INNOVATIVE AND PRECISE TECHNOLOGY

Laser dentistry is a dental procedure that is rising in popularity. It can treat a highly specific area of focus without damaging the surrounding tissues. As the applications of dental lasers expand, a large number of dentists are using this technology to provide patients with treatment that minimises pain and recovery

Benefits of laser dentistry:

• The procedures performed using soft tissue dental lasers may not require stitches
• Most of the procedures do not require anaesthesia
• It minimizes bleeding as the high energy light beam helps in clotting of exposed blood vessels.
• Bacterial infections are minimized as the high-energy beam helps in sterilizing the area, which is being worked on.
• It minimizes the damage to the surrounding tissues.
• Wounds heal faster and the tissues can be regenerated.

Types of dental lasers:

Hard tissue lasers:

The wavelength of hard tissue lasers is highly absorbable by hydroxyapatite and water. Hydroxyapatite is the calcium phosphate salt found in bone and teeth. This makes it effective for cutting through the tooth structure.

The main use of hard tissue lasers is to cut into the bone and teeth with extreme precision. These lasers are often used in the shaping of teeth, removal of small amounts of tooth structure and repair of worn out dental fillings.

Soft tissue lasers:

The wavelength of soft tissue lasers is highly absorbable by water and haemoglobin. This makes them highly effective for soft tissue management. The soft tissue laser has the ability to kill bacteria and activate the re-growth of tissues. Besides this, it minimizes the damage to the surrounding tissues and removes the tissues faster than the fibre optic method. They penetrate soft tissues while sealing the blood vessels and the nerve endings. This is why people experience no pain following dental laser procedure.

Other than this, soft tissue lasers allow the tissues to heal faster. This is why many cosmetic dental procedures use soft tissue lasers to sculpt the teeth.

There is also dental laser technology which can generate both hard and soft tissue laser energy as and when required. In addition to the lasers used for cutting and shaping hard and soft tissues, there are lasers that are designed to view the insides of teeth and cells.

Hard tissue lasers:

The wavelength of hard tissue lasers is highly absorbable by hydroxyapatite and water. Hydroxyapatite is the calcium phosphate salt found in bone and teeth. This makes it effective for cutting through the tooth structure.

The main use of hard tissue lasers is to cut into the bone and teeth with extreme precision. These lasers are often used in the shaping of teeth, removal of small amounts of tooth structure and repair of worn out dental fillings.

Soft tissue lasers:

The wavelength of soft tissue lasers is highly absorbable by water and haemoglobin. This makes them highly effective for soft tissue management. The soft tissue laser has the ability to kill bacteria and activate the re-growth of tissues. Besides this, it minimizes the damage to the surrounding tissues and removes the tissues faster than the fibre optic method. They penetrate soft tissues while sealing the blood vessels and the nerve endings. This is why people experience no pain following dental laser procedure.

Other than this, soft tissue lasers allow the tissues to heal faster. This is why many cosmetic dental procedures use soft tissue lasers to sculpt the teeth.

There is also dental laser technology which can generate both hard and soft tissue laser energy as and when required. In addition to the lasers used for cutting and shaping hard and soft tissues, there are lasers that are designed to view the insides of teeth and cells.

Hard tissue dental laser applications:

• Cavity detector: Low-intensity soft tissue dental lasers are used for the early detection of cavities. The laser provides a reading of the by-products, which are produced by tooth decay.
• Dental fillings: Hard tissue dental lasers eliminate the need for anaesthetics while performing the procedures. The lasers used in dental filling procedures kill the bacteria located in the cavities. This leads to improved long-term tooth restorations. Using dental lasers clearly has several benefits but one should note that they are not appropriate for replacement of amalgam fillings, inlays or crowns.
• Tooth sensitivity: Hard tissue dental lasers are used to seal tubules located on the root of the tooth. Tubules are responsible for causing hot and cold tooth sensitivity.

Soft tissue dental laser applications:

• Crown lengthening: Dental lasers are used to reshape gum tissue and bone in order to expose healthier tooth structure. This procedure provides a stronger foundation for the replacement of restorations.
• Reshaping gummy smile: As already mentioned above, dental lasers expose healthy tooth structures and improve the appearance of a gummy smile.
• Muscle attachment: Laser frenectomy is an ideal treatment option for children who are tongue-tied and unable to breast-feed efficiently due to limited tongue movement.

Soft tissue folds: Dental lasers are used to remove soft tissue folds painlessly. The soft tissue folds are often caused by ill-fitting dentures.

Other

• Viewing the inside of tooth and gums in real-time.
• Removal of tumours from gums, palate, sides of cheeks and lips.
• Reduce the pain associated with cold sores and minimize healing time.
• Regenerate damaged nerves and blood vessels.
• Speed up the bleaching process associated with teeth whitening.
• Reduce the pain and inflammation of temporomandibular jaw joint.

Conclusion:

Dental lasers represent an innovative and precise technology for hard and soft tissue applications. These procedures are particularly helpful for people who suffer from dental anxiety. Laser dentistry is a growing field and in the future, its procedures may be performed even more effectively and comfortably.