The Benefits of Laser Dentistry: Why State-of-the-Art Dental Care Matters
At Artistic Expressions Dentistry, we provide patients in the greater Philadelphia area with the most advanced treatment that we can, whether it's cosmetic dentistry to enhance smile aesthetics or restorative dentistry treatments to improve overall health and wellness. Dental lasers allow us to achieve both of these ends, and we'd like to look at the use of lasers in dentistry in a bit more detail right now.
What is laser dentistry?
Laser dentistry involves the use of state-of-the-art lasers in the dental care suite. Our practice uses lasers to treat the gums as well as lasers to treat the teeth. We'll look at each of these lasers, their particular uses, and their advantages separately.
Laser Dentistry Means Excellent Treatment for the Gums
Soft-tissue dental lasers are used to treat the gums and address issues with the gumline. If patients have gummy smiles, for instance, the soft-tissue laser can contour the gumline easily during crown lengthening.
Some of the benefits of soft-tissue dental lasers are as follows:
- Soft-Tissue Dental Lasers Reduce Patient Anxiety - Rather than use a scalpel during gum contouring procedures, the laser is all that's needed, and it is far less likely to elicit worry in patients. A gently spray of water accompanies the precise application of the laser.
- Soft-Tissue Dental Lasers Mean Less Bleeding - Dental lasers for the gums cauterize as they cut, meaning that bleeding during treatment is reduced dramatically.
- Soft-Tissue Dental Laser Are Less Painful - Given the reduced bleeding and precision of the dental laser, patients report less post-operative soreness and irritation after they've been treated with the dental laser.
- Soft-Tissue Dental Lasers Mean Lower Chance of Infection - The reduced bleeding and cauterizing of laser lead to a very low chance of infection as a complication of treatment.
- Soft-Tissue Dental Lasers Lead to Faster Healing - Patients who undergo laser gum treatment heal much faster than patients who undergo traditional gum treatment with the tools of the past.
Treating Tooth Decay with Laser Dentistry Is Better Than Drills
Hard-tissue dental lasers mean that there is less need for old-fashioned dental drills. These kinds of lasers are used to prep teeth for fillings and other types of restorations, such as inlays, onlays, and dental crowns.
Some of the benefits of hard-tissue dental lasers are as follows:
- Hard-Tissue Dental Lasers Don't Make Sounds or Feel Like Drills - Drills produced that off-putting whirring sound and often created friction and heat. Like the soft-tissue laser, the hard-tissue laser uses a stream of water with the laser to reduce friction and heat. The only sound that patients will hear is a gentle tapping.
- Hard-Tissue Dental Lasers Are Highly Accurate - Hard-tissue dental lasers offer a precision superior to drills, reducing any potential damage to healthy tooth structure thanks to the focus of the laser.
- Hard-Tissue Dental Lasers Maintain More Healthy Tooth Structure - Because of the precision of the hard-tissue dental laser, dentists are able to remove only the damaged tooth structure without affecting healthy tooth structure. Patients retain more of their natural tooth when getting fillings, which is better for overall dental health.
- Hard-Tissue Dental Lasers May Not Require Anesthetic - For minor fillings, the dental laser is so gentle and accurate that a patient may not require any anesthetic to have the filling placed.
Schedule a Consultation at Artistic Expressions Dentistry
If you would like more information on all of your options for advanced dental care, be sure to contact our cosmetic and restorative dentistry center today. The team at Artistic Expressions Dentistry looks forward to your visit and helping you achieve optimal dental health and wellness.
