Laser Dentistry
Family & Cosmetic Dentistry located in Ohio
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101 South Washington Street
45869 New Bremen, OH, US
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What is Laser Dentistry?
Laser dentistry is a minimally intrusive option when you’re facing surgical treatment for your gums, cavities, or other oral problems. Discuss your laser surgical treatment choices with one of our dental experts today.
Laser Dentistry: An Overview
Dental specialists use lasers, which are very focused light beams, to remove or change tissue in small amounts. Laser surgery is a well known option outside of dentistry, however many people aren’t aware of laser dentistry until having it done. Dental professionals utilize lasers in a variety of procedures involving the within the mouth, be it to eliminate overgrown tissue, to improve the gums, or to whiten teeth. Depending on the situation, laser dentistry can be perfect for kids who are nervous when having actually dental work done.
What Laser Dentistry Can Treat
Many of the oral conditions that laser dentistry can help treat are related to the gums.
Some of these consist of:
- Canker and cold sore pain
- Root canal infections
- Gum disease
- Gum inflammation
- Gum reshaping
- Biopsies
- Exposing wisdom teeth
- Removing throat tissue (for sleep apnea)
- Regenerating damaged nerves
- Removing benign oral tumors
Benefits of Laser Dentistry
Dentists choose laser dentistry for its unique benefits that make treatments not just safer and more efficient, but can also minimize pain and healing time for patients.
- Patients typically require less sutures
- Anesthesia is not always necessary
- Lasers can sterilize the gums, making infection less likely
- Less gum damage shortens healing time
- Less patient blood loss than traditional surgery
What to Expect With Laser Gum Surgery
When you come in for your laser dentistry procedure, you might be surprised to discover that it’s quite similar to other general dentistry treatments, like tooth fillings. Your treatment may require anesthesia, though it’s typically less than you’d need for a traditional procedure. If you experience anxiety, you may also be given a mild sedative to help you feel more comfortable.
During the procedure, you won’t feel any vibrations or discomfort from the laser as you would from a drill. Any bleeding that occurs gets wiped away, similar to what you’ve experienced with traditional dentistry. Your mouth will be propped open as the dental practitioner works with the laser to treat your concerns.
Post-Operative Expectations
You can expect your post-operative experience with laser dentistry to be smoother than traditional gum surgery. Because lasers are more precise, they cause far less tissue damage and bleeding compared to a scalpel.
You will not have an open incision site like with a scalpel, so your healing time will be significantly quicker than with traditional surgery. Even so, you’ll still need to follow some simple steps to care for the surgical site to prevent infection and reduce healing time.
The Types of Lasers Used in Dentistry
The two main types of lasers used by dental professionals are tough tissue and soft tissue lasers. Each laser utilizes a various wavelength that makes it best for cutting into that particular type of gum tissue. This works because of the way each type of tissue reacts with the different wavelengths of light. By altering the light’s wavelength (and in some cases pulse pattern), researchers have determined how to craft lasers with light wavelengths compatible with the delicate tissues in your mouth.
Hard Tissue Lasers
A tough tissue laser is used mostly for your teeth. The wavelength of one of these lasers cuts through both water and bone, particularly the calcium phosphate that’s in your bones and your teeth. These lasers are extremely precise when cutting into your teeth, allow the removal of small amounts for teeth shaping purposes or preparing a tooth for a procedure.
Tough tissue lasers are used for:
- Detecting cavities
- Treating tooth sensitivity
- Preparing teeth for dental fillings
Soft Tissue Lasers
Soft tissue lasers utilize a light wavelength that hemoglobin and water can quickly absorb. Hemoglobin is a molecule found within blood, which makes soft tissue lasers ideal for gum work.
Some soft tissue lasers are diode lasers, which is a type of continuous-wave laser. These lasers are ideal for cutting into soft tissue and sealing the exposed blood vessels at the very same time.
Soft tissue lasers can be utilized for:
- Lengthening crowns
- Correcting restricted tongue movement
- Reshaping the gums to create a more appealing smile
- Removing soft tissue folds caused by dentures
Whether you’re having laser gum surgery or hard tissue work, anticipate a simpler procedure and a much shorter healing time compared to traditional scalpel surgery. Laser dentistry is a convenient solution to numerous oral and oral problems, whether severe in nature or merely cosmetic. Ask us about laser treatment options the next time you need dental work completed.