Dental Lasers
Gone are the days when traditional drills and scalpels were the primary instruments for dental procedures. Lasers have taken us into an era of precision, speed, and reduced pain for patients.
What is a dental laser?
LASER stands for “light amplification by the stimulated emission of radiation.” The instrument creates light energy in a very narrow and focused beam. This laser light produces a reaction when it hits tissue, allowing it to remove or shape the tissue.
Dental lasers, which utilize concentrated beams of light to target and treat specific dental issues, have evolved into an indispensable tool for modern dentists.
How Do Lasers Work in Dentistry?
Dental professionals use either hard tissue or soft tissue lasers, depending on the treatment. Some will use both types if the treatment allows.
Traditional surgery with a scalpel or scissors can bruise or crush tissue. When dental lasers are used, only an intense beam of laser light interacts with the tissue.
All lasers work by delivering energy in the form of light. When used for surgical and dental procedures, the laser acts as a cutting instrument or a vaporizer of tissue that it comes in contact with. When used in teeth-whitening procedures, the laser acts as a heat source and enhances the effect of tooth-bleaching agents.
Is laser dentistry better than conventional dentistry?
Benefits of using laser dentistry
Dentists and patients alike are benefiting from the precision, speed, and comfort that dental lasers offer.
• There is potentially a decreased need for sutures with soft tissue lasers.
• Bleeding is minimized in treated soft tissues, as the laser promotes blood clotting.
• With some procedures, anesthesia is unnecessary.
• The chance for bacterial infections is lower because the laser sterilizes the area.
• Wounds can heal faster, and it’s possible for tissue to regenerate.
• The procedures may involve less damage to the surrounding tissues.
Your doctor will be able to tell you if you are a candidate for laser surgery.
