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The rapid recent growth in the utilization of lasers by the American dental community is the result of dentist's awareness and acceptance of an overwhelming number of laser benefits to the patient, the dentist and the practice. Journal articles, respected clinician speakers and word of mouth have all served to spread the good news. What are these benefits?

Patient Benefits

In the end, dentistry is all about the patient and so for a new technology to gain rapid and widespread acceptance, the patient must benefit. Here's how patients benefit from laser usage:

Fear of needles:

The best performing dental lasers can be used to perform almost all common cavity preparation procedures without the need for patient anesthesia. Patients don't like injections, even when they don't hurt!

Dislike of numbness:

Patients prefer not to become numb or leave the dental practice after a procedure numb. And, many patients feel anxious from physiological reactions to commonly used anesthetics. A high performance dental laser eliminates this negative.

Dislike of drill noise and vibration:

Highspeed handpiece cavity preparation involves significant objectionable noise and vibration for the patient and they dislike it. The sound of a laser is not objectionable and no vibration is transmitted to the patient as the tip of the laser never even needs to contact the tooth!

One stop shopping:

General dentists find that ownership of a good quality laser with soft tissue surgery capability allows them to perform many more soft tissue procedures more simply, with little or no bleeding post operative due to a laser's ability to coagulate as it cuts. This means referring their patients less to specialists. Patients prefer to have their dental procedures performed by the general dentist they know and trust and dislike referral to a strange specialist. Add to this that many soft tissue laser procedures can be performed without anesthetic and dislike of needles and numbness comes into play again.
Preservation of healthy tooth structure: In general cavity preparations performed with lasers preserve more healthy tooth structure while avoiding the micro-cracking of healthy enamel associated with dental handpiece use.

Less post operative discomfort:

Many laser procedures result in less post operative discomfort for the patient. Better Overall Care- Equiped with laser technology, the dentist is armed with more and better treatment options than without a laser, resulting in delivery of the very best, state of the art care possible for the patient.

The positive impact of these benefits on how patients perceive their dentist and their dental care experience is dramatic.

Laser Soft Care

Laser gum treatment is a patient friendly treatment of periodontal disease using the latest technology. Laser Softcare™ can help eliminate infection and heal diseased gums which otherwise could lead to early tooth loss.

How does it work?

Tartar, which accumulates on the teeth over time, is associated with gum inflammation. This causes the gum tissue to be red, sore, and in many cases bleed. The tarter is removed from the root surface of the tooth using an ultrasonic and/or traditional scaling instruments.

Then, a small amount of light energy from a laser is directed through a tiny fiber, which is gently placed between the gum and tooth. This light energy aids in reducing the bacteria and removing the unhealthy tissue associated with the disease. After the area is thoroughly cleaned, the body can heal the area naturally.

Does it hurt?

Although the procedure itself can be virtually painless, the area may be anesthetized for your comfort. In this way the laser can be precisely directed for treatment. Post-procedure discomfort is typically less intense and of shorter duration than conventional periodontal surgery.

How long does it take?

The initial treatment will focus on scaling and the removal of the tartar. Then, the laser portion of the treatment will be performed. Depending on the severity of the periodontal disease, treatment may be accomplished in one office visit or in multiple visits. Your estimated treatment time will be reviewed when the treatment plan is discussed.

Does this treatment cost more than traditional gum surgery?

The same billing codes as traditional gum surgery are used. There are other factors which may affect the cost such as the severity of the periodontal disease and how many teeth are involved. You should note, however, that many insurance plans pay for only a portion of the treatments. Our office staff will be happy to discuss insurance estimates and payment options for this type of trearment.

The remarkable speed of the laser, the reduced anesthesia, and the increased comfort for patients, makes the new system increasingly attractive to dental practices. In many cases, we have found laser gum treatments to provide an effective alternative for traditional gum surgery. You are encouraged to take care of the need as soon as possible to reduce further damage to your gums, teeth, and bone.

Laser Hard Tissue

Because lasers use steady and concentrated light to remove unhealthy tooth structure, they have several advantages over the traditional dental drill. The idea of using lasers for hard tissue dentistry has instant appeal for patients and dentists: no drill, shots, vibration, or unpleasant sound.

How is it done?

Because the laser is very bright, we first provide you with special glasses to shield your eyes. We then carefully move the laser over the damaged or decayed portion of your teeth. The laser removes the decay and creates a highly effective bonding surface. We use a water spray to cool the teeth we are treating. After preparation, teeth are usually restored with one of the new white dental cosmetic filling materials that can be bonded to the teeth.

What can we do with the laser?

With the hard tissue laser, we can remove some kinds of old fillings, repair cavities, and prepare teeth for bonding. It allows us to remove the smallest amount of tooth structure and place strong, natural looking dental cosmetic restorations in the shortest amount of time.

Does this replace the drill?

Hard Tissue Lasers have been used for many years in dentistry, but only recent breakthroughs have allowed us to use lasers on teeth. The laser cannot perform all the tasks a conventional dental drill does, such as removing metallic fillings or crowns. However, what the laser does is cut through fillings, tooth, and bone both precisely and effectively with less trauma.

By using lasers, our office can achieve conservative, strong, esthetic restorations, often without an injection, and with less anxiety than traditional drilling.