Laser Dentistry

Trips to the dentist have long been sources of fear and trauma for many people. This has led to creative advances like sleep-dentistry, where patients are unconscious for the duration of their visit. But some patients don’t tolerate general anesthesia well. For them, laser dentistry might be the answer.

Laser dentistry is a bloodless, painless alternative to traditional dental surgery. Lasers are used to remove benign tumors from cheeks and gums, detect cavities in early stages, reshape gums, view the inside of teeth and gum tissues, and even reshape the throat and uvula to aid sufferers of sleep apnea. Laser dentistry can also help regenerate nerves and tissues and reconnect damaged muscles, which cuts down on healing time. Cold sore and tooth sensitivity pain can be reduced or eliminated. The uses are many, and your laser dentist will be able to provide a list of all the laser-assisted services they offer.

Laser dentistry does have some advantages over traditional surgical procedures. For one, the laser is hot enough to sanitize the area being worked on, so the risk of infection is minimal. Bleeding and tissue destruction aren’t as much of a concern with laser dentistry, since the laser is precise and can target tiny, critical areas. Dental lasers eliminate the need for sutures or packing in most cases. Since lasers don’t make contact with the tooth, there is no unpleasant sound or vibration as with dental drills.

Laser dentistry is still fairly new, so you might be hard-pressed to find a provider in your immediate area. It is estimated that about 5% of all dental surgeons use lasers for their procedures. When you do find the right dentist, they will advise you about the costs associated with various laser treatments. Laser dentistry takes less time than traditional oral surgery, and the cost is about the same. Since the price is similar, patients are often able to apply their dental insurance to the cost of laser dental surgery.

Cosmetic laser tooth whitening is another popular service. This is a one hour in-office procedure that can whiten teeth up to ten shades in one session. A special gel is applied to the teeth, then exposed to a light which activates the gel’s whitening action. Some patients experience tooth sensitivity, but this can be countered by using a weaker concentration of the gel. Each whitening session costs between $300 and $2,000, depending on the system used by that particular dentist. As a cosmetic procedure, laser tooth whitening is not typically covered by insurance.

Laser dentistry has removed some of the worst elements of traditional dentistry. Though laser dentists might be hard to find in some areas, a little research will turn up the right candidate for your laser dental care.

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