Laser Dentistry Secrets You need to know

It can also be used in a number of cosmetic gum treatments and is a technique that is often far more preferable compared to old-fashioned and more conventional gum treatments that may use a dental drill, scalpel and stitches.

Instead of a scalpel, a dental laser produces a concentrated beam of energy and more sophisticated lasers can be configured to a specific wavelength. This means they can treat both soft and hard tissues in the mouth in a way that is minimally invasive and much more comfortable compared to using a scalpel.

Some dental lasers will also incorporate a spray of water and air, increasing patient comfort during treatment. Unlike conventional treatment with a dental drill, a dental laser is less likely to damage the surrounding tissues with heat energy and of course there are none of the unpleasant vibrations and pressure associated with a dental drill and which can be off-putting especially for nervous patients.

So, why might you benefit from laser dentistry?

There are quite a few advantages in choosing laser dentistry as for a start it’s frequently not even necessary to have local anaesthetic for this type of treatment. After treatment is completed, healing is usually more comfortable and there is often no need for any painkillers and if you do need anything then any discomfort will only require over-the-counter pain relief.

Laser therapy tends to be quicker than conventional treatment so you will need to spend less time at your dental office and healing is faster. This is a major advantage in choosing laser dentistry as there are far fewer side-effects while healing because any swelling is reduced and any bleeding should be absolutely minimal.

Unlike conventional treatment, there is no need for stitches. The reason for this is due to the gentle nature of laser dentistry as immediately after the tissues are cut, they are sealed by the laser energy in a process called thermal coagulation.

This same process helps to reduce any risk of infection during healing, and when treatment is used for periodontal disease, the laser energy helps to reduce bacteria, all without harming healthy tissues.

Treatment is minimally invasive because lasers are extremely accurate, allowing your dentist to only remove the tissues that are too badly damaged to heal or which need to be cut away, leaving healthy tissues fully intact. This high degree of accuracy is extremely useful when using a laser to correct a gummy smile, enabling your dentist to carefully reshape your gums to create a more pleasing appearance.

Your dentist may suggest using a dental laser if you require advanced gum treatments, perhaps for periodontal disease or gum disease, or to correct a gummy smile.

A dental laser that can treat hard tissues can also be used in other applications. These include reshaping the bone surrounding teeth in preparation for dental veneers or for crowns, or for removing areas of decay in a way that is far more comfortable compared to a normal dental drill.

A dental laser can be extremely advantageous when treating periodontal disease and treatment is often carried out alongside other conventional procedures that will help control advanced gum disease. Laser treatment helps to reduce infection in the gums and is particularly useful for eliminating bacteria in deep periodontal pockets.

These are the pockets that develop as the gums pull away from the teeth and which can create the ideal conditions for bacteria to thrive. The energy of a dental laser can destroy greater numbers of bacteria, giving the gum tissues more of a chance to recover and to fight back.

At the same time, this treatment also helps the ligaments that hold your teeth in their sockets and which may have been substantially damaged by the disease more of a chance to reattach themselves, so they can hold your teeth more securely in place. As your gum tissue begins to heal, the pockets will begin to shrink in size so your gums fit more tightly around your teeth making it less easy for these pockets to be re-infected with bacteria.

It’s quite likely your periodontist may suggest using laser therapy conjunction with another treatment known as scaling and planing and which deep cleans the gums, helping to remove much of the bacterial infection. Using laser dentistry in conjunction with this treatment can help improve its efficacy.

Often patients who undergo laser therapy for advanced periodontal disease will need to be re-treated every few months. If this is the case, your periodontist will provide you with a treatment plan detailing how frequently this treatment should be carried out as well as the frequency of other treatments that must be completed to control periodontal disease.

The accuracy provided by a dental laser helps to increase the effectiveness of this treatment. Allowing your dentist or periodontist to remove precisely the right amount of tissue to create a more aesthetically pleasing smile.

Afterwards, healing is much faster so it will be easier to see the results within just a short while. Most dentists would rather remove too little tissue rather than too much. If necessary, your dentist can remove more tissue at a later date so you get the most perfect results.

If your dentist or another dental specialist such as a periodontist suggests using a dental laser, then there is certainly nothing to be fearful of. Instead you can look forward to treatment that is more comfortable, quicker and more effective than ever before. It is especially beneficial when used for periodontal care and this technology is extremely safe.

Provided your dentist is properly trained in using a dental laser, there is absolutely no downside in having this treatment, but there are plenty of advantages. If you are at all nervous about receiving dental care, it could be worth seeking out a dentist who offers laser dentistry, as the gentle and non-invasive nature of this treatment makes it ideal for patients who are a little bit anxious about receiving dental treatment.