Healthy teeth and gums and a dazzling smile are attributes we all aspire to have. After all, a great smile makes a great impression. Now getting that perfect smile and maintaining good oral health is a whole other thing altogether and a whole lot harder.
Despite our best efforts at maintaining vigilant at-home oral care and visiting our dentist for regular checkups and professional cleanings, things like dull teeth and gum disease can happen.
No problem. That’s what dentists are there for, to help treat issues as they arise and help you maintain your oral health, right? Tell that to the estimated 100 million Americans who don't see a dentist in any given year.
For some, the mere thought of going to the dentist triggers fear. Perceived pain or discomfort or even the sights, sounds, and smells of a dental office can keep some folks away. If only the whole process could be easier and more comfortable. Well, it can. Think laser dentistry. In this blog, our own Dr. Emmanuel Aguilar at American Dental Clinic offers his thoughts on three reasons why you should try laser dentistry.
Let’s start off with a quick refresher on what a laser is and how it works in the context of dentistry. The word “laser” has been so completely absorbed in our everyday life that you may not know the word is actually an acronym that stands for light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation.
When you think of lasers in medicine you may simply connect them with surgeries as a cutting tool. Lasers used in dentistry can also be used for this purpose. But they are so much more than a surgical tool. Lasers in dentistry aren’t new either. For decades, specially trained dentists have been using lasers for a number of procedures. In the beginning, low-powered lasers were used to treat soft tissue and gums. But in 1997 the FDA approved lasers for the treatment of tooth decay. Today the FDA has approved more than 20 uses of lasers in dentistry.
The key to the beauty of using lasers in dentistry is found in the characteristics of the technology. Think of the phrase laser-focused. When performing a dental procedure using lasers he uses a hand-held laser device, which emits focused light energy. This energy can be precisely targeted for use on both soft and hard tissue. When the light comes in contact with the tissue it can re-shape it or remove it altogether.
But precision isn’t the only characteristic of lasers that benefit its use in dentistry. In the case of treating gum disease, your dentist can do everything that he needs to do with a dental laser but with several big pluses. He’ll be able to complete the required procedures but can do so while exposing patients to fewer toxins. There’s a reason for this. Dental lasers as opposed to traditional scaling and root planing tools cut away diseased gums with less bleeding and reduce a patient’s risk of developing an infection.
Similarly less bleeding results in less inflammation and discomfort and quicker healing times. Some procedures may not even require sutures. And as if that weren’t enough the fact that when your dentist uses lasers to perform procedures he can greatly narrow the treatment area and not disturb or damage surrounding tissue.
At American Dental Clinic we use laser dentistry to treat gum disease and do procedures such as crown lengthening and soft tissue fold removal for denture fittings. We even use lasers to treat stubborn cold sores and for teeth whitening.
To find out if you can benefit from laser dentistry, make an appointment for a consultation. Use our online booking tool or call American Dental Clinic in San Diego today at 858-216-4662.
