The Basics of Laser Dentistry

Albert Einstein came up with the laser invention in 1917 but it was not actually used for dentistry until 1960. However, it was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in the early part of the 1990s to be used on the gum area. In 1996, the laser was approved to be used on teeth. The final approval came a year later when the Food and Drug Administration approved the laser to be used for the treatment of tooth decay. Since then, there have been many improvements when it comes to minimizing infections and bleeding during the laser procedure. Also, advancements have lessened the use of stitches as well as anesthesia for a procedure.

Laser dentistry is a way of treating tooth and gum issues with minimal pain as compared to other forms of dental treatments. There are several laser treatments that are used in the area of dental health. Teeth whitening has become extremely popular in recent years. With the help of laser, yellowish teeth instantly become pearly whites. Any and all stains and discolorations are removed. This painless procedure takes less than an hour.

Laser dentistry is also helpful in detecting cavities. A device gives off a sound when it recognizes the cavity, letting the dentist know where the cavity is so it can be treated. It can detect even the smallest of cavities that x-rays will not detect. A few years ago, if you needed a filling done, it was done with an instrument that was noisy and made a grinding sound. Now with the use of new technology, fillings are quiet and pain free.

There are many benefits to this style of laser dentistry. The main reason people hate to go to the dentist is because it was usually always painful. Not to mention the instruments were noisy. But now, many dentists are offering their patients the newest innovation in oral health technology. With these devices, a dentist can now bleach and remove teeth painlessly. Other benefits of advanced technology include shorter recovery times from a procedure and most procedures require no anesthesia.

Laser procedures used a light beam that emits from the device. When this occurs, clotting of the blood occurs almost right away which reduces any bleeding. This technology also eliminates the need for stitches because there is no actual cutting of the gums. While advanced procedures may take a chunk out of your wallet initially, it will actually save you money in the long run. For example when you go to your dentist to have your teeth white and with out the laser procedure, it requires several visits to your dentist as well as several hours in the dental chair to get those pearly whites.

The future of laser dentistry only looks to get better in the years to come. It is expected that new innovations will make procedures even quicker than they are now and more effective. More and more dental offices will start using laser procedures as technology gets better and the costs are lower.