Laser technology is one of the most significant advances in modern dentistry. Dental lasers are increasingly used to treat tooth decay, gum disease, perform biopsies or remove oral lesions, harden restorative materials, and activate in-office teeth whitening systems.
At A Better Smile Dentistry in Albuquerque, New Mexico, we offer our patients laser procedures to reduce their dental anxiety, control postoperative bleeding, and swelling, and preserve healthy tooth structure during the removal of decay.
Benefits of Laser Dentistry
Laser dentistry extends several benefits, including:
- The treatments are more comfortable
- The procedures are precise
- Treatments are faster with more effective results.
- The need for anesthesia is minimized
- The recovery time is reduced
- The chances of bacterial infections are reduced
- There is less blood loss than in conventional surgery.
How Are Lasers Used?
Gum Shaping
Receding or excess gum tissues can affect the appearance of your smile and expose your teeth to harmful bacteria. To restore your gum line, diode lasers can be used to remove the surplus tissue or reshape them.
Tooth Preparation
Before laser dentistry, a drill was employed to prepare the affected tooth for a filling application. Dental lasers have now minimized the use of drilling instruments and anesthesia. They also keep the surgical area free of contamination.
Teeth Whitening
Lasers can significantly quicken the tooth whitening process by stimulating the bleaching agents of the whitening solution.
Biopsy
Lasers can be utilized to perform a biopsy on abnormal soft tissue areas. The lasers can deliver precise results.
Gingivectomy
When patients suffer from severe gum disease, they may need to have a portion of their gums removed. This is called a Gingivectomy. The diode laser can cut through the gums and clear the infected area. Sometimes this procedure is used to lengthen or widen a tooth.
Tumor Removal
Lasers can effectively remove the benign tumors that have developed in the soft tissue areas of the oral cavity without causing pain.
How Are Laser Procedures Performed?
There are different kinds of lasers designed to address various conditions. Each laser makes use of a different wavelength of light based on the treatment. The most common dental lasers are diode and carbon dioxide lasers, usually employed to treat soft tissue problems. After a comprehensive examination and X-rays, we will decide on the lasers that best suit your health condition.
Before the procedure, we will protect the eyes with special glasses as the laser beam is extremely bright. Then our dentist, Dr. Bao, will direct the laser beam at the affected area to break down the soft tissues, harden the filling material, or whiten the teeth.
To learn more about our laser dental treatments, visit our office, A Better Smile Dentistry, at 475 Coors Blvd NW, Ste A, in Albuquerque, NM 87121. You can also reach Dentist in Albuquerque NM at (505) 208-0505.
