As you know by now, as holistic dentists we want to interfere as little as possible with how the body works. Laser dentistry lets us do that. So let’s take a closer look at laser dentistry and what it means for you.
What is Laser Dentistry?
Laser dentistry uses a precision laser instead of a blade or currette in many dental procedures. This lowers discomfort for patients, reduces the need for anesthetics and improves the overall patient experience. We still use other tools for many things, but where possible, we use a laser instead.
The dental laser delivers a narrow beam of light that we control with precision. It can perform many tasks that a dental drill can plus many more. It can remove tissue, take a biopsy, treat gum disease, whiten teeth and sterilize infection among other things making it a very important tool in our arsenal.
How Does a Dental Laser Work?
A dental laser works the same as all other lasers. They deliver focused energy as light. That energy can be finely tuned to deliver a predictable amount of energy into a very precise pattern, making detail work effortless.
The laser can work as a cutting tool, a vaporizer, a heat source of teeth whitening or to cure a filling. Depending on how we set the dental laser, it is capable of many tasks. That’s one of the main reasons we use a laser.
What Are the Main Benefits of Laser Dentistry?
Laser dentistry is much less intrusive than traditional dentistry can be. There are procedures where it replaces a traditional tools completely, making it a much more relaxing patient experience. We often have to use less anesthetic too, which is good news for all of us.
A dental laser is also a precision instrument, meaning in the right hands it can perform surgical tasks quickly and efficiently. Being a precision instrument, we can perform procedures with very little tissue or tooth damage.
Lasers can also reduce bleeding, kill bacteria and control tissue around the site of the procedure. This not only makes the entire experience faster and more comfortable, it can also drastically reduce healing times too. Lasers can replace the use of antibiotics in surgical procedures.
As you can imagine, that fits right in with our philosophy of holistic dentistry!
Are Dental Lasers Safe?
As long as the dentist using the laser is trained and experienced, laser dentistry is perfectly safe. The only real safety procedure, apart from a skilled user are glasses to protect your eyes. The same way we ask you to wear glasses when working in your mouth, we may ask you to wear glasses when using a laser to protect your eyes.
Despite being around since the 1980s, laser dentistry is still regarded as an emerging science and not all dentists are qualified to use them. Considering the benefits of using a laser, we would recommend them wholeheartedly.
If you would like to try laser dentistry, contact Aesthetic Family Dentistry today to schedule a consultation!
