Berrien Dental: The Benefits of Laser Dentistry

Dental Laser Technology Works!

Since the introduction of lasers into the dental world in the 1960s, there has been a boom in both laser application in dental practices and research. It’s expected that laser technology and application will become essential parts of dental practices in the coming years. Berrien Dental recognized the power and benefits of lasers early on and has been implementing laser treatment into the practice for years.

Lasers are a comprehensive piece of dental technology that transform the way we provide treatment and drastically improves your results. In fact, we are the only dental practice in Berrien County that promotes the use of lasers for dental treatment.

The word laser actually stands for “Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation” and it works exactly how it sounds—a very small beam of light energy is emitted from the laser. The beam of light acts as a dental tool to perform procedures on both hard and soft tissues, like teeth or gums. The dental laser is used for a variety of dental procedures, from filling cavities to snoring cessation treatment. Yes, you read that right. Lasers can be used to fill cavities, thus eliminating the need for a dental drill. It’s possible that lasers will replace drills altogether someday. And to think, as a patient at Berrien Dental you were at the forefront of technology!

Our patients enjoy laser dentistry

Our patients enjoy the benefits of laser dentistry in many ways. As mentioned, lasers can be used in place of drills for cavity fillings and in some cases even eliminate the need for anesthesia during treatment. Another benefit of the laser is extreme precision, which means more of your natural tooth structure can be preserved while removing all of the decay. Many patients find the laser preferable to the drill, particularly if they don’t like the sound or the smell the drill makes.

The laser beam sterilizes the area immediately, which reduces the bacteria around the treatment area, thereby reducing the chance of infection. For surgical procedures, the laser offers more precision, which means less bleeding, less damage to surrounding tissue, and faster healing. Lasers work to promote faster healing because the cells absorb the laser light which helps the cells store more energy in its most readily available form. By prompting cells to make energy in a form they can use quickly, the cells are able to regenerate faster.

Sounds amazing, right? From general dental maintenance to more advanced treatments, laser dentistry continues to be a preferred method of care.

Some of the ways we use our laser at Berrien Dental

  • Cavity filling
  • Gum contouring
  • Root canals
  • Periodontal treatment
  • Tooth whitening
  • Plaque removal
  • Snoring treatment
  • Cold sore treatment

Benefits of laser treatment you can enjoy at Berrien Dental

  • More comfortable treatment
  • Faster treatment
  • No-drill cavity filling
  • Sterilization during treatment
  • Reduced need for local anesthetic (fewer needles)
  • Faster healing time
  • Less bleeding
  • Less trauma to surrounding tissue
  • Preservation of more natural tooth or gum tissue
  • Reduced post-treatment pain and swelling
  • No need for sutures
  • Improved smile with gum contouring
  • Reduced gum recession
  • Healed cold sores
  • Healed tooth sensitivity
  • Faster tooth whitening

KaVo Soft Tissue Laser

We use the KaVo Soft Tissue Laser for procedures involving your gums, lips, and soft palate. Laser treatments on soft tissue there can typically be done pain-free since laser treatments don’t require any incision or sutures.

The disinfecting properties of the laser are another huge benefit of laser procedures. After news stories broke about people dying after dental treatment because of a bacterial infection, many were rightly concerned about their own treatments. We take infection seriously at Berrien Dental, which is why we have the highest sterilization procedures.

We use the dental laser for many procedures. This helps to keep the patient’s mind at ease since the laser actually disinfects the treatment location. It also removes any diseased or infected tissue at the same time. This is something a traditional drill or scalpel can’t do. And you get the added benefit of faster recovery time.

The KaVo Soft Tissue Laser is also used to remove excess gum tissue for patients with a “gummy smile.” This procedure is called gum contouring. When a laser is used for gum surgery that removes excess tissue over the tooth surface, patients will have less swelling and bleeding after the procedure and no need for sutures. It’s a virtually pain-free process.

Even if snoring isn’t a problem for you or your partner now, it may be in the future because the soft palate stretches as you age. Common snoring treatments require the use of an oral appliance, but with the use of the soft tissue laser, you may not need this. The laser works by gently reshaping the soft palate, which opens the airway and allows you to breath better. This procedure doesn’t require any anesthesia, and you can experience improvement after the first treatment. This is a great option for our patients who need to fix their snoring problem but don’t want to wear an oral appliance.

Fotona Lightwalker Laser

We use the Fotona Lightwalker Laser for a variety of procedures. It works well for hard tissue treatments like cavity filling, root canals, and excessive plaque removal. When plaque isn’t removed regularly by proper brushing and flossing, it hardens and turns into calculus. Calculus can’t be removed by a toothbrush and must be done by your dentist. The traditional method of removal involved scraping away the calculus with a dental hand tool and, in some cases, a drill. The Lightwalker is our preferred laser tool for the effective removal of calculus. It’s much faster, more effective, and more comfortable for our patients. It also doesn’t produce the unpleasant scraping sensation.

We also use the Lightwalker for activating certain tooth-whitening gels. This makes your treatment more effective and your smile more radiant.

It’s exciting to see how laser dentistry can improve treatments and patient outcomes. Berrien Dental has always been at the forefront of technology, and we believe in providing the highest level of care to our patients. Laser dentistry allows us to do that. If you have any questions about laser dentistry for an upcoming appointment or would like to schedule a consultation to discuss your options, contact us today!

 

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