As a retired veterinarian, Dr. Jim Davis knew about the perils of periodontal (gum) disease and the painful surgery to treat it in his four-legged patients.

So he wasn't too thrilled when Huntsville periodontist Dr. Paul Weeks recommended periodontal surgery last year.

"I had done lots of gum work on dogs and understand how it (surgery) works," said Davis, also a retired U.S. Army colonel and founder of a defense contractor company, Davis Strategic Innovations (DSI). "I was very reluctant to have it done because you remove a lot of the gum and my wife said I would look like a horse."

Not wanting to resemble one of his former patients, Davis put off Weeks' recommendation for surgery. But earlier this year during a visit to Weeks' office, Davis learned about a new technique to treat periodontal disease - Laser Assisted New Attachment Program (LANAP) developed by Millennium Dental Technologies.

It is used to remove diseased tissue without cutting or stitching of the gums. It is recommended by the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) and the only FDA-approved laser therapy for periodontal surgery.

"I researched it and it sounded good except for having to be on a liquid diet for a month," said Davis, who had the laser surgery performed in February. "So far, it's doing real well and I can tell my gums aren't as inflamed. But it will be a year before we know for certain whether it worked."

Weeks, who has been in practice here for three decades, is believed to be the only local periodontist using the new laser surgery. The technology has been around for about 15 years, but only recently perfected to where Weeks will recommend it to some of his patients.

"Right now, I'm just picking and choosing which patients I recommend for it," said Weeks, who also uses the conventional, albeit more painful, method of removing parts of gum tissue in his patients. "Some are not a candidate (for laser surgery). We will not really know the results for a year or so, and I hesitate to recommend something that I'm not completely certain will work. But so far it seems to be going well."

After hearing other periodontists he respected talk about the success they were having with the laser procedure, Weeks researched it and decided to take the plunge. He spent three days training at the University of Colorado at Denver under Dr. Ray Yukna who has perfected the laser technique. Weeks has performed the laser surgery on "about two dozen" patients in the past six months, including Davis. Weeks believes laser surgery will eventually be the only method of treatment for periodontal disease, but probably not anytime soon.

The U.S. Surgeon General says the condition affects 85 percent of American adults 18 and older, and moderate to severe forms of gum disease affects 75 percent of the adult population.

Laser technology isn't cheap. One laser tool cost Weeks $160,000, plus $10,000 for a one-year warranty. It is also more tedious than the conventional surgery, so the procedure costs a little more and varies with each patient.

Dental insurance may or may not cover the treatment. Interested surgical candidates should check with their insurance provider before making a decision about periodontal surgery, conventional or laser.

However, Weeks says regardless of the cost, it is a good investment for a person's health. Gum disease (gingivitis and periodontitis) has been linked to many other serious illnesses and conditions such as heart problems and cancer.

The "frightening" aspect of periodontal disease is that it often doesn't show signs until it's too late, said Weeks, a graduate of Lee High School, the University of Alabama and the University of Alabama in Birmingham where he studied dentistry.

"You don't always see the inflammation," said Weeks. "Unless a dentist or hygienist probe and look for periodontal pockets, it can't be diagnosed. If you catch it early, you have to do deep scaling to control the bacteria."

According to the AAP Web site (www.perio.org), the main cause of gum disease is plaque (bacteria), but other factors do affect the health of a person's gums.

If left untreated, periodontal disease can lead to the loss of teeth. Gingivitis, in which gums become red, swollen and bleed easily, can usually be treated with good oral care.

Left untreated, gingivitis can lead to periodontitis where bacteria in plaque produce toxins which irritate the gums, causing the tissues and bone supporting the teeth to break down and be destroyed.

Studies show tobacco use may be one of the most significant risk factors in the development and progression of periodontal disease. Also smokers with periodontal disease have lower success rates with conventional treatment, said Weeks. He said laser technology has not been available long enough to determine if it will have better effects than conventional methods for smokers with periodontal disease.

Genetics can also play a part in gum disease. Even those susceptible to gum disease who maintain aggressive oral care habits are six times more likely to get periodontal disease than those not genetically disposed, according to the AAP. Plus, it can be passed to other family members through saliva.

During times of hormonal changes in females - puberty, pregnancy and menopause - extra care is needed in oral health. Stress can also be a contributing factor because of the body's inability to fight off infections.

While there is no sure preventive measures to keep from getting periodontal diseases, there are precautions that can help minimize it, said Weeks.

"Practice effective flossing, brushing and mouth rinsing," he said. "Once bacteria gets under the teeth, the patient has no control over it and there are places even flossing and brushing can't reach."

He advises people to have their teeth professionally cleaned at least twice a year or more if they have gum disease. All his patients must be referred by a dentist in general practice.