Laser Dentistry

They used to be the stuff of sci-fi movies but these days you are just as likely to find lasers in the dental office. Lasers have been put to medical use for years, and are now used in state-of-the-art dentistry. They have made new dental treatments possible while also improving on more traditional ones. Lasers don't replace traditional instruments, but they help them work better and make treatment more comfortable.

Laser light can be focused into a tiny point to do very fine precision work. It is so precise in dental surgery that there is reduced tissue swelling and less need for sutures. Lasers are gentle on soft gum tissue and can stop bleeding from even the tiniest blood vessel. The heat from the laser also has a sterilization effect, decreasing the chance of infections. Also, many patients report a pleasant anesthetic effect, as the laser seems to desensitize the area being worked on.

Today, lasers are being put to many tasks in the dental office.

It's expected that someday soon lasers will be adapted for use in every aspect of dentistry.