You may have heard of laser dentistry in conjunction with gum disease and receding gums, but did you know that it actually has many other purposes? Laser dentistry has actually been used since the late 80s, and since then it has developed by leaps and bounds. Essentially, it simply refers to the use of lasers in dental procedures. Here are a few times when laser dentistry should be used.

Detecting and Treating Cavities

Dental lasers don’t just offer treatment; they also offer the ability to detect problems that dentists can’t always see with other methods. The dental laser can be passed over throughout your mouth, giving it the opportunity to detect any pockets of infection or bacteria and debris. Once identified, the dentist can use the tool to remove the offending matter and repair the cavity. If you allow your dentist to do this as a part of your annual checkup, they may be able to detect cavities much sooner.

Removing soft tissue from the mouth

Lasers are often used in dentistry to remove soft tissue from the mouth. This is because it offers decreased levels of bleeding and bacteria and improved outcomes without infection. The laser even kills bacteria still in the area so that it doesn’t cause any more damage, while the most severely damaged tissue is removed.

Medical laser dentistry

There are some medical uses for dental lasers as well, and some dentists are trained in their use for these medical conditions. These conditions may include:

• Removing benign tumors in the mouth
• Treating sleep apnea caused by airway obstruction
• Nerve regeneration
• Relief of chronic joint pain 

Dental lasers can also be used to improve the outcomes of other dental treatments when the two modalities are combined into one procedure.

If you are interested in how dental lasers might be able to help you, contact us today for more information. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dr. Hilary Dalton, DMD, MS

Dr. Hilary Dalton owns Dalton Dental, a general and cosmetic dental practice in Tampa, FL. She is board-certified in Periodontology & Dental Implant Surgery and in Procedural Medicine in Aesthetics.

She also holds certifications in microsurgery, laser proficiency, Invisalign, master esthetic facial injector, PRP, and facial laser.

She graduated from Tufts University’s School of Dental Medicine in Boston with an award for Outstanding Leadership and Extraordinary Clinical Achievement.

To learn more about Dr. Hilary Dalton, visit our About page.

The post What Is Laser Dentistry, and Why Should It Be Used? appeared first on Dalton Dental.

There are a lot of tried and true dental procedures, technologies, and techniques, just as with other fields of medicine and science. However, in dental practices we are finding that laser dental procedures, although new, are the safest method of correcting dental problems. Laser dentistry has many other advantages as well.

Decreased bleeding

One of the harder parts of a dentist’s job is trying to control bleeding so that they can see what they are doing. The more blood, the more suction needed and the longer the procedure is likely to take. Laser dentistry cauterizes the small wound as it is made, decreasing bleeding and making the procedure easier and shorter.

Easily adjustable for severity

Most people ignore small dental problems until they become big expensive dental problems, but laser dentistry can even help these people. The lasers can be adjusted for each individual patient, customizing your treatment plan to meet your needs.

Short healing time

Anytime you get dental work, including gum treatments, you’re going to have at least some discomfort. However, the healing time for gum treatment assisted with lasers is significantly decreased, getting you back to what you do best.

Unparalleled Precision

The bottom line is that when you are working with a fine, focused, computerized laser tool, for periodontal disease treatment, you are able to be much more precise in the gum treatment than it would have been in the past. With an experienced dentist at the helm (controlling the device), you should be able to heal quickly.

Schedule an Appointment for Laser Dentistry in Tampa, FL

Do you have more questions about what laser dentistry can do for you, or do you want to know what we can treat with laser dentistry? Contact Dalton Dental today for more information or visit our blog for more details.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dr. Hilary Dalton, DMD, MS

Dr. Hilary Dalton owns Dalton Dental, a general and cosmetic dental practice in Tampa, FL. She is board-certified in Periodontology & Dental Implant Surgery and in Procedural Medicine in Aesthetics.

She also holds certifications in microsurgery, laser proficiency, Invisalign, master esthetic facial injector, PRP, and facial laser.

She graduated from Tufts University’s School of Dental Medicine in Boston with an award for Outstanding Leadership and Extraordinary Clinical Achievement.

To learn more about Dr. Hilary Dalton, visit our About page.

The post Advantages of Laser Dental Surgery appeared first on Dalton Dental.