Lasers are a big part of our practice, and have been for the last fourteen years. There is a very good reason for this. Dental lasers are very versatile and are controllable with pinpoint accuracy. They are, in fact, beneficial and benevolent tools in the fight against tooth decay and gum disease, and are indispensable in oral surgical procedures that previously required cutting or more traumatic procedures.What makes the Dental Laser such a valuable tool? In short, it is because it protects and preserves valuable tooth tissue, disinfects as it removes decay, cauterizes as it cuts in surgical procedures, and bonds biocompatible tooth restoration materials to the tooth, helping to restore it as close to its original condition as possible, eliminating the use of mercury amalgam and other mixed-metal materials.
In Hygiene, the laser replaces cutting and scraping around the teeth and gums, and all the associated risks of infection from that type of cleaning, with a gentler, painless cleaning procedure that removes bacteria and toxic agents, disinfecting the area better than any other procedure available.
In removing decay, the laser is much better and more efficient than drilling. The traditional dental drill -- even the more modern “high-speed” drills -- produce excessive amounts of heat and friction that can damage the crystalline structures of the tooth, weakening it and making it susceptible to fracturing. In heavily decayed teeth, the drill can actually push bacteria and decay deeper into the pulp/nerve of the tooth, and can traumatize the pulp through heat, friction and vibration causing inflammation, internal swelling and pain.
The Dental Laser does none of that. It literally burns out all of the decay and bacteria in a cavity, disinfecting it and damaging far less of the viable tooth tissue than the drill does. The laser does not produce friction or facture patterns in the tooth, either, and many times, if it is a minor cavity not close to the nerve, an injectable anesthetic is not needed -- in other words, shots may not be necessary.
Another advantage of the Dental Laser is that its appropriate use can even help prevent root canals, removing the damaged and decayed parts of tooth pulp/nerve while leaving the healthy, viable pulp in place, so that it can heal and remain viable in the tooth.
lasers for dental health
Dental Lasers are used to protect, preserve and restore the mouth and teeth to life and health, which may then strengthen the Oral Immune System, which in turn may serve to protect and preserve the health of the entire body. This is the reason we continue not to only use them, but also research and develop new types of lasers, and newer and better ways to utilize them.
lasers for dental health
We invite you to investigate and learn more about Dental Lasers, the different types we use and their applications, and why they can do so much to improve the state of the art in Dentistry.
Dr. Richard T. Hansen, Founder and Director of our Center, researched and developed many of the lasers and techniques used at our Center, and was one of five dentists in the entire country who reviewed and tested various dental lasers for FDA approval in the 1990’s. He is considered an international expert in the field of Laser Dentistry, and has traveled the world lecturing and demonstrating these tools and methods to other dentists and health professionals.
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