Laser dentistry is rapidly becoming one of the fastest growing services within the dental industry, and for good reason too! Laser dentistry potentially offers a more comfortable treatment option for a number of dental procedures involving hard or soft tissue compared to drills and other non-laser tools.
Laser dentistry is one of the most advanced dental services available to Dentists today. The Biolase Waterlase is a dental laser that enables the dentist to use minimal, and in some cases, even no anesthetic or drills to perform many routine dental procedures!
The Waterlase combines water, air, and laser energy for safe use on human tissue in the mouth. Our teeth are partially made up of water and when the laser makes contact with the tooth it excites the water molecules to cut through the tooth. Since the laser continuously sprays out water it keeps the tooth hydrated, preventing heat and giving you a virtually pain free experience! This technology allows your dentist, Dr. Joseph Bedich, to perform a wide range of procedures with benefits including:
- Less pain and faster healing time, with less trauma to teeth and gums
- Less usage of anesthetic during most procedures
- Treatment of more than one part of the mouth in one visit, eliminating referrals and specialist visits in many cases.
How are laser treatments performed?
There are actually two types of procedures that laser dentistry can be used for: Hard tissue and soft tissue procedures. Hard tissue in the mouth refers to your teeth and the tooth structures, while soft tissue refers to your gums.
Common hard tissue solutions include:
- Cavity detection: Dental lasers can detect early onset cavities by finding evidence of tooth decay.
- Dental fillings: By using lasers, most procedures eliminate the need for local anesthesia and traditional drills! Lasers can kill bacteria in a cavity, which can aid in the long-term health of a tooth.
- Removing bacterial growth: Lasers are also a fantastic tool that eliminates existing bacteria surrounding an affected area. By using a laser, doctors can effectively reduce the risk of future infections at a treatment site.
- Tooth sensitivity. A common occurrence people have is tooth sensitivity. Using dental laser technology, it is possible to eliminate sensitivity to hot and cold things by sealing the tubules on a given tooth’s root.
Common soft tissue solutions include:
- Transforming a “gummy” smile: Dental lasers be used to trim your gum-line extremely effectively. This procedure can transform your smile from looking “gummy” to showing much more of your teeth.
- Tongue-tie and frenulum removal: Some people suffer from having a very thick/tight frenulum, which is the skin that connects your tongue to the bottom of your mouth. A laser frenectomy is an extremely quick procedure that can remove part of this tissue to allow for more tongue mobility. Common patients that are seen for this treatment are usually children suffering from this tongue-tie, those who struggle with breastfeeding, and those with a speech impediment.
- Removing excessive soft tissue: Dental lasers can also be used to remove excessive amounts of soft tissue growth/folds. Sometimes those with dentures can see an added amount of soft tissue grow and a laser can quickly remedy this in a brief and effective treatment.
There are also other situations where a laser can come in handy, too! Dental laser treatments can be used to remove benign tumors in your mouth, can be used to reshape your throat to treat sleep apnea, treating cold sores, and so much more. Biolase Waterlase lasers allow our team to effectively treat your oral health concerns, while minimizing the downsides to these procedures such as healing time and overall pain.
As most of our patients know, Dr. Joseph Bedich invests much of his time in learning what is new in the world of dentistry. He believes in giving his patients the best care possible. Well, the time has come where he is now adding laser dentistry to the practice. He and our staff are spending time training with Dr. Sam Low, a world-renowned Periodontist. The new laser techniques are incredible and offer a minimally evasive alternative to traditional care.
Contact our office today to learn more about this unique service! The Center of Progressive Dentistry is the only practice within a 40 mile radius offering this service and we are ready to provide the highest quality of care possible.