WHAT IS LASER DENTISTRY?
Even with proper dental care, including daily brushing, flossing, and rinsing, as well are regular visits for checkup with the dentists at Ramona Family Dentistry, you could end up facing oral health concerns in time. It’s not uncommon for patients to suffer from varying degrees of tooth decay or gum disease, or to struggle with cosmetic issues like discolored teeth or a gummy smile, where excessive gum tissue makes teeth look too small.
While there are a variety of treatment options to address such issues, these problems and many more could be solved with the use of modern laser technologies. Laser dentistry involves the use of precision laser technology that relies on beams of concentrated light to create energy that can be used to cut or reshape tissue, much like a drill or scalpel, but with far less potential for collateral damage.
Different treatments require different types of lasers. Because lasers offer precision control, trained dentists can use them to accurately target areas of decay or infection without impacting healthy surrounding tissue. What types of conditions are treated with laser dentistry and what benefits will you enjoy?
Conditions Treated by Laser Therapy
Laser dentistry can be used to treat a wide range of oral health concerns, as well as cosmetic issues. Many patients are already familiar with in-office teeth whitening procedures, which use laser light to brighten teeth by several shades in under an hour. What you may not know is that lasers can also be used to treat tooth decay, gum disease, and even tooth sensitivity.
Lasers could detect early tooth decay, and also kill bacteria in a cavity in preparation for a filling, without the need for a drill (and often, without the need for anesthetic). Laser therapy can seal tubules on the roots of teeth to treat hot/cold sensitivity. If you suffer from sleep apnea, TMJ, or cold sores, certain types of laser therapy could improve your condition.
Soft tissue concerns can also be addressed with laser dentistry, which is ideal for treating gum disease when it is necessary to remove infected tissue. If you suffer from a gummy smile, laser therapy can reshape tissue to reveal more tooth surface, improving the appearance of your smile with less harm to remaining gum tissue. If you’re curious about whether laser dentistry is suitable to treat your health or cosmetic concerns, don’t hesitate to ask our caring team for more information.
Benefits of Laser Dentistry
Laser therapy is a suitable alternative to more traditional dental techniques in a variety of circumstances, but what makes it better? For starters, this precision technology allows dentists to more accurately target problem areas without harming healthy surrounding tissues. In some cases, anesthesia may not even be necessary with laser dentistry.
Because lasers sterilize tissue and promote clotting, there is typically less bleeding and reduced risk of infection. As a result, healing and recovery time may decrease dramatically, as opposed to treatments that require the use of scalpels and sutures, for example. In short, there are plenty of reasons to find out if you’re a good candidate for laser dentistry.
