Benefits of Laser Dentistry

If you're one of the many people who dread going to the dentist's office because of a general dislike for pain or people sticking sharp needles inside your mouth to deliver anesthesia, you should consider finding a dentist that practices laser dentistry.

That's because lasers are capable of performing many of the procedures dentists normally perform with metal tools, without as much of a need for anesthesia because of the incredible precision these things have. With such significant benefits, it's no surprise an estimated 6 percent of dentists in the U.S. already have a laser for soft-tissue applications. That number is expected to continue rising.

There are two different types of lasers commonly used by dentists.

1. Hard tissue lasers: These have a wavelength that allows them to penetrate materials like hydroxyapatite and water, making them the more obvious choice for cutting through bone and tooth structures.

Procedures hard tissue lasers are commonly used for include:

• Tooth preparation for dental fillings
• Sealing tubules on sensitive teeth

2. Soft tissue lasers: These have a wavelength that is easily absorbed by hemoglobin and water, making them ideal for dental procedures that involve the soft-tissue area in the mouth.

Soft tissue lasers are often used for:

• Reshaping gums
• Removal of skin folds
• Crown lengthening
• Sleep apnea
• Teeth whitening

Let’s take a deeper look at the benefits of laser dentistry:

1. More natural, less pain

As mentioned above, one of the most significant benefits of laser dentistry is the fact it turns several procedures that are traditionally associated with pain into painless affairs. You experience pain when your dentist performs these procedures with traditional tools because your tooth/teeth experience pressure, vibration, and heat.

With a laser, there's virtually no heat, vibration, or pressure on your teeth when your dentist is working on them. That's means there's less need for anesthetics, less swelling, and less need for medication afterwards.

2. Increased precision and accuracy

Lasers are significantly more precise than traditional dentistry tools, and that gives your dentist the ability to perform certain procedures a lot more thoroughly. For example, dentists are able to remove a larger amount of decayed enamel on an affected tooth with a laser, preserving more of your natural teeth.

3. Less blood loss

It's only normal for some parts of your mouth to bleed when your dentist is working on them. However, there is less blood loss associated with procedures performed with a laser. That's because the high-energy beams emitted by the laser aid the blood clotting process.

4. Lower odds of infection

Another major benefit of laser dentistry is the lower odds of infection. With metal dentistry tools, it comes down to how well those tools are stored and sterilized. With lasers, the risk of bacteria being transferred from the tool being used into the patient's mouth is reduced since the beam emitted by the laser sterilizes anything it comes in contact with.

These are just a few benefits of laser dentistry. If you're interested in having more pain-free visits to the dentist's office, check to see which dentists around you give you the option of having the procedure done with a laser.