Exploring the Power and Precision of Dental Lasers

LASER stands for "Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation," and these devices use concentrated light energy to produce a precise and controlled narrow beam of radiation. Dental lasers come in two primary categories: hard tissue lasers, used for various tooth layers like enamel, dentin, cementum, and bone, and soft tissue lasers, employed in procedures involving oral gums and other soft tissues. These lasers provide exceptional precision and control, making them valuable tools in dentistry.

How are Dental laser treatments performed?

Laser dentistry mainly comprises two types of procedures: hard tissue and soft tissue procedures. Hard tissue procedures involve treatments on the teeth, while soft tissue procedures are focused on the gums and other oral soft tissues.

Soft Tissue Procedures:

“Gummy smile” treatment:

Treatment for a "gummy smile" involves using soft tissue lasers to remove excess gum tissue, allowing more of the tooth's surface to become visible and creating a more prominent "toothy smile."

Gingivectomy:

Also referred to as gum reshaping or gum contouring, is a cosmetic dental procedure involving the removal of excess soft gum tissue to reshape the gumline. While scalpels were traditionally used for this procedure, many dentists now opt for lasers to achieve improved aesthetic results.

Dental crown lengthening:

In few cases dental restorations like crowns or implants require a sufficient amount of exposed tooth enamel to support the restoration. Your dentist may perform a procedure to reshape the gum tissue, allowing for more healthy tooth structure to be exposed for the successful placement of the restoration.

Removal of soft tissue folds:

Lasers offer a stitch-free and less painful solution for poorly fitting dentures, improving comfort and stability.

Gum disease treatment:

When gum disease is left untreated, it can lead to pain, inflammation, and even tooth loss, often necessitating gum surgery. However, laser dentistry provides a less invasive alternative by effectively treating early-stage gum problems. Dentists can use lasers to painlessly sterilize deep pockets, eliminating bacteria and reducing inflammation, potentially avoiding the need for extensive gum surgery.

Laser frenectomy: The frenulum is a small piece of tissue connecting other tissues. In the case of the lingual frenulum (lip frenulum), it's the piece of skin connecting the upper lip to the gums. Excessive pulling by this frenulum can lead to gum recession, causing the gums to pull away from the front teeth. Additionally, it can create gaps between the front teeth by preventing them from coming together. Dentists use laser frenectomy to alleviate the pulling and close these gaps between the teeth.

Hard Tissue Procedures:

Tooth decay treatment: Dentists use lasers to remove tooth decay by targeting and eliminating the bacteria responsible for cavities. Hard tissue lasers can also remove cavities, replacing traditional drilling methods.

Hypersensitivity treatment: Dentists can use lasers to reduce tooth sensitivity caused by thin enamel and cavities by sealing tiny tubes that lead from the tooth's surface to its root.

Root canal treatment: Dentists often use lasers for root canal therapy, a procedure that involves removing infected tissue from deep within the tooth's root canal, cleaning, sterilizing, shaping, and filling it.

Types of Dental Lasers:

Dental lasers are categorized into hard tissue lasers, used for cutting teeth and other hard tissues, and soft tissue lasers, employed for procedures involving gums and other soft tissues in the oral cavity.

Erbium lasers: These lasers are a category of hard tissue lasers. There are two main types of erbium lasers, differentiated by the type of crystal used to power them and the laser's wavelength. One type is a yttrium aluminium garnet crystal (Er:YAG) emitting a 2940nm laser, which penetrates about 7mm in enamel and 5 mm in dentin. The other type uses a yttrium scandium gallium garnet crystal (Er,Cr:YSGG) emitting a 2780nm laser, capable of penetrating 21mm in enamel and 15mm in dentin.

Carbon dioxide (CO2): These lasers excel at swiftly removing soft tissue. Emitting an invisible infrared light beam with a wavelength of 10,600 nm, these lasers enable minimal tissue penetration, resulting in shorter procedure times. However, CO2 lasers can potentially cause hard tissue damage, and their equipment may be costly, limiting their availability in all dental practices.

A diode laser: Similar to laser pointers, operates as a soft tissue laser. Its affordability and compact size make it a valuable asset in dental practices. Comprising gallium, aluminium, and arsenic, this laser emits wavelengths at 810 nm. Diode lasers find application in various dental procedures, including teeth whitening, dental impressions, and the removal or reshaping of gum tissue.

Applications of Dental Lasers:

Dental lasers find versatile applications in various procedures, including:

• Teeth Whitening
• Gum Disease Treatment
• Cavity Detection
• Tooth Decay Removal
• Gum Reshaping
• Frenectomy
• Root Canal Treatment
• Tooth Sensitivity Reduction
• Gingivectomy
• Crown Lengthening
• Denture Treatment
• Gummy Smile Correction
• Gingival Sculpting
• Canker Sore and Cold Sore Treatment
• Biopsy or Lesion Removal
• Filling Preparation
• Dental Implant Exposure
• Orthodontic Treatment
• TMJ Treatment

        

What to expect during a laser treatment?

• The dentist identifies the dental problems that may benefit from laser treatment.
• The procedure details will be explained.
• Laser treatments are generally straightforward, comparable to tooth filling procedures.
• No drilling: the laser ensures a relatively painless experience.
• If any bleeding it is promptly addressed by your dentist.
• The dentist may gently open your mouth to access and treat the dental issues with the laser.

Benefits and Risks of Laser Dentistry?

Benefits	Laser Dentistry	Drilling Method
Pain Reduction	Causes less pain, often reduces need for anaesthesia	May involve more pain and discomfort
Anxiety & Stress Reduction	Reduces anxiety for those afraid of drilling	Drilling may increase anxiety and stress
Bleeding & Swelling	Less bleeding and swelling during soft tissue	More bleeding; may require sutures
Preservation of Healthy Tooth	Preserves healthy aspects during cavity removal	May remove more healthy tooth structure
Precision	Incredibly precise, reducing the chance of risk	Less precision; higher risk of damage
Sterilization	Sterilizes gums, lowers infection risk	May not have sterilization effect

Dental Laser vs. Traditional Methods:

Aspect	Dental Laser	Traditional Methods
Pain and Discomfort	Causes less pain, reduces reliance on anaesthesia	May involve more pain and discomfort
Anxiety and Stress	Reduces anxiety for those afraid of drilling	May increase anxiety and stress
Bleeding and Swelling	Less bleeding; may not require sutures	More bleeding; may require sutures
Preservation of Healthy Tooth	Preserves healthy aspects during cavity removal	May remove more healthy tooth structure
Precision	Incredibly precise, reducing the chance of risk	Less precision; higher risk of damage
Sterilization	Sterilizes gums, lowers infection risk	May not have a sterilization effect
Treatment Time	Shorter procedure times in some cases	Procedure times may vary
Availability	May not be available at all dental practices	Widely available
Cost	Equipment may be expensive	Traditional methods may be more cost-effective

Choosing the Right Dental Laser for Your Practice:

Choosing the right dental laser involves evaluating key factors such as intended applications, wavelength alignment with clinical needs, user-friendly features, comprehensive training, cost, compatibility, return on investment, patient comfort, and regulatory compliance. This thoughtful assessment ensures a well-informed decision that enhances both practice capabilities and patient experience.

Laser dentistry offers a more convenient and efficient solution for various oral and dental issues, be it for serious treatments or cosmetic enhancements. Whether undergoing laser gum surgery or hard tissue procedures, patients can anticipate a smoother experience with minimal discomfort and quicker recovery times. If you're considering dental work, it's worth discussing the potential benefits of laser dentistry with your dentist to explore this advanced and patient-friendly approach.