Ditching the Drill for Laser Dentistry

Ditching the Drill for Laser Dentistry

What would you say if I told you that there is an alternative to the dreaded dental drill? I knew that would get your attention! Just think: no more high-pitched, shrill noises, and no more painful grinding of your teeth. Wouldn’t that be wonderful? The great news is that there is an alternative. Laser dentistry. You may have heard of lasers being used for teeth whitening, but they can be used for a wide range of dental procedures.

Laser dentistry outside of teeth whitening is not something every dentist offers. Very few dentists in the U.S. use them, but here at Dallas Cosmetic Dental, we pride ourselves in bringing our patients the best in modern technology that increases your well-being.

There are many benefits of using laser dentistry over traditional techniques. Let’s look at how laser dentistry could benefit you and your family.

What is laser dentistry?

Lasers are used for a variety of applications in our lives. From checking out at the store or correcting our vision to reading DVDs and 3D printing, lasers are used to better our lives. And the same can be said of the lasers used in dentistry. While lasers have been used for many years in surgery to cut and cauterize, their use in dentistry is increasing in popularity.

A laser, in simple terms, is an extremely focused beam of light confined to a very tight range of wavelengths. Because of the nature of that narrow focal point, laser dentistry is a highly specific and effective way of treating tissues in the oral cavity without damaging the surrounding areas. Recovery time is shortened as is the amount of pain that patients experience after a procedure. What’s not to love about this technology?

What types of lasers are used in dentistry?

There are two different types of laser used in dentistry: Hard tissue and soft tissue lasers.

Hard tissue lasers

Hard tissue lasers produce energy over a specific wavelength that your teeth and bones absorb very readily. These lasers are ideal for cutting into the hard structures such as teeth and bones when high levels of precision are needed.

Hard tissue lasers can be used for:

  • Treating sensitive teeth by sealing the open tubules at the root of the tooth
  • Detecting cavities
  • Shaping the teeth in preparation for composite bonding
  • Preparing the teeth for fillings

Soft tissue lasers

The wavelength that this laser is formed on is absorbed well by water and by the hemoglobin found in our red blood cells. For this reason, this laser is ideal for use on the soft tissues of the gums and mouth.

A skilled dentist such as Dr. Alhadef can cut the tissue and seal off or cauterize any blood vessels simultaneously. This means decreased bleeding and a much quicker healing time. It also means a lot less discomfort for you.

A soft tissue laser is ideal for a variety of procedures such as crown lengthening or reshaping the gums in the instance that there is too much tissue. This laser is also ideal for frenectomies. What is a frenectomy? It is the removal of the frenulum (the small bit of tissue that goes from the gums to the lip or tongue), and it’s performed when that tissue restricts movement because it doesn’t have quite enough stretch to it.

Additionally, soft tissue lasers are perfect for treating ulcers and cold sores, removing tumors in the mouth, treating periodontal disease, and treating a soft-tissue infection.

The benefits of laser dental procedures

If you are anything like most of the world, you don’t enjoy the prospect of the dental drill; it’s a frightening thought. For many patients, the laser is a much more pleasant prospect.

There are many ways in which the laser is a much better option than the traditional drill, such as:

Sound

The sound is entirely different. It has been likened to the sound of a woodpecker on a tree as the light from the laser pulses. Already, the mental imagery has improved!

Temperature

The beam from the laser is accompanied by a spray of water and air, which keeps the tissues cool. Traditional drills can cause burns on the face and mouth as they heat up with use.

Smell

Without the tissues heating up, it means that there is also no more burning tooth smell that so many people find repugnant.

High specificity

The laser is precise. If you have tooth decay, then the laser can specifically target that area of decay. The laser works by heating molecules of water that are in the tissues. As the water heats up, it expands, and the decay within your tooth is displaced and removed.

The laser is also very conservative. There is virtually no damage to the healthy structures of your mouth. Limited damage means less pain and faster healing times.

Disinfects as it works

The laser not only removes the decayed material within the teeth, but it also disinfects the area, leaving the perfect blank canvas for the injection of filling material.

In the soft-tissues, bacterial infections are minimized due to the high-energy beam.

No need for anesthesia

For a lot of the procedures that you can have performed by laser, you will not need anesthesia. So no more painful injections into your gums.

No more stitches

The likelihood of stitches is diminished with the soft-tissue dental laser. It is far less irritating t and unlikely to cause any complications.

Less bleeding

The laser is a high-energy light beam which minimizes blood loss because when a blood vessel is exposed, it coagulates the blood, stopping any bleeding in its tracks

Increased comfort

You will be much more comfortable with a laser than with a traditional drill. There is no chance of damaging healthy tissue, and there’s no obnoxious sound and no burning smell. In turn, this should lead to a declining level of any fear and anxiety you have regarding your dental procedure.

Laser innovation

When you visit us at Dallas Cosmetic Dental, you’ll see the future of dentistry with our laser treatments. Come and try it out for yourself and see how much more agreeable your dental visit can be with laser dentistry.

 

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