Lasers are used to remove or alter hard and soft tissues in a variety of dental procedures.
Lasers are used in procedures involving soft tissues in the mouth like the gums, making them useful in procedures, such as creating a trough around the gum for improved visibility and dental access and reshaping the gums for aesthetic purposes. Sometimes lasers are used to remove excess gum tissue and release overly tight muscle attachments in the mouth or treat oral ulcers and cold sores. Laser therapy can also treat periodontal disease, or gum infection, by removing the infected lining of gum tissue around the teeth and supporting the regeneration of healthy gum tissue.
Hard tissue lasers are used to cut "hard" tissues in the mouth, such as the teeth. These lasers can help remove tooth decay, prepare cavities for filling placement, prepare a tooth for a root canal and etch the tooth enamel so a filling can bond to it.
Lasers designed for hard tissue purposes may reduce the need for anesthesia and reduce the chance of overheating parts of the tooth like the pulp, the tooth's nerve tissue. However, hard tissue lasers may also extend the time needed for treatment due to the precise nature of laser cutting and may have inconsistent results.
Lasers may be used in a number of other dental procedures, including laser teeth whitening, setting restorative materials, such as crowns or fillings, and detecting tooth decay. Before considering any type of dental laser therapy, contact us to determine if laser treatment is right for you.
