Dental Lasers Revolutionize Dentistry
Fever Blisters, Apthous Ulcers and Tooth Sensitivity
Dental lasers take advantage of the new diode lasers.
If the laser is set in a non cutting mode it can be used to treat fever blisters, apthous ulcers and tooth sensitivity.
The energy from the laser is able to stimulate the body's defenses to better fight some of the most vexing problems
we have had to deal with in dentistry. The laser also helps kill viruses and in about 25% of the cases eliminates recurrent
cases of cold sores. This same energy also can help seal the tubules in the tooth that are exposed causing sensitivity to
hot and cold on your teeth.
The laser can be used to treat almost any type of sore in the mouth. When broader areas need to be treated we use the healing laser or low level laser therapy.
Gingival Retraction
These lasers can also be used to reduce the stress on teeth that
is caused when we have to place cords around the gumline of crown preparations. We can create a small trough with no bleeding
that exposes the edges of the tooth preparation so that our impressions are clean and accurate. This tissue remains
healthy and we do not have the recession that often used to occur with the cords.
Surgery with the Lasers
The laser works by using light energy to vaporize just a few cell thicknesses while stimulating the surrounding tissues
to heal.The cutting laser has the ability to cut while controlling bleeding and discomfort. We still use anesthetics with
the laser, but do not have to worry about post operative pain or swelling. This allows us to control the surgery in a
manner unheard of previously. The biostiulation from the laser projects healing energy into the cells that charges the
batteries of the cells and allows them to heal faster and return to normal at a much faster rate. The Laser surgery does
take longer so there is sometimes the need to balance its use with that of a conventional scalpel.
Laser Bacterial Reduction
Periodontal disease affects approximately 80% of adults and is a growing epidemic in our society. Understanding of this
disease has increased greatly over the last few years. We now know that Periodontal Disease is a bacterial infection in
the pockets around teeth. As such, we now not only treat Perio via removal of mechanical irritants and diseased
tissue (your normal cleaning) but are also addressing the underlying infection that causes it.
Using the Laser in a non-cutting, painless mode, we place the glass tip of the laser in the pocket around each tooth.
The laser energy vaporzies the bacteria preventing both peridontal disease, but also eliminating spread of bacteria
into the blood stream during the cleaning. This elimation of the bacteremias is helpful for those that have prosthetic
valves or joints.
Ask for Laser Bacterial Reduction at your next cleaning appointment. The cost is only $30.
Laser Assisted Periodontal Therapy
Periodontal disease can result in the destruction of the bone supporting the teeth. Utilizing the Laser we can remove
the infected tissue within the pockets around the teeth. Once this tissue is gone and the bacteria have been removed
the body can begin to heal itself. Unfortunately the gum tissue grows faster than the bone. By using the laser at one
week intervals we are able to control the down growth of the gum tissue while stimulating the up growth of bone. In
several studies they were able to demonstrate the regrowth of the bone around the teeth. This is unheard of and if it
actually works is one of the greatest advances in dentistry today.
The fee for this is generally in the $300 to $1800
range depending on the severity of the disease and the number of treatments necessary.
