Laser Dentistry

Laser dentistry is a field of dentistry that uses dental lasers for a number of dental procedures including cosmetic dentistry procedures. Dental lasers offer a precise beam of light making no physical contact with a person's mouth to perform a variety of dental procedures. Because dental lasers are very precise, dental lasers prove to be less painful than traditional dentistry procedures. Lasers seal blood vessels and nerve endings, making laser dentistry a cleaner, less painful dental procedure. Laser dentistry can be used for traditional dentistry procedures such as dental crowns and dental fillings and cosmetic dentistry procedures such as teeth whitening.

Laser Dentistry Procedures

Laser dentistry can perform a number of traditional dentistry procedures. Laser dentistry has been shown to be safe and effective, and usually providing bloodless surgery. There is also less risk of spreading blood-borne diseases and less trauma to adjacent teeth and tissues. Lasers used for cavity preparation often reduce or completely eliminate the need for local anesthetic.

Laser dentistry may also destroy bacteria during tissue removal, swelling, and pain. Some of the procedures laser dentistry may be used for include:

Dental Fillings: Dental lasers kill bacteria improving the healing time during dental filling procedures. Dental lasers during dental procedures prove to be less painful, so shots of Novocain may not be necessary.

Teeth Whitening: Dental lasers improve teeth whitening. The dental laser speeds up the chemical reaction of the bleaching agent, thus speeding up the tooth bleaching process. A person then can achieve a brighter whiter smile in less time.

Dental Crowns: Dental lasers precisely cut through tissue rather than the traditional method of using a sterile cord to cut through the tissue which causes a person to bleed an be in pain.

Dental Crown Lengthening: During dental crown lengthening, dental lasers can remove and reshape excess gum tissue around veneers or crowns to adequately shape teeth for good fitting restorations.

Dental lasers may also be useful during other dental procedures including:

Currently, laser dentistry is not yet a prominent dental procedure in the United States. Only about 5% of dentists have incorporated laser dentistry into their practices. As such, it can be difficult to find a dentist that is trained in laser dentistry. Laser dentistry, practiced by a trained laser cosmetic dentist can also be more expensive than traditional dentistry.

However, the future of laser dentistry looks bright: dental lasers may soon be used to remove tartar during a professional dental cleaning procedure and replace many traditional dentistry procedures. Laser dentistry is expected to become increasingly prominent as technology continues to evolve.

For more comprehensive information about laser dentistry, porcelain veneers, gum disease, tooth decay, bad breath, gummy smile, dry mouth syndrome, TMJ, dental insurance, or cosmetic dentists, visit Consumer Guide to Dentistry.