Lasers are popularizing in the dental field because they reduce dental anxiety in many patients.
Dental anxiety is when an individual is too scared of anything related to the dental atmosphere – the dental professional, the procedures, the dental office, and cannot keep calm during the appointment.
Sometimes, the fear is so big that they need laser dentistry. It consists of sedating the patient so they can relax before and during the dental procedure.
Now, you may be thinking – How does laser dentistry help anxious patients? Keep reading because our laser dentist in Grande Prairie will tell you all about it.
What is Laser Dentistry?
Dental laser therapy in Grande Prairie consists of using a beam of light to remove soft or hard tissues in the mouth. You should know that the American Dental Association (ADA) hasn’t approved any dental lasers yet as a replacement for the traditional methods but acknowledge that they are promising in the industry.
The FDA (Foods and Drugs Administration) has approved the use of many laser systems in dentistry, so it is safe to say that if a trained dentist near you uses them to perform dental procedures, the results will be successful.
Laser Dentistry in Anxious Patients
Heading back to dental anxiety, dental laser therapy near you is excellent for patients who suffer from it because it doesn’t produce odd sounds, such as dental drills. Your doctor can perform many dental procedures with lasers, avoiding using noisy instruments,
Indications of Laser Dentistry
Your doctor may perform the following dental procedures with laser dentistry:
- Detecting tooth decay – Your dental professional will use a beam of light to detect the exact location of tooth decay, its shape, and size.
- Removing tooth decay – Lasers can remove decayed tissue and prepare the tooth Surface for a dental filling,
- Biopsies – Your doctor can remove lesions and tissues for a biopsy.
- Periodontal disease – If you have an excess of gum tissue, your doctor can remove it with a soft-tissue laser. They can also remove tartar buildup from the tooth and roots.
- Teeth whitening – If you want to bleach your teeth, your dental professional will apply a bleaching solution (carbamide or peroxide hydrogen) on their front part. Lasers activate this product, speeding the process and delivering excellent results.
The Benefits of Laser Dentistry
Using a laser in dental procedures comes with many benefits, such as:
- They reduce the amount of local anesthetic. Needed
- They reduce dental anxiety if the procedure can be performed with laser only (and not any dental drills).
- They sterilize the tissue while they cut it, which also reduces the risk of infection.
- They may eliminate the need for sutures after dental surgery since they seal the surgical area.
- They are more conservative, so your doctor will preserve more dental structure.
- They reduce the time of a dental appointment.
If you made it this far, now you know about all the benefits; nevertheless, laser dentistry has some drawbacks:
- If you already have a filling, your dentist cannot repair it with a laser.
- Your dentist cannot use laser dentistry to prepare a tooth for a dental crown.
- They may reduce the amount of anesthetic, but it doesn’t eliminate its need.
- They are very expensive. If your budget is limited, we suggest opting for the standard methods. Laser dentistry may cost thousands of dollars for the placing of a dental filling.
If you have any other questions regarding laser dentistry or another dental topic, you may contact our dental offices. We have a team of experts who look forward to helping you improve your smile.
Address: 10014 102 Ave Unit 201, Grande Prairie, AB T8V 0Z7, Canada