Laser dentistry uses emerging technologies in the treatment and practice of your dental health. Lasers may help a dentist improve his or her precision while minimizing pain and the time it sometimes takes for a patient to recover from a dental procedure.
Laser dentistry is still a new field and not yet a part of the mainstream. The US Food and Drug Administration has recently approved the first laser treatment device in the country. Over time, laser dentistry has the potential to become more and more mainstream and available to dental patients.
Benefits of Laser Dentistry
Because laser dentistry affects treated areas differently than standard dental tools and materials, some benefits are seen with lasers and include some of the following:
- Laser procedures on the gums, etc, often do not require suturing following the procedure.
- Some laser procedures are pain free, eliminating the need for anesthesia in some cases.
- Bleeding is reduced because the laser can clot the affected area.
- The heat of the laser reduces bacterial infections in the area being affected.
- Trauma to the affected area is often reduced or more focused than with traditional dental tools, resulting in faster healing time.