Application Of Laser Dentistry In Hard And Soft Tissue Dental Procedures

For those individuals who see themselves as overly anxious about going to the dentist, you might consider Long Island laser dentistry. This is especially where a patient’s comfort and safety are concerned. We have incorporated laser dentistry as part of the dental services and treatments that we perform here at Stoney Brook Family Dentistry of Long Island. So you can be assured of experiencing less pain and discomfort in the process along with a quicker recovery period after the procedure is completed.

The primary benefits of laser dentistry include spending less time in the dentist’s chair and little of no use of anesthesia. Plus, laser dental procedures allow our dentists to treat a specific area of focus while no damage is incurred by the surrounding tissues. Consequently, there are certain applications of laser dentistry you should be aware of. These applications have enabled our dentists to perform a broader range of procedures. At the same time, we have incorporated tis highly precise technology into common and uncommon procedures.

Certain laser dental applications focus on the teeth and the different dental procedures that are used to correct and treat specific tooth-associated problems. These are referred to as hard tissue applications and includes procedures such as:

• Cavity detection – soft tissue dental lasers operate at a lower intensity and are oftentimes used in early cavity detection. Basically, the laser provides our dentists with a “reading” of certain by-products that tooth decay typically produces.
• Fillings and preparation – in many instances, the need for local anesthesia and the use of the traditional dental drill can be eliminated with a hard tissue dental laser. The laser is highly effective for killing any bacteria within the cavity thereby resulting in long-term restorations of the teeth.
• Sensitive teeth treatments – sensitivity to heat and cold results from open tubules found on the tooth’s root. Hard tissue lasers can treat this issue by sealing those tubules to decrease or eliminate those sensitivities.

Conversely, there are certain applications that focuses on the soft tissues and include certain procedures that effectively treat the gums and other soft tissue areas including:

• Crown lengthening – hard tissue lasers can be used to reshape bone so that the healthier tooth structure is exposed while soft tissue lasers can be used in order to reshape gum tissue. This procedure is commonly referred to as crown lengthening and provides our patients with a much stronger foundation for any dental restorations that are needed.
• Epulis (folding soft tissues) – with the use of a soft tissue laser, the soft tissue folds resulting from improperly fitting dentures can be painlessly removed without the needs for sutures to complete the procedure.
• Frenula (muscle attachment) – when babies are unable to breast feed, or a child appears to be “tongue-tied”, dentists will perform a laser frenectomy to correct these issues. It may also be an appropriate procedure for correcting speech impediments.
• “Gummy” smiles – by reshaping the gum tissue, the laser can expose more of the healthier tooth structure and improve the appearance of your smile.

If you feel that laser dentistry could correct any of the above hard or soft tissue problems that you may be experiencing, we encourage you to contact Stoney Brook Family Dentistry here in Long Island. We will be happy to answer your questions and provide more information.