Is Laser Dentistry Beneficial in Reality As It Is Claimed to Be?

Of late, much is being spoken about how laser dentistry is proving beneficial when providing dental treatments. Information is available that laser dentistry can treat hypersensitivity, tooth decay, gum disease, and even perform cosmetic treatments like teeth whitening. Does it indicate that a new form of dental treatment is now available for people with dental issues?

Lasers are being promoted as the next big thing in dentistry. Much is said about how laser dental treatments are making therapies efficient, comfortable, and cost-effective. The Food and Drug Administration approved laser dentistry as a modality of treatment for several dental conditions. Still, the American Dental Association is yet to do so, although they are hopeful about the potential of laser dentistry. However, you may not find it challenging to find a dentist offering laser dentistry near you, promoting different treatments with the benefits mentioned above.

Laser Dentistry — What Is It?

The use of lasers to treat various dental conditions is known as laser dentistry. Lasers became commercially available for use in clinical dental practices for procedures entailing the tooth tissue in 1989.

Laser dentistry offers a comfortable treatment option for many dental procedures involving hard or soft tissue than drills and non-laser tools.

Light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation is what the term laser stands for. The device creates light energy in a narrow and focused beam. A reaction is produced to the laser light by the tissue it hits, allowing it to remove or shape the tissue.

Performing Laser Treatments

Hard and soft tissue procedures are the two main types used in laser dentistry. Hard tissue refers to the teeth, and gums are identified as soft tissue.

The standard hard tissue procedures performed using laser dentistry are:

Detecting Cavities. Lasers detect cavities early by identifying evidence of tooth decay.

Dental Fillings And Tooth Preparations. When providing laser treatments, laser dentistry in Petaluma does not use local anesthesia or conventional drills. Lasers kill the bacteria in a cavity to help in the long term health of the tooth.

Treatment for Tooth Sensitivity. Sensitive teeth to hot and cold temperatures are treated by laser dentistry in Petaluma, CA, by sealing tubules in the tooth root.

Some standard soft tissue procedures benefiting from laser dentistry treatment are:

Treating Tongue Frenulum Attachment. People with a thick or tight frenulum can benefit from laser frenotomy. This treatment is beneficial for children with restricted frenulum causing them to be tongue-tied and facing challenges during breastfeeding or leaving them with a speech impediment.

Treating A Gummy Smile. Reshaping gum tissue associated with a gummy smile is also possible with laser dentistry.

Crown Lengthening. This procedure involves reshaping the gum tissue and bone to provide a healthier tooth structure, helping place other restorations on the teeth.

Other procedures benefiting from laser dentistry include removing benign tumors, treating obstructive sleep apnea, TMJ issues, teeth whitening treatments, nerve regeneration, and treating cold sores.

What Are the Advantages of Laser Dentistry over Conventional Methods?

• Laser dentistry reduces the need for sutures when soft tissue lasers are used.
• Patients experience minimal bleeding in the treated soft tissues because the laser promotes blood clotting.
• The need for anesthesia is not essential for some procedures.
• The chances of bacterial infections are reduced as the laser sterilizes the area.
• Laser procedures don’t cause much damage to the surrounding tissues.
• Healing of the wounds is faster, making it possible for tissue to regenerate.

Are There Any Downsides of Laser Dentistry?

• Teeth with metal amalgam fillings cannot be treated with lasers.
• The tooth pulp may incur injuries with hard lasers.
• Anesthesia is still a requirement with some laser procedures.
• Some processes cannot be done with leather dentistry depending on pre-existing surrounding tissue or components entailing the tooth comes.
• The risk of injury exists in laser dentistry.

Finding a Dentist Offering Laser Dentistry

If you prefer laser treatments, you must look for a professional who has acquired relevant training and received educational courses. The professional must provide sources of education where they were trained. You can also receive recommendations from your insurance provider or inquire with friends and family who may have undergone laser treatments and have positive reviews about laser dentistry. Please do not rely on websites providing rating systems because it is challenging to determine whether the raters offer unbiased reviews.