Laser Dental Treatments
Lasers are reinventing dental treatments. In the past, many people put off going to see their dentist, even for basic cleanings, because traditional dentist techniques resulted in anxiety and pain. As a result, they suffered poor dental health. Today, laser dental treatments are putting an end to the pain and suffering of traditional dentistry.
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What They Are
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Laser dental treatments, collectively known as laser dentistry, use a laser to energize a spray of water and air to treat certain dental conditions. The treatments are approved by the FDA, and the laser is considered to be just as good or even more effective than traditional dentistry techniques.
Techniques
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Laser dentistry is most commonly used to chip away decayed tooth material, such as that found in cavities. Other treatments include cosmetic bleaching and root canals. Laser treatments generally aren't suited for treatments like polishing, and they don't work on individuals who already have fillings
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Benefits
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Laser dentistry techniques are much less painful than traditional drill dentistry, are completed quickly, less pressure is experienced than with the drill, and generally the amount of numbing medication is limited or none at all. Other benefits include increased precision, faster healing time and a lower risk of infection.
Limitations
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Availability of laser dentistry technology to the dentist is the primary limit. The equipment can be very expensive, so small dental clinics may not be able to afford it. Additionally, laser dentistry techniques are still fairly new, so it will be a while before there are a large number of dentists who are trained in how to do them.
Who Can Be Treated
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Anyone who needs one of the dental procedures suited to laser dentistry can be treated by laser techniques. However, laser dentistry techniques are less commonly performed on children because the techniques and related training are not as widespread in pediatrics.
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