Laser dentistry continues to be a very popular choice for patients. Able to treat many dental conditions such as gum disease, hypersensitivity, and tooth decay, laser dentistry provides a faster and more comfortable experience for many.
Whether it’s anxiety over pain or general dental phobia, research shows that more than 10% of Americans skip the dentist completely. As a convenient, efficient, practical, and generally pain-free approach, many people are now opting for laser dentistry.
A few benefits of laser dentistry include:
- Precise and accurate treatments
- Minimized bleeding due to high-energy light, which helps coagulate blood, thus reducing bleeding
- Faster healing time due to sterilization from the laser
- The need for anesthesia is reduced because lasers often replace painful drilling and incisions
- Lasers are quiet and thus avoid the discomfort and anxiety that can result from the sound of a conventional drill often makes patients very uncomfortable and anxious. When using lasers, our patients are more relaxed and comfortable in general
If you’re curious about whether or not laser dentistry is right for you, here’s some technical information to help you understand how the procedure works.
What does laser dentistry involve?
As the name suggests, laser dentistry uses lasers for its procedures. LASER means:
Light
Amplification by the
Stimulated
Emission of
Radiation
A laser is a piece of equipment that emits an extremely narrow, yet intense beam of light, able to concentrate on a very focused area of the mouth. These beams can improve the treatment by vaporizing diseased tissue and harmful bacteria. No strains of bacteria can survive the power of lasers.
Dentists use two main types of lasers during these procedures – hard and soft tissue lasers. Depending on the specific type of tissue, each laser uses a different wavelength of light in different ways.
Hard Tissue Lasers
This type of laser is used primarily for your teeth. The wavelength of the lasers can cut through both water and bone, in particular the calcium phosphate found in your bones and teeth. These lasers can accurately cut or reshape teeth or prepare one for certain procedures.
Hard tissue lasers are generally used for finding cavities, managing tooth sensitivity, and getting teeth ready for dental fillings.
Soft Tissue Lasers
Conversely, the wavelength used in soft tissue lasers is lighter, and thus more easily absorbed by hemoglobin and water. Hemoglobin is the molecule found in blood, making soft tissues ideal for gum work.
Lasers minimize bleeding and speed up healing, and soft tissue lasers specifically can cut into soft tissue and seal exposed blood vessels at the same time. Soft tissue lasers are also ideal for cosmetic procedures, as well as:
Deleted:- Crown lengthening
- Addressing restricted tongue movement
- Reshaping the gums
- Removing folds in oral soft tissues is often a result of wearing dentures
Find out if laser dentistry is right for you!
From comfort to convenience, it’s no wonder that laser dentistry offers a wide range of benefits for patients.
Here at Wilton Smiles, we specialize in laser dentistry. We look forward to connecting with you soon to determine if this modern approach is suited to your needs.
Call us at 203-762-9907 or click here. Let’s talk about laser surgery today!
