Laser

Laser dentistry can be a precise and effective way to perform many dental procedures. The potential for laser dentistry to improve dental procedures rests in the dentist's ability to control power output and the duration of exposure on the tissue (whether gum or tooth structure), allowing for treatment of a highly specific area of focus without damaging surrounding tissues.

Benefits of Laser Dentistry

Here are some of the major benefits associated with laser dentistry:

  • Procedures performed using soft tissue dental lasers may not require sutures (stitches).
  • Certain laser dentistry procedures do not require anesthesia.
  • Laser dentistry minimizes bleeding because the high-energy light beam aids in the clotting (coagulation) of exposed blood vessels, thus inhibiting blood loss.
  • Bacterial infections are minimized because the high-energy beam sterilizes the area being worked on.
  • Damage to surrounding tissue is minimized.
  • Wounds heal faster and tissues can be regenerated.

Application of Laser Dentistry

The application of lasers in dentistry opens the door for the doctors to perform a wide variety of dental procedures they otherwise may not be capable of performing. Doctors using lasers in dentistry have become adept at incorporating the state-of-the-art precision technology into a number of common and not-so-common procedures.

Hard Tissue (Tooth) Laser Dentistry Procedures

  • Tooth Sensitivity: Dental lasers may be used to seal tubules (located on the root of the tooth) that are responsible for hot and cold tooth sensitivity.

Soft Tissue (Gum) Laser Dentistry Procedures

  • Crown Lengthening:Dental lasers can reshape gum tissue (soft tissue laser) and bone (hard tissue laser) to expose healthier tooth structure. Referred to as crown lengthening, such reshaping provides a stronger foundation for the placement of restorations.
  • Gummy Smile:Dental lasers can reshape gum tissue to expose healthy tooth structure and improve the appearance of a gummy smile.
  • Muscle Attachment (Frenula):A laser frenectomy is an ideal treatment option for children who are tongue tied (restricted or tight frenulum) and babies unable to breast feed adequately due to limited tongue movement. A laser frenectomy may also help to eliminate speech impediments.
  • Soft Tissue Folds (Epulis):Dental lasers may be used for the painless and suture-free removal of soft tissue folds often caused by ill-fitting dentures.
  •  

Other Laser Dentistry Applications

  • Viewing Tooth and Gum Tissues:Optical Coherence Tomography is a safer way to see inside tooth and gums in real time.
  • Benign Tumors:Dental lasers may be used for the painless and suture-free removal of benign tumors from the gums, palate, sides of cheeks and lips.
  • Cold Sores:Low intensity dental lasers reduce pain associated with cold sores and minimize healing time.
  • Teeth Whitening:Low intensity soft tissue dental lasers may be used to speed up the bleaching process associated with teeth whitening.