Laser Dentistry!

Many people have now heard of laser dentistry.  I am often surprised how few people have experienced laser dentistry or know exactly how it is changing the face of dentistry, for adults and children! Below is a cut and paste from our website which describes all the wonderful ways lasers are making dentistry better.

Lasers in Dentistry!

• With lasers it is now possible to do fillings without needing to be numb or have a shot because lasers enable pain free cleaning of cavities
• Lasers can replace harmful chemicals historically and usually used in nerve and pulp treatments like root canals and pulpotomies
• Lasers allow many gum surgeries such as frenectomies and reshaping of “bulky gums” (like after braces) to be done without shots and without any post operative bleeding or “stitches” and no scarring!
• Lasers can be used on newborns and infants who are unable to latch because of tight frenum attachments and who cannot have the traditional surgery most often done in a hospital setting for various reasons
• Lasers can be used on infants and young children with speech problems related to muscle attachments in their mouths
• Lasers can be used to do biopsies or other surgeries less invasively and with little or no post operative pain and little to no scarring
• Lasers can be used to remove “calculus” build up instead of the old fashioned “scaling”
• Lasers can be used to “sterilize” deep pockets in gingivitis and gum disease and create healing in those areas without surgery
• Bleaching can be done in 2 minutes for the entire mouth without sensitivity or dehydration of teeth using the newest type of laser
• Lasers can prevent the outbreak of a cold sores if treated in the “prodrome stage”
• Lasers can “heal” painful ulcers in the mouth in one short treatment

These are just some of the applications of lasers in dentistry.  As a pediatric dentist I am thrilled to be able to clean cavities and place fillings without giving shots to children.  So far at Kidstown Dental, not one shot has been needed for a filling.  I have worked with lasers for 4 years now, and in the past some kids still felt sensitivity and needed a little anesthetic.  There is still a chance from time to time that this could be the case, but with the newest Biolase hard tissue laser, I am finding that it is rare.  What a gift!

Feel free to blog in if you have questions about lasers, or if you have an experience with laser dentistry that you’d like to share.