Benefits of Lasers in Modern Dental Practice
The laser was first used in dentistry in the 1960s. However, it emerged as one of the preferred treatment options in the 1990s. Since then, it has caught the fancy of tech-savvy dentists who aim to offer the best oral health solutions to their patients. If you are new to this term and interested to know more on this topic, keep reading.
What is laser dentistry?
As the name suggests, laser dentistry comprises using lasers to treat different types of dental issues. Specialized devices are used to deliver energy or heat through light beams on the affected area. For surgical and dental procedures, the laser delivers energy in the form of light and works as a vaporizer of tissue or an instrument for making painless incisions into the dental site that it comes in contact with. Similarly, the laser acts as a heat source that enhances the effect of teeth-bleaching agents and whitens the teeth.
Since using laser for dental treatments replaces the use of metal tools such as drills, it is an advanced approach to treat several dental conditions.
How does a laser dental treatment work?
A dentist uses a laser device that emits light concentrated into a focused and narrow beam. When this light strikes the soft or hard tissue of a patient’s teeth, it results in a specific reaction and allows your dentist to extract or re-shape that tissue as needed. Diode laser, the Carbon Dioxide Laser, and the Nd:YAG laser are the devices that dentists use commonly for laser dental procedures.
What are the types of laser dentistry?
Hard and soft tissue laser dentistry are the two types in this practice. Let us understand these in detail.
Hard Tissue Laser Dentistry
Performed using specific laser devices, hard tissue laser procedure involves enamel and teeth structures. The patients may not need to undergo anesthesia as it is a painless process. The range of treatments includes the following.
- Cavity detection
- Prepping tooth for treatment, for example, cutting the tooth with precision
- Dental fillings
- Treating tooth sensitivity
Soft Tissue Laser Dentistry
Involving mucosal tissues and gums, soft tissue laser dentistry is performed using soft-tissue diode lasers. Common soft tissue laser procedures in dentistry are:
- Removal of soft tissue folds (from ill-fitted dentures)
- Correction of tongue frenulum attachment (ankyloglossia or tongue-tie)
- Improving muscle attachment
- Gum reshaping
Depending upon the type of laser dentistry required, dentists use it to perform several other treatments such as:
- Teeth whitening,
- Nerve regeneration,
- Removal of the benign oral tumor
- Treating temporomandibular disorders (TMD)
What are the benefits of Laser Dentistry?
Are you considering laser dentistry as your next dental treatment option? If yes, check the benefits you can expect!
- Minimal discomfort
Traditional dental procedures tend to leave patients a little or quite uncomfortable. However, laser dentistry has changed this for the better. No hard and sharp dental tools are used, thus making the procedure much more comfortable. Patients may not even require anesthesia during dental laser procedures.
- Shorter healing and recovery period
Laser dentistry is a minimally invasive treatment option. Resultantly, the healing process after a dental laser treatment is neither too painful nor too long.
- Lower risk of infection
Traditional metal dental tools might leave tiny abrasions in your gums and can increase the risk of infection. Laser dentistry lowers this risk as the procedure involves minimal touch. In addition, unlike conventionally used dental instruments, lasers do not aggravate your soft or hard tissue but sterilize the dental site they’re focused upon. It helps eliminate most of the bacteria in that area, thus reducing the risk of infection.
- Unmatchable precision
Given the preciseness of dental lasers, chances of damage to tissues that surround the problem area are rare. This exactness also helps lower the level of pain and makes laser dentistry a safer option.
- No scary noises
Dentophobia is for real, and the jarring noise created by dental tools is one of the reasons for it. Research shows that more than 21% of people across the globe miss visiting dentists because of noise-induced fear. For them, the juddering sound of the drill is a source of anxiety and dread. Laser dentistry is a boon for such patients as it is a gentle and nearly soundless procedure.
- Minimal blood loss
Laser dentistry requires a minimum number of incisions and sutures. So, there is more or less no need for dental stitches. It is good news for patients as they do not have to keep experiencing discomfort until the stitches get dissolved. Besides, dental laser treatment promotes blood clotting naturally. Therefore, it spares you from experiencing profuse bleeding as well as the nasty and often intimidating sight of blood-soaked cotton pads lying in the medical tray.
- Suitable for those with sensitive teeth
Let not tooth sensitivity make you insensitive towards getting regular or procedure-intensive dental treatments on time. If you think dental treatments may aggravate tooth pain and sensitivity, laser dentistry is the way to go for you.
Are there any side effects of dental laser treatments?
Yes and No! Let us take a look at the possible side effects first.
- Gum tissue injury (a potential side effect of both conventional and laser dental treatments.)
- Heat from the laser may affect surrounding tissues
- Tooth pulp damage during a root canal, cavity removal, and other such procedures
So, should you give up on choosing laser dentistry? Well, No! All you need to do is to select a well-qualified dentist. A trained dental health professional ensures that the risks of side effects are reduced to the minimum. To find the best dentists for laser treatment in your city, look for professionals with training and certifications over and above the minimum requirements for practicing laser dentistry.
Choose laser dentistry today!
Now that you have got some information on the benefits of laser dentistry, consult your dentist to know if you are a suitable candidate for this treatment method.
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Author Bio: Kanika writes on a variety of subjects, including healthcare and wellness. Her experiences as someone seeking the most appropriate dental treatment for years made her inclined to understand the dental care treatments inside out. She also edits content on dentistry in magazines as well as academic journals.
