Laser Dentistry: A Pain-Free Approach to Dental Care

Laser dentistry is becoming increasingly popular nowadays. It is an effective and precise way to perform a variety of dental procedures that have been traditionally performed using metal tools and drills. That gives dentists the ability to administer treatments to specific areas of a person's mouth without bothering nearby structures and tissues.

The result is a more comfortable procedure for the patient and a shorter recovery period. It is no surprise that laser dentistry is particularly popular with those who deal with dental anxiety.

Other benefits of laser dentistry include:

• Procedures that normally require stitches often do not when lasers are used
• It reduces the need for anesthetics
• Blood loss is minimized, as the energy in the laser aids blood clotting
• The odds of infection is lowered, since the laser sterilizes the area being worked in
• There is minimal damage to the surrounding tissues
• Operation sites heal faster

Types of lasers used in laser dentistry

There have been a number of soft and hard tissue lasers approved for use by the Food and Drug Administration. Each type of laser is used for a specific function.

1. Hard tissue lasers

Hard tissue lasers are primarily used to cut through bone and teeth structures. These devices provide dentists with significantly more precision than metal tools provide. Hard tissue lasers are also used to shape teeth that have been restored with composite bonding.

2. Soft tissue lasers

As the name implies, these lasers are best suited for cutting through the soft tissues in the mouth like gums. That makes them effective in treating periodontal disease. These lasers can be used to kill any bacteria housed in these soft tissues and facilitate the regeneration of tissues.

Another important benefit that comes with the use of soft-tissue lasers is the way these devices seal nerve endings and blood vessels while simultaneously cutting through them. The result is a painless procedure and recovery period.

There are some newer laser designs that incorporate the features of soft and hard tissue lasers into one device. There are also laser tools that are used to view the interior of tissue cells and teeth.

Common laser dentistry procedures

Hard-tissue lasers can be used for a variety of dental procedures. Some of these include:

• A hard-tissue laser can be used to detect cavities
• It can be used to prepare teeth for fillings; its use is typically pain-free, while traditional tools require the use of anesthetics
• Lasers can be used to seal the tubules when a patient has sensitive teeth

Soft tissue lasers can be used for the following procedures:

• Reshaping of the gums, also known as crown lengthening
• Addressing issues associated with having a gummy smile
• Removing soft tissue folds
• Dealing with cold sores and benign tumors
• Facilitating nerve regeneration
• Clearing the airways of sleep apnea patients
• Activating teeth whitening products

Want to learn more about laser dentistry? Contact one of our dentists today!

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