Laser Dental Treatment
Laser dental treatment is the use of lasers to treat some dental conditions. The first reported dental laser was used in 1960. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the use of lasers to treat a number of dental problems in 1994. The American Dental Association (ADA) is yet to approve laser as an alternative to traditional dental treatment. However, the ADA has stated that it is cautiously optimistic about the role of laser technology in dentistry.
Laser dentistry treats some of the dental procedures, including:
· Gum disease-lasers can remove infected gum tissue
· Tooth decay-lasers can remove decay and prepare the tooth for a filling
· Biopsy or lesion removal in the mouth
· Teeth whitening
Types of dental lasers
1. Soft tissue lasers can remove soft tissues in the mouth. Common soft tissue procedures include:
· Removal of inflamed gum tissue;
· Reshape gum tissue;
· Treat lip or tongue ties;
· Removal of cold sores and canker sores in the mouth.
Other laser procedures include:
· Teeth whitening-lasers speed up the bleaching process;
· Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) treatment-lasers can reduce pain and inflammation in the joint;
· Benign tumors-remove tumors from the palate, gums, cheeks, and lips.
2. Hard tissue lasers can cut hard tissues in the mouth. Common hard tissue procedures include:
· Cut enamel to prepare a tooth for a dental filling;
· Cut bone at surgery for osseous contouring, osseous resection and tooth resection;
· Seal dentinal tubules to prevent teeth sensitivity to hot and cold temperatures.
Benefits of laser dentistry
· Less bleeding
· Reduced pain
· Faster healing period
· Less damage to the surrounding tissue
· Reduced chance of infection
Risks of laser dentistry
The risks of laser dentistry are relatively small. It is important to find a qualified dental professional who is trained to use the dental lasers to perform the dental procedures. Don’t hesitate to ask your dentist about the training they have received.
Dr. Anna Lee is a General & Cosmetic dentist in Glendora, CA. She is a trained and certified soft tissue dental laser provider (diode laser). She utilizes the cutting edge laser technology to treat and manage her patients with gum disease, lip & tongue ties, and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain. If you have questions about laser dentistry, please call for a consultation at 626-335-5114 or visit us at www.annaleedds.com