Laser Dentistry – How Modern Technology Can Improve Your Dental Health
In the world of dental health care, the vast array of research, development, and advancements in technology mean that many of the treatments and procedures which the dentists of today can perform would have seemed like something from science fiction movies to the dentists of yesteryear with their basic equipment.
Come forward to today once more, and the list of dental treatments available to you that have appeared in the last 20 years or so, is becoming ever greater. One such modern development which is becoming more widespread amongst local dentists is laser dentistry.
If you are thinking laser dentistry involves your dentist zapping the harmful microscopic bacteria that exists on your teeth and gums, like a scene from Star Trek, unfortunately, are going to be disappointed. However, laser dentistry is no less useful and can play a huge role in helping to maintain and augment the health of your mouth, teeth, and gums.
What Is Laser Dentistry?
Hopefully, you already know what a laser is. If not, it is a highly focussed beam of light. Any dentist who offers laser dentistry is likely to have not one, but two different types of laser. One will be a laser suitable for working on soft tissue which includes your gums. The other laser will be suitable for treating hard tissue, and that would obviously include your teeth.
Each of these two dental lasers is used for different processes and treatments. Hard tissue lasers will be used for processes like detecting cavities whereas soft tissue lasers are suitable for reshaping gums.
What Treatments Can Laser Dentistry Offer?
The treatments and procedures that your dentist will be able to offer you will depend on which type of laser is being used.
With hard tissue lasers, the list of possible treatment include:
- Preparing and shaping teeth
- Repairing fillings
- Removing minor tooth anomalies
- Assessing the sensitivity of teeth
- Tooth whitening
As for lasers which are suitable for use on soft tissue, treatments include:
- Correcting uneven gum lines
- Correcting restricted movement of the tongue
- Removing excess soft tissue
- Removing inflamed gum tissue
- Lengthening crowns
- Removing folds in oral tissue
- Sealing wounds
What Are The Benefits Of Laser Dentistry?
Laser dentistry holds many benefits for patients, and by default, that means that the dentists who use it are also benefiting due to having happier patients whose dental problems have been resolved, and should be more than willing to recommend that dentist. The patients’ benefits include:
- Procedures are straightforward
- Anaesthesia may not be required (if it normally would be)
- Reductions in healing times of soft tissue
- Reductions in the risk of infections
- Surrounding tissue is less damaged
- Less bleeding during procedures
- Less need for dental sutures
- Reduced pain and discomfort
- NO DRILL!!!
In general terms, the benefits to patients is a simpler process, fewer post-treatment issues such as bleeding and pain, and best of all, the healing time is reduced. You obviously will still need to adhere to the cleaning and care advice given to you at the surgery, but overall it is a much easier process.
Are There Any Risks With Laser Dentistry?
Every medical procedure has a modicum of risk but with laser dentistry, provided you ensure that the dentist you use for laser dentistry is fully qualified and has the correct credential permitting them to use each laser device, then you should be perfectly safe. One safety precaution will be the dentist providing you with safety glasses to protect your eyes during the laser treatment.