Benefits of Laser Dental Treatment

If you’re one of the thousands of people who avoid the dentist because of the pain involved, sedation dentistry isn’t your only option. Laser dental treatments are an innovative procedure that use light energy to sterilize the affected area and close off the blood vessels before your dentist begins the work. This means you can undergo your treatment without any local anesthesia, and your dental visit can be much shorter than usual.

Lasers have been used as part of dental treatments since the 1960s, but have become increasingly more effective in recent years with technological advancements that can help with many types of oral surgery, root canals, crown lengthening and even bone shaping. Some of the key benefits of laser dental treatments include:

Faster healing process
Decreased risk of infection
Fewer follow up dental appointments
Faster dental procedure
Decreased sensitivity in the treatment site
No noise involved – a more pleasant alternative to drilling
Limited or no need for anesthesia

Laser dentistry is also more precise, and some dentists believe it is more effective than conventional treatments. Because the dentist has more control over the device, they can hone in on only the damaged tissue and prevent additional damage to the surrounding tissues as they work.

Are You a Good Candidate for Laser Dentistry?
Laser dental treatments are ideal for individuals who become very anxious or nervous in the dentist’s chair, and because it speeds up the healing process, it may also reduce the need to return to the dentist for additional appointments. They can also be used for teeth whitening, treating cold sores, and getting rid of a gummy smile.

Some of the most common procedures used for laser dentistry include:

Cavity detection
Dental fillings and tooth preparation
Tooth sensitivity treatments – the lasers can be used to seal tubules that are causing hot or cold tooth sensitivity
Crown lengthening and gum reshaping

Gummy smile correction – reshaping the gum tissue so that only a part of the tooth is exposed

Removal of soft tissue folds – a painless way to get rid of excess tissue that may have developed over the teeth and gums

Correction of restricted or tight frenulum – some people have limited tongue movement, and the laser can help to loosen the muscle and increase range of motion for better movement. This can also be an effective treatment for people with a speech impediment

Cold sores – can speed up the healing time associated with cold sores and help to reduce pain around the affected issues

Benign tumors – any tumors that have formed in the sides of the cheeks, lips and gums can be removed without incisions using laser dentistry procedures

Teeth whitening – lasers can help with the bleaching process and improve the appearance of the soft tissues around the teeth

Sleep apnea – people who are suffering from tissue overgrowth in the throat and have sleep apnea can benefit from a laser treatment that reshapes the throat and makes it easier for the patient to breathe