Lasers in the field of Dentistry
The dental laser is a revolution in dentistry. It has been one of the most significant advances in dentistry of the last few decades, enabling us to perform leading-edge dentistry for our patients.
A laser is a concentrated beam of light. This beam is converted into energy when it comes in contact with the tissue.
Dental lasers allow us to perform many dental procedures without needles, and the pain of traditional dentistry. We can provide better quality dental care in fewer visits and without the discomforts of the past.
This modern tool precisely treats affected areas without damaging surrounding tissue. The laser beam minimizes the chance of infection or bleeding, reduces post-operative swelling, ensuring a comfortable and accelerated recovery.
At Ryde dental, dental lasers are incorporated into a variety of procedures such as:
- Periodontal/gum disease
- Improvement of gummy smiles or uneven gum line
- Root canal therapy
- Cosmetic and restorative procedures
- Ulcers and cold sore treatment
- Frenectomy
- Tongue tie
LASER GUM DISEASE TREATMENT
Gum and bone disease (called periodontal disease) is a very common infection. It causes bad breath, sore gums, receding gums and bone and loose teeth.
Moderate to serious cases of gum and bone (periodontal) disease benefit from laser therapy treatment, an effective way of improving oral health because it is-
- less invasive than traditional therapies and involves no cutting or stitches
- Non traumatic, virtually painless and causes no swelling
- Removes infection and bacteria like no other method can
- Heals faster, meaning less discomfort and no need to take time off work
LASER GUM LIFTS AND CROWN LENGTHENING
Teeth are not the only part of what makes a great smile – gums and lips also make a difference. They should all be in harmony.
Sometimes gum levels need to be corrected before placing veneers, onlays or crowns, particularly where teeth have been broken or filled below the gum line. Typically this involves cutting and stitching the gum, and then waiting six to eight weeks for it to heal before further work can be done.
With laser gum lifts, gum and bone around teeth can be reshaped and balanced quickly and painlessly without sutures or swelling. Often the crowns or veneers can be finished at the time of your appointment or within two weeks.
LASER FRENECTOMY AND TONGUE TIE TREATMENT
Tongue tie is a condition where lips and the tongue are held too tight by the frenum (the ligament that attaches the lips and tongue to the gums and jaw bone). If left untreated, tongue tie can cause a range of teeth, speech and feeding problems.
Everyone has a muscle attachment (frenum) that connects their lips to their gums. However, when this attachment is too close to the teeth, it can cause a gap (diastema) in between the teeth, usually the front upper teeth and the front lower teeth. Braces or orthodontics will not be able to close the gap without the fibrous frenum being removed.
Our laser procedure to release frenum has been successfully performed on people of all ages – from two-day-old babies through to adults. Lasers are far gentler on the body than traditional methods that involve cutting and stitching. Advantages include:
- It removes the tissue precisely and painlessly
- There is almost no bleeding afterward
- No stitches are needed
- General anaesthesia is usually not needed
- You can get back to normal eating within a day
- A baby will suckle immediately after the procedure
- Children can go to school the next day and adults can go back to work the same day
SENSITIVE TEETH AND FLUORIDE TREATMENT
Lasers help people who suffer from sensitive teeth. When combined with a fluoride treatment, certain dental lasers can reduce sensitivity for many months. The effectiveness of this treatment varies between patients.
Dental lasers will help occlude the tubules that lead from close to the nerve of the tooth to the surface. They will also assist in the uptake of fluoride within teeth. These enhanced laser fluoride treatments are longer lasting and provide better protection for your teeth against decay.
MINOR SURGICAL PROCEDURES
Surgery to remove swellings and soft tissue growths in and around the mouth can be performed quickly and easily with a dental laser.
Minor surgery performed with dental lasers will heal more quickly than conventional treatments. After a laser procedure, the treated area is left sterilised and sealed, and is advanced in the healing process compared to conventional treatments. The removed tissue is then sent for assessment.
Lasers can also be used for the treatment of ulcers, cold sores, haemangiomas, warts, fibroma, excess skin tissue flaps or tags.
LASERS IN ROOT CANAL TREATMENT
Dental lasers are very good at targeting the bacteria which cause infected root canals in your teeth. A quick laser treatment can be very effective in treating the disease and promoting healing.
The Dental laser cleans the root more thoroughly than conventional root canal techniques.
Microorganisms can hide in the dentinal tubules, or tiny holes, of the dentine surrounding the root.
With conventional root canals, the cleaning process doesn’t always reach all of the tubules, leaving behind some of the bacteria well after the root canal is filled and sealed. The laser penetrates deep into the porous tubules, removing bacteria without damaging the surrounding tissue.
While traditional root canal instruments only clean out the tooth’s root, the laser actually sterilizes it, increasing your chances of a successful procedure.