Let Lasers Do the Work (And Spend Less Time at the Dentist)

Dental laser

Dentistry has been around for quite some time. In fact, a recent archeological dig in Krapina, Croatia unearthed the remains of a 130,000-year-old Neanderthal, who scientists believe tried to carry out some “prehistoric dentistry” on an impacted tooth. Luckily for you, dentistry has come a long way from sticks and rocks. Dental advancements have made procedures and checkups quicker, less painful, and more efficient than ever. We at Pearl Dental P.C. would like to introduce you to one of the most cutting-edge technologies that we offer: laser dentistry.

What is Laser Dentistry?

While it may sound like something from a science fiction movie, laser dentistry is very real and has many uses. Using a concentrated, high-energy laser beam, dentists can supplement any number of procedures in a way that is highly accurate and presents less of a risk of damaging surrounding tissues.

What are the Benefits of Laser Dentistry?

If you think of yourself as an anxious dental patient or you are seeking the highest levels of safety and comfort, you may want to talk to a dentist about laser dentistry. Its benefits are tremendous:

  • Certain procedures won’t require anesthesia.
  • Soft tissue laser dental procedures may not require sutures or stitches.
  • Bleeding is minimized because the high-energy light beam helps exposed blood vessels clot (or coagulate), thus limiting blood loss
  • Less of a chance of bacterial infections because high-energy light beams sterilize the area as it is worked on
  • Less damage to surrounding tissue
  • Tissues can be regenerated and wounds heal faster

Types of Dental Lasers

Every laser that we use has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This includes both hard and soft tissue lasers that can be used for the dental treatment of both children and adults. While lasers can be used in many procedures, they are broken down into two different types.

  • Hard Tissue Lasers: With a wavelength highly absorbable by the calcium phosphate salt found in bone and teeth (hydroxyapatite) and water, hard tissue lasers are more effective for cutting through tooth structure and bone with tremendous precision. Often these lasers are used to remove small amounts of a tooth, repair worn-down dental fillings, or prep or shape teeth for composite bonding.
  • Soft Tissue Lasers: Soft tissue lasers are more absorbable to water and hemoglobin, making them better at soft tissue management. By penetrating soft tissue while sealing blood vessels and nerve endings, soft tissue lasers have little to no postoperative pain and allow for faster healing. They are commonly used for gingival sculpting procedures.

Laser dentistry is one of the newest and most effective techniques found in modern dentistry. Contact us at Pearl Dental PC today if you’re interested in trying it out in your following procedure.