Laser Dentistry

LASER stands for “light amplification by the stimulated emission of radiation.” The instrument creates light energy in a very narrow and focused beam. This laser light produces a reaction when it hits tissue, allowing it to remove or shape the tissue.

Laser dentistry is used in a variety of procedures, including:

• Treating Hypersensitivity
• Treating Tooth Decay
• Treating Gum Disease
• Whitening Teeth

How are laser treatments performed?

The two main types of procedures used for laser dentistry are hard tissue and soft tissue procedures. Hard tissue refers to the teeth, and soft tissue refers to the gums.

1. Common hard tissue procedures include:

• Cavity detection. Lasers can detect cavities early by finding evidence of tooth decay.
• Tooth preparations and dental fillings. Local anesthesia and traditional drills are often not needed with laser treatments. Lasers can kill bacteria in a cavity, which can aid in the long-term health of a tooth.
• Treating tooth sensitivity. Teeth that have sensitivity to hot and cold can be treated with dental lasers that seal tubules on the tooth’s root.

2. Common soft tissue procedures include:

• Treating a “gummy smile.” Lasers are used to reshape gum tissue associated with “gummy smile,” in which the gums’ length covers much of the tooth.

Crown lengthening. This procedure reshapes both gum tissue and bone for healthier tooth structure, which helps with placing restorations on the teeth.

• Treating tongue frenulum attachment. Those with a thick or tight frenulum (the fold of skin under the front part of tongue that anchors to the mouth floor) may benefit from a laser frenectomy. This treatment helps children whose restricted frenulum causes them to be tongue-tied, have difficulty breastfeeding, or have a speech impediment.
• Removing soft tissue folds. Lasers can remove soft tissue folds from ill-fitting dentures without pain or sutures.

3. Other laser procedures include:

• Viewing tissues. Optical coherence tomography allows a doctor to safely see inside a tooth or gum tissue.
• Removing benign tumors. Lasers can remove tumors from the palate, gums, and sides of the lips and cheeks through a pain- and suture-free method.

Treating obstructive sleep apnea. Lasers can reshape the throat and relieve associated breathing problems when sleep apnea is caused by tissue overgrowth in the throat.

• TMJ (temporomandibular joint) treatment. Lasers can help reduce pain and inflammation in the joint.
• Nerve regeneration. Lasers can help regenerate damaged blood vessels, nerves, and scars.
• Treating cold sores. Lasers can minimize healing time and reduce pain from cold sores.
• Teeth whitening. Lasers speed up the bleaching process during teeth-whitening sessions.

What types of lasers are used?

Lasers in hard dental tissue are primarily used for prevention of cavities, bleaching, removal of an unwanted filling material, growth modulation, treating dentinal hypersensitivity, and for diagnosing dental problems.

Soft tissue laser technology allows us to treat lesions and gum problems in a minimally invasive manner for faster results, faster healing, and minimal to no discomfort. Uses for soft tissue lasers include: gingivectomies and periodontal treatments, frenectomies, ablating and removing aphthous ulcers, gingival contouring, crown lengthening, troughing, soft tissue incisions, and removing soft tissue lesions

Why go in for laser treatments ?

• No need for anesthesia with some procedures
• Reduced risk of bacterial infections – the use of lasers sterilizes the area as it treats
• Decreased need for sutures with some procedures
• Minimal bleeding as the laser promotes blood clotting
• Faster healing times
• Less post-procedure pain and swelling
• Less damage to the surrounding tissue – the focused light produced by lasers allow the dentist to focus on damaged tissue while leaving healthy tissue untouched
• Reduced anxiety and increased comfort – for many people, the sound of a dental drill is enough to keep them from the dentist. Laser treatments are quiet and relatively pain-free, helping patients feel more comfortable and relaxed during treatment.
• Reduced need for medications and antibiotics after treatment

What is Low Level Laser Therapy?

LLLT is often referred to as “Cold Lasers” since they do not create a heating sensation during treatment.

Effects of LLLT

The effects of the LLLT which are significant for physiotherapy, and makes this tool useful to enhance other treatments as therapeutic exercise, are:

Reduction of inflammation: It can occur within hours to days.

Pain relief

Accelerated tissue regeneration: LLLT stimulates cell proliferation of fibroblasts, keratinocytes, endothelial cells and lymphocytes.

In physiotherapy LLLT is use for pain relief, accelerated tissue regeneration and reduction of inflammation.

Conditions that are treated include

• Osteoarthritis of the knee, hip and ankle
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• TMD
• Shoulder impingement syndromes
• Hip or shoulder bursitis
• Low back disc degeneration
• Disc herniation
• Sciatica
• neuropathic pain.
• Tendonitis
• Tennis elbow
• Plantar fasciitis
• Reduction of volume and pain in lymphedema

Are lasers painful?

Laser dentistry is a fast and effective method that uses heat and light to perform a wide variety of dental procedures. Most importantly, laser dentistry is virtually pain-free! A laser dental treatment works by honing an intense beam of light energy to perform precise dental procedures.

Are dental lasers safe?

Dental lasers can be safely used to treat patients as long as certain precautions are followed, such as the use of protective eyewear. Lasers do not generate noise and vibrations like conventional dental tools such as drills do, so laser treatments are often a better option for people who deal with dental anxiety

Can root canal be done with a laser?

The use of laser dentistry for a root canal

Laser dentistry can be combined with traditional root canal techniques to more effectively remove the infected pulp and exterminate bacteria, which prevents the infection from reoccurring

What is a dental laser filling?

Dental lasers have been used for soft tissue procedures for years, but now, you can also have restorative (filling) treatments using lasers. Dental lasers allow your dentists at Suburban Family Dental to remove small layers of tooth structure, without the noise and discomfort of conventional drills.

R Dental Centre with years of training and experience in spearheading the use of dental laser treatments to enhance patient comfort.

Dental Lasers makes painless dentistry a reality. It is a miracle tool when it comes to handling soft tissues and can also be selectively used for hard tissues too.

Benefits of laser dentistry

• Less bleeding than traditional surgery
• Less likely to require sutures
• Anesthesia may not be necessary
• Less damage to gums
• Shortens the healing time
• Less likely to infections

Uses of laser dentistry

• Removing tissue from a partially exposed wisdom tooth
• Reshaping gum tissue that has overgrown due to certain medications
• Removing and reshaping bone and gum tissue during crown lengthening procedures
• Removing inflamed gum tissue
• Removing muscle attachments that restrict tongue or lip movement

FAQ

1. Is laser dentistry safe for my overall health?

Laser dentistry is the most conservative and minimally invasive form of Dental treatment. It has large indications in possible areas of treatment.

2. How does laser dentistry reduce and eliminate pain?

Being the most minimally invasive form of treatment Laser dentistry has very low recovery time and hence least surgical discomfort.

3. How long does a laser dentistry procedure take?.

Depending on the extent of procedure from a few minutes to a few hour.