It may seem brand-new to you, but dental professionals have been using lasers to provide minimally invasive treatment options for a wide variety of oral health issues since the mid-1900s. Dental laser technology has, of course, undergone significant changes since then, leading to even more improvement in treatment outcomes.
These days advanced laser technology provides quality care for everything from teeth whitening to gum surgery and tooth restoration. And in many cases, it’s a better choice than traditional dental treatment.
So, what exactly is laser dentistry?
In many cases, lasers can effectively replace or greatly reduce the need for drills and scalpels used in dentistry. Medical lasers, the type used by dentists, provide an extremely focused beam of light that creates enough energy to alter or remove tissue.
In dentistry, depending on the treatment, hard tissue and soft tissue lasers are used. Each provides a specific wavelength that replaces drills and scalpels for preparing your teeth for fillings or making incisions in your gums. We can also use hard tissue lasers to detect tooth decay at its earliest stages when treatment is simple and often the most effective.
What are the benefits of laser dentistry?
Beyond eliminating the need for drills and scalpels, lasers are very precise and efficient. Thus, treatments such as tooth preparation for fillings or gum repair are typically quicker and result in less discomfort than traditional dentistry methods.
- Laser is a versatile tool: Dental lasers are used to address a wide variety of issues – from teeth whitening to gum disease treatment and much more. The ability of the laser to precisely target the affected area ensures that the healthy tissues are kept intact. This makes laser dentistry a win-win for both the dentist and the patient.
- Laser treats gum disease effectively: For gingivitis and gum diseases, keeping the condition from progressing is the most important thing. For this purpose, scaling and root planning are the preferred treatments to remove plaque from the pockets and roots. With laser dentistry, the specific issue can be addressed with reduced bacteria and faster healing.
- Less invasive treatments: The thought of dental surgery scares everyone. The use of lasers in dentistry has made surgeries today less invasive than traditional methods. As such, procedures like cutting into the gum or filling cavities with less use of anesthesia.
- Faster recovery after treatment: When undergoing any dental treatment, the last thing one wants is to have a long and uncomfortable recovery. One of the biggest advantages of using a laser in dentistry is that the patient experiences less bleeding and swelling. This allows you to heal faster and more comfortably.
What conditions can you treat with laser dentistry?
Lasers are used to treat various dental concerns such as:
- various stages of periodontal disease
- tooth sensitivity
- Gummy smiles, which occur when your gum tissue excessively covers your teeth
- Routine dental cleanings
- Preparation for root canal treatments
Laser dentistry is also widely used for treating cavities. Since the laser is very accurate, it can be used to break down and remove the decayed part of the tooth, without causing any harm to the remaining healthy tooth. Such precision cannot be attained when using a traditional drill.
With laser dentistry, patients can feel relaxed as the procedures are less invasive and cause less bleeding. The need for stitches and the risk of bacterial infection after laser procedures is also far less as compared to laser dentistry.
If you too want to have a less invasive procedure done, laser dentistry in Scottsdale AZ might be your best choice. Reach out to us at Belmont Dentistry for laser procedures.