by Priya Kanwar

Created on: February 09, 2009   Last Updated: February 22, 2009

Use of Laser in Dental treatment

Dentistry has seen a number of technological advancements in the past decade or so, and one of them is the laser therapy. In the early 1960's lasers were being used in the treatment of teeth and gum diseases. And since then laser technology has been accepted and used globally. Laser dental treatments ensure low-power, meaning the device is gentle on the mouth.

Using laser in dentistry doesn't require additional training. Most dentists find it an affordable alternative for patients who are afraid of the drill. The treatment with laser involves generating a beam of light into the oral cavity. This light enables the dentist to eliminate the infected areas with a lot more accuracy. In most cases, it has been found that the patient doesn't require use of an anesthetic agent thereby shortening the dental visit.

The time span of a laser treatment can vary depending upon the usage. It could last from a few moments to a few minutes. Laser is also very beneficial in surgical treatments offering several significant improvements. The need for anesthesia is reduced, also bleeding and swelling is reduced markedly. The postoperative discomfort is decreased greatly.

A laser doesn't make any noise and also doesn't require any physical contact with your tooth. One has to use eye glasses to shield the eyes from the laser.

Laser has an enhancing effect on bleaching agents, thereby speeding up the process. Natural looking fillings for cavities can be cured in minutes. Laser can be tuned to affect different parts of the mouth, as the various tissues react to different wavelengths of light. By tuning the laser for a specific task the dentist is able to target a problem without causing other side effects. The benefits of laser treatment are numerous and exciting.

Lasers are being used by dentists:

1. Tooth Decay - Lasers are now being used to prepare the cavity of the tooth painlessly and effectively in a more conservative manner to allow a filling to be placed in the cavity. Lasers are also used to "cure" or harden a filling.

2. Gum Disease - During root canal procedures a laser is used to reshape the gums and remove bacteria.

3. Biopsy or Lesion removal - Lasers are being used to remove small pieces of tissues (biopsy) for cancer detection and also for lesion removal.

4. Teeth Whitening Procedures - The lasers help in reducing the chair time of the patient during the teeth whitening procedure by helping to "activate" the peroxide bleaching solution that is applied on the teeth.

5. Surgical procedures - lasers are very helpful during surgical procedures as they cause minimal bleeding.

However, there are many questions that a person would like to ask about lasers, and laser treatment in dentistry. Take a look at the frequently asked questions.

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