Laser Dentistry and High Tech Dentistry Information

What is Laser Dentistry?

Laser dentistry is a field of high-tech dentistry that integrates the use of lasers in performing dental procedures. Laser dentistry may result in a higher rate of precision, minimal-to-zero patient pain and faster recovery time than more traditional alternatives.

History of Laser Dentistry

Thirty years ago when lasers were first considered for use in dental procedures, it was believed they would replace the mechanical drills used to remove cavities. In 1964, pulsed ruby lasers were said to vaporize dental enamel.

Lasers were first approved for certain soft tissue surgery and procedures such as gingivectomy, frenectomy, curettage, crown lengthening, biopsy, and other gingival procedures. These lasers included the carbon dioxide lasers, Nd:YAG (neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet), argon, and diode lasers. Today the argon laser has been cleared for the curing of commonly used tooth colored fillings in the mouth and bleaching. The most recently approved laser for dental use is the Erb:YAG laser cleared for use on soft and hard tissues of the mouth, including tooth cavity repairs.

Diode Laser Dentistry

The diode laser is versatile enough to be used in many different procedures. It is most often used to perform soft-tissue surgery, including removing tumors and lesions from the soft tissues of the mouth. Because the diode laser's high-energy beam eliminates bacteria, it is commonly used to sterilize areas of the mouth before or during root canals, cavity treatment, and other such procedures.

Many dentists use the diode laser to perform laser tooth cleaning and plaque removal. The laser is powerful enough to remove even heavily calcified deposits, leaving the teeth clean and free of any cavity-causing plaque. The diode laser can also be used for the treatment of gum disease.

One of the most popular applications of the diode laser is tooth whitening. In-office laser tooth whitening treatments, including Rembrandt and Zoom!, are the best whitening treatments available. These treatments whiten teeth by up to ten shades, a vast improvement from the over-the-counter whitening systems sold at most pharmacies. A course of laser teeth whitening treatment takes only around sixty minutes, enabling even the busiest of people to get treated for stained or discolored teeth.

Cosmetic Laser Dentistry

Power or light-accelerated bleaching (known in layman's terms as laser bleaching) uses light energy to speed up the process of bleaching in a dental office. Various types of energy can be used for this procedure, with the most common being halogen, LED, or plasma arc. Clinical trials have shown that among these three options, halogen light is the type that produces optimal treatment results. The ideal source of energy should be able to excite the peroxide molecules without overheating the pulp of the tooth. Lights are usually within the blue light spectrum as this has been found to include the wavelengths for effectively initiating the hydrogen peroxide reaction. A power bleaching treatment typically involves isolation of soft tissue with a resin-based, light-curable barrier, application of a special dental-grade hydrogen peroxide whitening gel (25-38% hydrogen peroxide), and exposure to the light source for six minutes to a quarter of an hour. The latest technical advances have minimized heat and ultraviolet emissions, allowing a less time-intensive patient preparation procedure.

In a single visit to the dentist, power teeth whitening treatments can be done in about 30 minutes to one hour. Treatment times and recommendations depend on the condition of a person's teeth at the time of the treatment.

Water Laser Dentistry

Water laser dentistry uses a tool that emits a laser beam that energizes a highly precise spray of air and water that can remove enamel, dentin and decay/caries at incredible speeds.

Water laser dentistry vastly improves patients' comfort in the dentist's chair: in a randomized, double-blind clinical trial conducted at the University of the Pacific, 98.5% of patients treated with water laser dentistry felt no discomfort during the treatment.

Since it neither emits heat nor vibrates in the mouth, water laser dentistry may soothe the pain and anxiety of patients who fear the vibration and ear-piercing whine of traditional drills.

Water laser dentistry uses a tool that does not heat up. Old fashioned drills and lasers can overheat teeth during treatment, inducing discomfort and irreversibly damaging the soft tissue or pulp underneath.

The Pros and Cons of Laser Dentistry

Pros

• Reduces/eliminates the need for sutures (stitches) in soft tissue procedures
• Reduces the need for anesthesia
• Minimizes bleeding
• Minimizes bacterial infections
• Minimizes damage to surrounding tissue
• Decreases the healing time

Cons

• Cannot be used on teeth with fillings already in place.
• Cannot be used in many commonly performed dental procedures. For example, lasers can't be used to fill cavities located between teeth, around old fillings, and large cavities that need to be prepared for a crown. In addition, lasers cannot be used to remove defective crowns or silver fillings, or prepare teeth for bridges.
• Cannot replace a traditional drill in shaping the filling, adjusting the bite, and polishing the filling.
• Does not eliminate the need for anesthesia.
• More expensive

The Future of Laser Dentistry

A growing number of patients are benefiting from laser dentistry, but many still do not know much about the techniques involved.

Laser dental patients tend to be much more at ease during and after treatment. Which is good news for nervous patients since it minimizes the need for dentist drills, injections and other uncomfortable applications.

One of the main advantages of laser dentistry is that it shortens treatment time - something that anxious patients swear is a "huge help."

It can be used for a wide range of purposes, including the removal of dental caries, sterilization of infected root canals and gum treatment.