how do dental laser work?

[tirath]

There are many different types of dental lasers, but all can be classified as one of two kinds: Hard or Soft Tissue Dental Lasers.

Hard Tissue Lasers are used to accurately cut or shave bones and teeth. They may be used to repair some types of fillings or to prepare teeth for bonding.

Soft Tissue Lasers penetrate soft tissues such as the gums. The laser actually cauterizes the affected nerves and blood vessels, promoting faster healing and reducing post-operative pain.

Other lasers are used to view the inside of teeth using Optical Coherence Tomography, or provide energy to help the cells heal. It is believed that lasers will soon replace the dentist’s drill – once the technology is in place to allow the dentist to access the entire tooth without surgery or drilling, those invasive, painful procedures will become obsolete

        

[divyanshee]

Different Types of Dental Lasers Used
Many different types of lasers are used in dentistry. The following lasers can be used in high powers, from a fraction of a watt to 25 watts or even more.

1) The Erbium: YAG laser possesses the potential of replacing the drill. This laser is also used to alter pigmentation in the gingival tissues, providing the patient with pink gums. This laser is commonly used to prepare the patient for a cavity filling.

2) The Carbon Dioxide laser can be used to perform gingivectomy and to remove small tumors. As a laser that does not require local anesthesia, it poses no discomfort for the patient and is practically a bloodless procedure.

3) The Argon laser is used in minor surgery. Its gas laser releases blue-green light through a fiberoptic cable to a handpiece or microscope.

4) The Nd: YAG is used in tissue retraction, endodontics and oral surgery. This laser usually does not require anesthesia. For procedures regarding the gingival pockets, dentist will insert the fiber between the gingival and the tooth to sterilize and stimulate the tissue, causing the gingival to adhere to the neck.

5) The diode laser— introduced in the late 1990s—has been effective for oral surgery and endodontic treatment. This laser also helps treat oral cavity disease and corrects aesthetic flaws. As a compact laser, the diode is used for soft tissue procedures.

6) Low level lasers— less well-known— are smaller and less expensive. Sometimes referred to as “soft lasers” the therapy performed by these lasers is called “low level laser therapy.” Low level lasers improve blood circulation and regenerate tissues.

A number of procedures can be performed  including……

All classes of dental fillings. It’s only limitation is that it can not remove old silver amalgam.

Laser periodontal surgery: no scalpels, sutures, or post operative pain

Smile improvements, i.e. gum sculpting  that lengthens teeth due to oversized gingiva

Gingivectomy, gingivoplasty, crown lengthening, and other gum corrections

Root canals using the innovative PIPS procedure (Photon Induced Photoacoustic Streaming)

Removal of oral lesions such as fibromas or pappilomas, usually with topical anesthesia only

Excisional and incisional biopsies

Frenectomy (“tongue-tie” release, orthodontic or periodontal indications) without anesthesia or sutures
Pediatric procedures. The lack of needles or drills is a huge plus for kids.

        

[Anonymous]

The disadvantages of lasers are that:

Lasers can’t be used on teeth with fillings already in place.
Lasers can’t be used in many commonly performed dental procedures.
For example, lasers can’t be used to fill cavities located between teeth, around old fillings, and large cavities that need to be prepared for a crown.
In addition, lasers cannot be used to remove defective crowns or silver fillings, or prepare teeth for bridges.
Traditional drills may still be needed to shape the filling, adjust the bite, and polish the filling even when a laser is used.
Lasers do not eliminate the need for anesthesia.
Laser treatment tends to be more expensive since the cost of the laser is much higher than a dental drill. Lasers can cost between $39,000 and $45,000 compared to about $600 for a standard drill.

        

[Author]

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