Laser dentistry is a great advancement in dental technology, treating a wide range of dental and cosmetic problems from cavities to gum disease to teeth whitening. The lasers we use at our practice are an alternative to the common hand-held scalpel, drills, or other tools. These lasers direct an invisible energy beam onto problem areas and allow us to efficiently treat decayed teeth, enamel, and gums.
The benefit of laser dentistry is that they minimize the pain most often associated with dental procedures, meaning more comfort to our patients. Clinical studies show that approximately 96% of all patients require no anesthesia when lasers are being used during dental treatments. Dental lasers have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration and are safe for both adults and children.
Soft tissue lasers are used to safely remove soft tissue, such as excess gum tissue. The soft tissue laser can also be employed to destroy bacteria in gum pockets, decreasing infection and allowing the tissue to return to a healthy state. The soft tissue laser is used most often by our laser certified hygienists to help them treat periodontal disease.
Hard tissue lasers are used to remove old fillings, repair cavities, and prepare teeth for fillings and bonding. I also use this laser on soft tissue to contour gums for better esthetics, as well as treat gum disease, decrease mouth sore pain and remove lesions. This is one of my favorite ways to improve your dental health.
Providing the absolute best service to our patients is of the highest importance to our office. To aid in achieving this goal, we use a new high-tech device called the DIAGNOdent. This small tool is a portable laser that allows us to detect cavities on the chewing surface of the back teeth that would have otherwise gone undetected by previous methods.
Diagnosing cavities in the back of the mouth using traditional methods is difficult; studies even show that 50% of cavities are left undetected in these areas. However, the new DIAGNOdent enables us to locate and treat these cavities, putting a stop to further decay. The laser is easy to use, harmless, and will alert us with an audible signal if it detects a cavity. It will even calculate the approximate size of the cavity so we can better plan treatment. By using this device, you can rest assured that cavities will be accurately detected and treated in their infancy.
We offer laser whitening for those of you who want faster results and prefer to not whiten at home. A gel applied to the teeth is activated by our Biolase EZlase wand to whiten your teeth in under an hour.