Laser Dentistry is the Modern Face of Dentistry

Technology has made laser dentistry possible.  This new and improved approach to solving dental health problems is both less invasive and less painful for dental patients than traditional dentistry.  People can get out of the dental chair and back to their lives faster with this new and improved approach to patient care.

Dental lasers are used for multiple things including:

• Dental surgery
• Treating gum disease
• Removing plaque
• Enhance tooth bleaching
• Remove objects infected by tooth disease
• And more!

Laser dentistry is practiced by dentists that want to offer patients alternatives to traditional dental care.  Dentists must be properly trained in how to use a laser and apply it to each type of dental procedure.  Only select dentists offices offer this alternative to patients, so it is important to ask when making a first time appointment.

What are the benefits of laser dentistry?

The benefits are numerous with the overarching goal being to reduce pain and recovery time while improving the result of a dental procedure.  When lasers are used in dental surgery the need for anesthesia is decreased.  Lasers also prevent or decrease bleeding and swelling.  Dental procedures performed with a laser can also take less time than those conducted with traditional instruments. 

While this is a relatively new technology there are minimal health risks or concerns.  Patients are required to wear protective eye gear, along with anyone else that is watching or helping with the procedure.  A laser is quiet and can barely be felt.

Patients that opt for laser treatment typically experience a much faster recovery time than those undergoing traditional dental surgery or dental procedures.  When a laser is involved there is no need or little need for cutting gums and requiring stitches.  They are also extremely accurate, so only the infected or damaged area is touched by a laser, keeping the nearby gums intact. 

Laser Dentistry at an Office Visit

While lasers have had the greatest and most significant impact on how dental surgeries are completed, they are also used to make routine office visits more comfortable for the patient.  For example, a laser can be used in place of a drill or scalpel.  They can be used to detect cavities and quickly remove infected areas of the tooth.  When a patient needs to have a tooth repaired, a laser can help the material used to bond the tooth set faster.

There is more than one type of laser.  The lasers for soft tissue are used to treat gums, tongue, and cheek tissue.  They will often be used to ease the pain and swelling from surgery by sealing blood vessels.  Hard lasers, on the other hand, are used to treat teeth and bones.  They are most often used in surgery, to repair a filling, and to remove infected parts of the tooth.

The dentist needs to be trained and up to date on the latest laser technology in order to provide patients with the most effective laser dentistry.  This cutting edge technology can revolutionize your visit to the dentist and help you to feel better in no time.