Lasers

Lasers

LASER stands for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. A laser is an instrument that produces a very narrow, intense beam of light energy. When laser light comes in contact with tissue, it causes a reaction. The light produced by the laser can remove or shape tissue.

What is a Laser and how does it work?

LASER stands for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. A laser is an instrument that produces a very narrow, intense beam of light energy. When laser light comes in contact with tissue, it causes a reaction. The light produced by the laser can remove or shape tissue.

Types of Lasers

There are two types of Lasers:

  • Soft Tissue Laser.
  • Hard Tissue Laser.

Benefits of using Dental Lasers

  • Use of lasers may avoid Dentists to use a drill or administer anaesthesia in some procedures, allowing the patient to enjoy a more relaxed dental experience.
  • Laser procedures can be more precise.
  • Lasers can reduce symptoms and healing times associated with traditional therapies.
  • It can reduce the amount of bacteria in both diseased gum tissue and in tooth cavities.
  • It can control bleeding during surgery.
  • Disinfection of canals in Root Canal Treatment.

Uses of Lasers in Dentistry

For Hard Tissue (Tooth) Procedures
  • Help Early Detection in Caries - Low intensity lasers helps in early detection of caries.
  • Teeth Whitening Procedures- Low intensity lasers speeds up the whitening procedure.

For Soft Tissue Procedures

  • Crown lengthening procedures: Dental lasers shapes the gums and bone to expose the healthier tissues and make them available for more pleasing and stronger restorations. The healing is much quicker with the use of lasers for such procedures.
  • Expose partially erupted wisdom teeth: The use of lasers to remove the gums around the partially erupted teeth helps in a better visibility and easier access during the extraction procedures making it more predictable, faster and comfortable.
  • Remove muscle attachments that limit proper movement of the oral tissues: Dental lasers are an ideal option in children with restricted tongue movement (tongue tie) due to high tongue frenulum that causes impediment of normal speech. Laser frenectomy is also used to eliminate high labial (lip) frenum that results in spacing between front teeth.
  • Manage gum tissue during impressions for crowns or other procedures: Dental lasers helps retract the tissue areas around the prepared tooth so that the restorations have a better fit and margins.
  • Help treat infections in root canals/dental fillings: Lasers used in filling procedure eliminate the bacteria by killing them thus disinfecting the treated area and leading to improved long term restorations.

Other Advantages

  • Temporomandibular joint treatment: Dental lasers may be used to quickly reduce pain and inflammation of the temporomandibular jaw joint.
  • Remove overgrown tissues caused by certain medications.
  • Perform biopsy procedures for diagnosing various conditions.
  • Remove inflamed gum tissues and aid in the treatment of gum disease.
  • Faster healing of Ulcers.