Laser Dentistry
Laser Cavity Detection.
For years dentists have been using X-rays, the feel of a tooth, and its appearance to determine whether a cavity was present. While this method is excellent at detecting moderate to large areas of decay, it is extremely difficult to detect small areas of decay caught in the grooves of teeth. This often leads to later detection, which results in larger fillings that are more prone to problems as the restoration ages.
By shining a low powered laser into the grooves of natural teeth, we can detect changes in fluorescence (light reflection) of the laser beam. A healthy tooth will have little or no fluorescence, while a cavity will produce increased fluorescence proportional to the size of the damage.
This allows us to detect decay in its earliest stages, remove less tooth structure when restoring the tooth, lengthen the expected life span of the restoration, and is a completely painless process. Laser cavity detection will be performed for you at no charge at your next cleaning.
Soft Tissue Lasers
Procedures that used to require scalpels, stitches, and produce significant post operative bleeding and soreness can now be performed with little or no anesthetic, no scalpel, no stitches, and minimal to no bleeding and soreness. Lasers allow us remove tissue by essentially vaporizing it instead of physically cutting it.
Connective tissue attachments that create a space between front teeth can be easily and comfortably removed, often allowing the space to close without orthodontics. An excessively gummy smile that shows short, square looking teeth can be beautifully transformed to show longer, fuller teeth by simply removing the excess gum tissue. Excess tissue that has grown up and over back teeth and causes pain when biting can be eliminated. When decay extends below the gum-line, blood and saliva can contaminate the bond between the tooth and the restoration. A laser can create a clean dry field that will ensure a better bond and extend the life of the restoration. Lasers can also be used to treat gum disease without the need for surgery.
Best of all, because the laser seals the blood vessels and nerve endings, there is little-to-no bleeding or soreness in these areas.