As children, we were told horror stories of dentists whenever we misbehaved. Thankfully, the perception of the evil dentist is eroding with the advancements of technology. No longer are dentist visits associated with anxiety, pain, and drilling noise. 
Dental laser treatment or laser dentistry has revolutionized dental care with endless possibilities and tangible benefits for patients and dentists alike. Since its first introduction in 1989, laser dentistry has improved and become more accommodating of various dental treatments today.

Let’s explore what dental laser treatment is and how it is an excellent option for you.

What Is Laser Dentistry?

Laser dentistry is using lasers to treat various dental conditions, replacing the need for metallic drills and other non-laser tools. Laser means “Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation”. The dentist uses a laser instrument that emits highly focused light energy in narrow concentrated beams, which elicits a response when it hits the teeth tissue. The tissue’s response to the laser beam allows the dentist to remove or reshape and treat the problematic tissue.

How Does Laser Dentistry Work? 

Dentists use two kinds of lasers or a combination of both to treat various conditions. 

Lasers used for hard tissues work like a cutting instrument, while the lasers for soft tissues act as a vaporizer. Soft tissue lasers are less potent in intensity than hard tissue lasers, but are ideal for treating gum conditions. 

There are two kinds of laser dentistry: hard tissue laser dentistry and soft tissue laser dentistry. 

Hard tissue laser dentistry involves the treatment of your teeth, such as 

  • Cavity detection
  • Tooth preparations for the crown and dental fillings
  • Tooth sensitivity

Soft tissue laser dentistry refers to the treatment of gum conditions, such as 

  • Gum inflammation
  • Gum reshaping and surgery
  • Crown lengthening 
  • Muscle attachment improvements
  • Removing soft tissue folds
  • Congenital abnormalities

Laser dentistry can be used for other dental conditions, such as: 

  • Cold sores
  • Sleep apnea 
  • TMJ disorder
  • Teeth whitening
  • Nerve regeneration
  • Damaged blood vessels
  • Benign oral tumor removal

What Are The Benefits of Laser Dentistry?

Laser dentistry is becoming more popular due to the nature of its treatment, and the many benefits it offers to the patients, including: 

  • Painless procedure: The minimally invasive nature of laser dentistry makes it a painless experience for patients. The laser beam seals blood vessels and nerve endings, so patients experience no pain and discomfort during the treatment. It is ideal for those with teeth sensitivity. 
  • Reduces fear and anxiety: The loud drilling sound from traditional dental procedures can trigger fear and anxiety among patients. The quiet and gentle process of laser dental treatment makes it ideal for patients with anxiety issues. 
  • More precision and preservation of healthy tissue: Laser dentistry scores high among dentists and patients for its precision. The highly focused laser beam preserves more healthy tooth and gum tissue during the treatment and minimizes bleeding and gum swelling. 
  • Less bleeding and gum swelling:  Laser promotes blood clotting and reduces the tremendous amount of blood loss typically seen in traditional dental procedures. 
  • Lesser risk of infection: Lasers sterilize the affected area and eliminates all the harmful bacteria. The chances of infection are much lesser than traditional dentistry, which uses metallic tools that can aggravate the affected tissues and increase bacterial infection risk. 
  • Quick recovery time: As laser promotes blood clotting, there is a lesser need for stitches or sutures. The wounded tissue area heals and recovers faster. 
  • Versatile treatment: With the advancements in laser technology, this form of dentistry is increasingly being used to treat a broader range of dental problems in adults and children. 
  • Higher standards of safety: Approved by The Food and Drug Administration (FDA,) laser dentistry can be performed only by dentists who have been trained specially for each dental laser device through specific dental associations and schools. 
  • Less expensive: Since the laser dental procedures are completed in fewer sessions than conventional dental treatments, they can be less costly for the patient. 

Final thoughts 

If you are looking for a comfortable, safe, and affordable dental procedure, laser dentistry can be a good option for you. But there will be certain finer nuances in the treatment procedure that you will need to discuss with your dentist before going forward.

Contact our dentists at Cambridge Dental Studio to discuss how laser dentistry can help you achieve your best oral health. From hard tissue and soft tissue procedures to minimize your discomfort and improve your smile, our highly accomplished and friendly dentists are here to answer all your questions regarding laser dentistry. 


Disclaimer: We routinely draw upon public health resources to inform our write-ups. Information in this article may be drawn up from multiple public health sources, including:

American Dental Association’s MouthHealthy.org

California Dental Association

American Dental Association’s Action for Dental Health

Centers for Disease Control & Prevention

Webmd 

Healthline

Laser Dentistry

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