Laser Gum Treatment
Laser dentistry offers a highly effective alternative to painful and noisy drilling procedures. Lasers can now be used to perform a variety of functions, including cavity removal, tooth restoration, and periodontal surgery. Dental lasers can also remove plaque and dental decay from a cavity-affected tooth, preparing it for a filling. A laser beam can also help harden bonding material. Laser Dentistry can effectively reshape gums, remove excess or affected gum tissue in gum disease sufferers and remove bacteria from between diseased gums and teeth.
DENTAL LASER
In the interest of optimizing patient health, our technologically advanced practice has incorpoated the Dental Laser. We use Fotona XD-2 Diode Laser system. The Dental Laser allows us to do many procedures previously done with the dental drill, usually without the need for painful injections. Perfect for kids and adults, the laser eliminates the whining sounds and vibrations previously asscociated with the dental drill. The laser technology allows us to fix cavities with remarkable precision and then fill them with undetectable white fillings.
Anyone that has ever had a fear of the dentist will be pleasantly surprised once they experience dental treatment with the laser. No more shots, no more lingering numbness, no more whining sounds of the drill. It is truly an incredible experience.
Fixing teeth with the Dental Laser is not only pain free, but also extremely accurate and precise. Many gum procedures can be performed with this laser as well, usually without the need for novocaine and stitches.
DIODE DENTAL LASER
Diode dental laser allows us to treat many gum procedures, previously only treatable by traditional periodontal surgery. Unlike periodontal surgery, however, Diode laser treatments are much less invasive while they can achieve similar results. Following diode laser gum treatments, the patient exhibits virtually no discomfort. No stitches, no bleeding, and virtually no pain make this an excellent alternative for many that fear traditional periodontal surgery.The Diode laser can be used for low level laser therapy to help and assist in healing and pain relief. The laser is used at low power, allowing the energy to stimulate changes in blood vessels and nerves, causing a healing response by the body.
What are the Benefits of Laser Dentistry?
ADVANTAGES OF
LASER DENTISTRY
There are currently many areas of dental care that are enjoying the benefits of laser dentistry-
- Extreme precision allows the placement of tiny invisible fillings.
- No whining sound previously asscociated with the dental drill.
- No vibration like in regular dental drilling.
- Reduced need for novocaine injections.
- Decreased post operative sensitivity.
- Great for kids and adults.
- Unique, high-tech dental experience.
- To make a cosmetic modification
Uses for Lasers in Dentistry
There are a variety of uses for lasers in the field of dentistry. Lasers can be used for cavity removal, teeth whitening and to harden bonding materials used in fillings. In addition, lasers are used in periodontal care.
Lasers are used for:
- Cavity removal can be accomplished with dental lasers. The laser has the ability to remove decay within a tooth, and prepare the surrounding enamel for bonded fillings. The need for anesthesia is greatly reduced or eliminated over the traditional methods.
- Whitening teeth can be accomplished with special solutions that are applied to the tooth surface in the dental office and activated by laser energy. Color changes of several shades is possible in a very short time. When combined with at-home tray based whitening systems, dramatic changes can be seen in even the most difficult cases.
- Periodontal, or gum related care is the fourth area benefitting from dental lasers. Laser dentistry is currently used for recontouring or reshaping gums, removing extra or diseased gum tissue associated with the use of certain medications or periodontal disease, and removing the bacteria in periodontal pockets to promote healing. Healing time and post operative discomfort can be significantly reduced over the traditional surgical methods.
- Root canals
- Decay removal
- Smile design/ gum reshaping
- Soft tissue procedures.
- Microabrasion (High Technlogy Decay Removal)
- General dentistry for enamel and dentin.
- Curing of restorative materials
- Removal of tooth structure or lesions to eliminate disease
- Cosmetic enhancements
- Lip Repositioning
Soft tissue procedures
Essentially, soft tissue procedures focus on the treatment of problems in any muscles, tendons, tissues, and nerves located in and around the tooth, gum line or jaw musculature. Many of these areas are extremely sensitive to the touch, and as such, soft tissue dental procedures can often be an extremely daunting experience for the patient.
Laser technology has had immediate and beneficial impacts on a variety of soft tissue procedures, including:
- Cosmetic contouring of the gum tissue (gum lift, reshaping)
- Frenectomies (frenum is a small muscle attachment under the lips)
- Periodontal therapy (gum disease)
- Excision of minor growths
- Crown lengthening (removing gum and bone to expose more tooth)
- Apthous ulcer treatment.(The laser takes away the discomfort of the ulcer)
Thanks in large part to advancements in laser dentistry, much of the discomfort during and after soft tissue dental procedures has been minimized or eliminated completely! For example, the vibrations caused by more traditional practices are often the main reason for patient pain, both during and after the procedure.
The non-invasive applications of the laser allow the patient a much more comfortable experience, and often only a topical anesthetic gel is used. In many cases, no suturing is involved, which in turn minimizes the time required for the procedure as well as for the patient’s recovery.
Microabrasion (Hoigh Technlogy Decay Removal)
Many prospective patients have problems with tooth decay, but have concerns about the use of anesthesia. If this sounds familiar, then perhaps a procedure known as microabrasion is the best course of action for you, as the need for anesthesia is greatly reduced or eliminated over the traditional methods of cavity removal.
Microabrasion is a procedure by which a stream of particles is aimed at the decayed portion of a tooth. They are then propelled toward the tooth by air or bottled inert gasses, and remove small particles of decay as they strike the tooth’s surface. Once the affected area has been treated, the particles are withdrawn through the use of a suction system as with more traditional methods. Additionally, microabrasion is also used to prepare a tooth’s surface for bonding or sealants.
Currently there are a number of different machines used for this procedure, and recent advancements in laser technology have greatly enhanced the patient’s dental care experience without compromising procedural protocol. Consult with your dentist to see if this type of procedure best suits your specific needs.
Curing
By definition, dental curing is the process by which plastic materials inserted in the mouth become rigid and form any of the following: a denture base, filling, impression tray or any other appliance that is used to move teeth or change the shape of the jaw.
Lasers have become a vital component of the curing process, as they drastically reduce the time it takes to finish a filling, and create what some researchers have shown to be a stronger restoration.
We are applying the various applications of curing to a wide range of procedures. From filling restoration to more complex periodontal procedures such as correcting chipped or misaligned teeth, curing has expedited patient recovery without sacrificing product quality.
Lip Repositioning
Sometimes connective tissues attached to the inside of the upper lip do not allow for proper lip movement and expose too much gum tissue above the top row of teeth. By removing specific tissues from inside the upper lip and create a more aesthetic smile. During the laser surgery, the doctor will remove tissue uniformly to avoid any damage to the patient’s muscular movements, such as uneven facial expressions. All of the connective tissues controlling the lip’s movement will be shortened significantly, showcasing the teeth instead of excessive gums.