You might have heard about laser dentistry in the past, but did you know that it’s becoming more and more common in dental practices around the country? Thankfully, there’s no reason to feel nervous or intimidated by new dental technology. Not only does it enable dentists to complete treatments with greater precision, but it can make your next dental visit feel a whole lot more comfortable overall! To learn what to expect when you visit a dentist in Greenfield who uses laser dentistry, keep reading!
What is Laser Dentistry?
When we talk about lasers, we’re literally talking about concentrated beams of light energy designed to perform basic tasks. In fact, laser is actually an acronym for light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation. Technically, laser dentistry has been around for many decades, but it remained inaccessible to most dental practices due to cost. Now that advancements in the technology are more prevalent, more and more dentists can begin utilizing it, improving their patients’ dental care experience.
What Can Dental Lasers Be Used For?
The application for a dental laser is largely dependent on the wavelength of the laser itself. This is why dental lasers are placed in either the “soft tissue” or the “hard tissue” category. Because of their versatility, dentists have been able to use lasers to make the following procedures faster and less invasive:
- Treating gum disease
- Treating hypersensitivity of tooth enamel
- Removing infected or damaged gum tissue
- Teeth whitening
- Detecting cavities early
- Preparing teeth for dental fillings
- Performing cosmetic alterations to gum tissue
- Crown lengthening
- Removing an oversized frenulum (small tissue that can sometimes impede movement of the tongue or lips)
Benefits of a Soft Tissue Laser
One of the most notable benefits of laser dentistry is its ability to make many dental treatments far more comfortable. Traditionally, metal dental instruments are used, which can be uncomfortable for many patients. Since light is used to remove hard and soft tissue, it’s possible to reduce the amount of friction that occurs when performing actual treatment. In most cases, local anesthesia is not even needed thanks to the precision of laser dentistry.
Furthermore, precision is greatly improved with a laser dentistry. That means bleeding can be largely minimized, which reduces the amount of healing necessary following treatment. It also means the use of sutures is rarely needed. For example, soft tissue is immediately cauterized after laser dentistry, so there’s no need to place the sutures in the first place. This also works to reduce the risk of bacterial infections following dental treatment. Hard tissue lasers can be used to prepare teeth for fillings or dental restorations like crowns, rather than dental drills.
Are you looking for a more comfortable method for your most basic dental treatments? Consider laser dentistry from a holistic dentist in Greenfield today!
About BGH Dental
The dentists at BGH Dental are happy to include new dental technologies that improve the dental care experience for patients. Their use of the latest proven technology guarantees that you’re in for a more comfortable and elevated treatment moving forward. To experience their dental lasers for yourself or schedule an appointment, you can contact them through their website.