treat the ulcers for 1-2 minutes. This treatment usually stops the pain immediately and initiates a rapid healing response. Most patients do not require anesthetic and report immediate improvement. Overall success rates are practically 100%, with patients reporting that the ulcer(s) heals within 1 day.

Medication Based Therapy - Alternative Treatment

For patients that are not candidates for laser treatment (due to work, cost, travel), we can also provide chemical therapy using a product called Debacterol, which is only available through dentists and physicians. This is an extremely effective method of treatment that can be performed at home or in the office.

If you have any questions regarding your particular treatment needs, please call us at (425) 649-0800