Laser Dentistry is a relatively new technique that can enhance the precision of your dental treatment while reducing pain and recovery time. Laser Dentistry can be a safe and effective alternative for patients who have localized dental and/or oral problems, or patients who experience fear when it comes to dental drills. The FDA has approved the use of lasers for many dental procedures, including the treatment of gum lesions and tooth cavities. Laser Dentistry provides several options in the treatment of both hard and soft oral tissue and has proven to be a popular choice among dental patients.    

Benefits of Laser Dentistry

• Some dental procedures may not require sutures (stitches)
• Anesthesia may not be required for some dental procedures
• Laser Dentistry minimizes bleeding because the high-intensity light beam aids in the clotting of exposed blood vessels, inhibiting blood loss
• Bacterial infections are reduced because the high-intensity beam sterilizes the area being worked on
• Because the beam can be focused on a specific area, damage to surrounding tissue is minimized
• Because of the sanitary nature of Laser Dentistry, wounds heal faster and healthy tissues regenerate quickly

Hard Tissue (Tooth) Laser Dentistry Procedures

• Cavity Detector: Low intensity dental lasers may be used for the early detection of cavities by providing an assessment of the bacterial level produced as a tooth begins to decay
• No Pain, No Shots: Dental lasers may completely eliminate the need for a local anesthetic injection as well as the use of a traditional dental drill
• Tooth Sensitivity: Dental lasers may be used to seal areas on the tooth root that are responsible for hot and cold tooth sensitivity

Soft Tissue (Gum) Laser Dentistry Procedures

• Crown Lengthening: Dental lasers can reshape soft gum tissue and hard bone tissue to achieve a healthier tooth structure. Such reshaping provides a stronger foundation for the placement of restorations such as crowns, bridges, implants, and tooth bonding
• Muscle Attachment (Frenula): A laser frenectomy is an ideal treatment option for children who have a restricted or tight frenulum (the tissue that connects the underside of the tongue to the bottom of the mouth) and babies who have difficulty breastfeeding due to limited tongue movement. A laser frenectomy may also help eliminate speech impediments
• Soft Tissue Folds (Epulis): Dental lasers may be used for the painless and suture-free removal of soft tissue folds often caused by ill-fitting dentures and/or dental bridges

Other Laser Dentistry Applications

• Optical Coherence Tomography is a safe way to see inside teeth and gums in real time to assess damage that is not visible to the naked eye
• Dental lasers may be used for the painless and suture-free removal of benign tumors from any area inside the mouth
• Low intensity dental lasers reduce pain associated with cold sores and minimize healing time, sometimes reducing herpetic outbreaks
• Low intensity dental lasers can be used to revitalize damaged nerves, blood vessels, and scars
• In cases where sleep apnea is a result of a tissue overgrowth in areas of the throat, a laser procedure can be utilized to reshape the throat and relieve the associated breathing problems sleep apnea can cause
• Low intensity dental lasers may be used to speed up the teeth bleaching/whitening process
• Dental lasers may be used to reduce pain and inflammation of the temporomandibular jaw joint which is often caused by nighttime teeth grinding and/or clenching of the upper and lower jaws

One of the major advantages of Laser Dentistry is the fact that procedures often can be performed with less discomfort and postoperative pain than with typical tools and methods. As applications for dental lasers develop, we'll be able to use lasers to treat a wider variety of dental problems, providing our patients with specific, on-target treatment that may reduce pain and decrease recovery time as well as alleviate intense fear of the dental drill. Call Dr. Larry Litman at Village Dental Care today to find out if you're a candidate for Laser Dentistry. It's changing lives!