What Are Dental Lasers?
What Are Dental Lasers?
Here at IsmileKids pediatric dentistry in Lower Manhattan, we’ve found that the use of dental lasers makes visits easier for children, as they are more comfortable, less fearful and enjoy a faster dental treatment.
How Dental Lasers Work
Dental lasers use light energy and water to treat teeth without the pressure, heat and vibration that patients experience with a regular dental drill. It enables us to use less anesthetic—sometimes none at all. Lastly, it’s faster than using a drill and avoids the risk of tiny fractures and cracks on the teeth that can occur with a high-powered drill.
Laser dentistry became commercially available for dental use in 1989.
There Are Two Types of Dental Lasers
There are two types of dental lasers: soft tissue lasers and hard tissue lasers.
Soft Tissue Laser
A soft tissue laser is used for gum contouring (most often for a “gummy smile”) and removing soft tissue pathologies, such as bumps or lumps, instead of a scalpel. This laser also enables us to employ more conservative, nonsurgical treatments of periodontal disease that, though rare in children, is occasionally seen in our practice. Our parents’ commitment to twice daily brushing & flossing of their children’s teeth helps keep periodontal (gum) disease uncommon, thankfully!
Hard Tissue Laser
A hard tissue laser is often used in place of a drill for cavities and tooth sensitivity. The need for a local anesthetic and traditional dental drills are usually unneeded with the hard laser, which kills bacteria in the cavity. For teeth that are sensitive to hot and cold foods and drinks, the dental laser can seal the tubules on the tooth root that creates the painful sensations those patients experience.
The Bottom Line
Here in our Lower Manhattan pediatric dental practice, we remain on the cutting edge of dental tools, including the user of lasers. We enjoy providing our patients with the best of dental technology. Call us at 212-267-0029.