Laser Dentistry

What is a laser and how does it work?

A laser is an instrument that produces a very narrow, intense beam of light energy. When laser light comes in contact with tissue, it causes a reaction. The light produced by the laser can remove or shape tissue.

 Are lasers used in dentistry?

Yes, lasers have been used in dentistry since 1990. Lasers can be used as a safe and effective treatment for a wide range of dental procedures and are often used in conjunction with other dental instruments.

 How are lasers used in dentistry?

Dental lasers can be used to:

•     Reduce the discomfort of canker and cold sores.
•     Expose partially erupted wisdom teeth.
•     Remove muscle attachments that limit proper movement.
•     Manage gum tissue during impressions for crowns or other procedures.
•     Remove overgrown tissues caused by certain medications.
•     Perform biopsy procedures.
•     Remove inflamed gum tissues and aid in the treatment of gum disease.
•     Remove or reshape gum and bone tissues during crown lengthening procedure.
•     Help treat infections in root canals.
•     Speed up tooth whitening procedures.

What are the benefits of using dental lasers?

There are several advantages. Dentists may not need to use a drill or administer anesthesia in some procedures,  allowing the patient to enjoy a more relaxed dental experience. Laser procedures can be more precise. Also, lasers can reduce symptoms and healing times associated with traditional therapies; reduce the amount of bacteria in both diseased gum tissue and in tooth cavities; and control bleeding during surgery.

Are dental lasers safe?

If the dental laser is used according to accepted practices by a trained practitioner, then it is at least as safe as other dental instruments. However, just as you wear sunglasses to protect your eyes from prolonged exposure to the sun, when your dentist performs a laser procedure, you will be asked to wear special eyeglasses to protect your eyes from the laser.

Treatments

LANAP

Laser-assisted new attachment procedure (the LANAP protocol) is a surgical therapy designed for the treatment of periodontitis through regeneration rather than resection. This therapy and the laser used to perform it have been in use for more than a decade.  In LANAP surgery, a variable free-running pulsed neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Nd:YAG at 1064 nm wavelength) dental laser is used by a trained and certified dentist or periodontist to treat the periodontal pocket. The laser energy selectively removes diseased or infected pocket epithelium from the underlying connective tissue. The necrotic epithelium is stripped from the connective tissue at the histologic level of the rete ridges. Since the laser energy is quite selective for diseased tissue, the underlying pleuro potential connective tissue is spared, thereby permitting healing and regeneration rather than formation of a pocket seal by long junctional epithelium. Read more

Abscess Drainage

A dental abscess (also termed a dentoalveolar abscess, tooth abscess or root abscess), is a localized collection of pus associated with a tooth. The most common type of dental abscess is a periapical abscess, and the second most common is a periodontal abscess. In a periapical abscess, usually the origin is a bacterial infection that has accumulated in the soft, often dead, pulp of the tooth. This can be caused by tooth decay, broken teeth or extensive periodontal disease (or combinations of these factors). A failed root canal treatment may also create a similar abscess. A dental abscess is a type of odontogenic infection, although commonly the latter term is applied to an infection which has spread outside the local region around the causative tooth. If left untreated, a severe tooth abscess may become large enough to perforate bone and extend into the soft tissue eventually becoming osteomyelitisand cellulitis respectively. From there it follows the path of least resistance and may spread either internally or externally. The path of the infection is influe Read more

Laser Teeth Whitening Treatment

Laser teeth whitening treatment is one of the most popular teeth whitening treatment today as it is said to be the easiest and fastest way of achieving whiter teeth. Laser treatment can only be done by a dentist. However, with laser treatment you wouldn’t have to wait for long to see its result. Laser treatment works best for people who have stained teeth due to frequent drinking of coffee and tea and for those who acquired their yellowish teeth through smoking. If not because of its expensive cost, laser treatment may have been regarded as the best method to whiten your teeth. Since the duration a tooth is exposed to LASER during whitening compared to other methods of tooth whitening like in house whitening or plasma ark(light activated usually blue in colour) the risk of patient developing sensitivity is much lesser in laser tooth whitening. Read more

Opeculuctomy

In Opeculuctomy, Gum tissue covering the wisdom tooth is removed with the use of laser Read more

Gingivectomy

A gingivectomy is a surgical gum disease treatment used to remove diseased gum tissue, helping to reduce pockets and slow down the progression of gum disease. Prior to the gingivectomy procedure, scaling and root planing is often used to remove bacteria and tartar from below the gum line. The gingivectomy procedure itself typically requires just local anesthesia to numb your gums. Traditionally, a scalpel is used to remove gum tissue, but today, many dentists use laser gingivectomy for less invasive treatment, minimized bleeding and faster healing time. Depending on how much tissue needs to be removed, the gingivectomy procedure can take anywhere from a few minutes to an hour. Read more