Laser dentistry
Understanding laser dentistry
What a dental laser is, what it treats, how treatment feels, its benefits and downsides, and how we use one at our Valencia office.
What Is Laser Dentistry?
Laser dentistry is the use of a focused beam of light, which generates heat, to treat dental problems. Cleveland Clinic explains that, depending on the laser, the heat can cut or destroy tissue, and in some cases it helps tissue heal. Dentists have used lasers since the FDA approved them for dentistry in the 1990s.
There are two main kinds. Soft tissue lasers, such as diode and CO2 lasers, remove or shape soft tissue like your gums and kill bacteria. Hard tissue lasers can change hard tissue like your teeth. A laser does not replace the drill or forceps; it works alongside them.
What Is Laser Dentistry Used For?
Laser dentistry is used for a range of soft and hard tissue work, and Cleveland Clinic lists these among its uses:
- Treating gum disease, by killing bacteria near the tooth's root
- Disinfecting inside a tooth before a root canal
- Reshaping gums and teeth so crowns, implants and fillings fit snugly
- Removing canker sores, cold sores and other abnormal growths, or taking a tissue sample for a biopsy
- Releasing a tongue-tie and relieving sensitive teeth
- Treating cavities and activating whitening solutions
Is Laser Dentistry Painful?
Laser dentistry is done with numbing medicine, just as traditional dental procedures are, so that you do not feel pain during treatment, according to Cleveland Clinic. Reduced pain, bleeding and healing time are among the benefits a laser may bring.
During treatment you may be given glasses to protect your eyes. The laser is a pen-like device that directs a focused beam at the treatment site, and it is often used along with other dental tools.
What Are the Benefits and Downsides of Laser Dentistry?
The benefits of laser dentistry may include precise removal of diseased tissue that spares healthy tissue, easier access to hard-to-reach areas near the tooth root, and reduced bleeding, pain and healing time, according to Cleveland Clinic. Lasers can also promote blood clotting and tissue repair, and may reduce the anxiety some people feel about drills.
The downsides are limited but real. Any tool that uses destructive heat can harm healthy tissue, so dentists take the same care with a laser as with any other instrument. Researchers are still learning the best uses of lasers, not every office uses them, and most dental procedures do not need one.
Is Laser Dentistry Better Than Regular Dentistry?
Laser dentistry is not a replacement for regular dentistry: Cleveland Clinic describes it as one more tool that complements drills, scalpels and forceps, used mostly on soft tissue during minimally invasive procedures.
Uses and approaches vary between dentists who use lasers. Your dentist can explain when and why a laser is the right choice for you, and you can weigh the pros and cons together.
Laser Dentistry at Smile Care Valencia
Our office uses the Odyssey diode soft tissue laser for selected gum and soft-tissue procedures. In appropriate cases, laser treatment may reduce bleeding, minimize discomfort and make recovery easier.
Laser care is part of the coordinated team approach at our Valencia office, alongside our periodontal care.
Common questions
Laser Dentistry Questions
Do dental lasers replace the drill?
Dental lasers do not replace the drill or other standard tools such as forceps. Dentists use lasers to complement those instruments, often in the same visit.
Can a dental laser treat cold sores?
A dental laser can remove canker sores, cold sores and other abnormal growths in the mouth. A dentist may also use one to take a tissue sample for a biopsy.
What kind of laser does Smile Care Valencia use?
Smile Care Valencia uses the Odyssey diode soft tissue laser. Diode lasers are a common type of soft tissue laser, used to remove or shape gum tissue and kill bacteria.