Laser Dentistry
Are you feeling anxious about your dental treatments? Do you need a more invasive treatment, like a root canal or gingivectomy, and want to avoid unnecessary downtime or pain? If so, then laser dentistry may be the right solution for you. At Sconzo & Sciascia General, Cosmetic, and Family Dentistry, your Brooklyn, NY, dentists, we offer multiple treatments using the power of laser technology to help our patients enjoy faster recovery times and minimal risk, all while doing all they can to protect their health.
What is Laser Dentistry?
Laser dentistry is a branch of dentistry that treats oral health conditions using lasers instead of traditional dental drills. Lasers send focused light energy into the treatment area to cut or vaporize tissue. Lasers can also create the heat necessary for professional teeth whitening procedures.
Types of Laser Dentistry
The dentists at Sconzo & Sciascia General, Cosmetic, and Family Dentistry have two primary types of lasers available to us. The difference between the two is the wavelength of the light energy, which impacts what type of tissue they can cut effectively.
The first is a soft tissue laser. This type of laser can cut into the gums and other soft tissue while cauterizing the exposed blood vessels at the same time. Patients experience less bleeding and more success from the procedure. Many cosmetic procedures use this type of laser because the results are nearly instantaneous due to the cauterization effect.
Hard tissue lasers are what we use for procedures involving the teeth or bones. These have a wavelength that’s appropriate for cutting this harder tissue, giving precision in removing diseased tissue from the teeth without the need for a dental drill.
Is Laser Dentistry New?
While it does feel like an innovative and modern option, laser dentistry is not new to the world of dentistry. The first laser dentistry procedures became a commercially available option in the late 1980s. Since that time, they have quickly moved from an innovative option to a standard general dentistry option in many practices.
Procedures and Treatments Available with Laser Dentistry
At Sconzo & Sciascia General, Cosmetic, and Family Dentistry, we offer a number of treatments using laser dentistry. Some of the more popular therapies and treatments we offer include:
- Gum disease treatment: To treat gum disease, we need to remove the infected tissue. Lasers can do so with precision and prevent the disease from spreading. This may help protect your natural teeth.
- Gingivectomy: This surgical procedure involves removing excess gum tissue. It can be a cosmetic procedure or a medically necessary one. When gums start to pull away from the teeth, they can create deep pockets that let plaque build up. Gingivectomies remove these pockets and the surrounding tissue to protect the teeth.
- Cavity detection: Our dental team can actually use laser technology to detect cavities before treating them. This testing gives us greater accuracy when you come to us for fillings.
- Hypersensitivity treatment: If you have hypersensitive teeth, we can use lasers to seal small tubules in the root of the tooth, which can eliminate sensitivity to hot and cold temperatures.
- Root canals: Lasers are a great way to clean out the diseased tissue during a root canal. Because they also disinfect the area, they reduce the risk of re-infection.
- Teeth whitening: Teeth whitening using lasers works more quickly than whitening with just the whitening chemicals.
- Hardening fillings: New filling material is tooth-colored and does not contain potentially toxic metals, but it must harden after application. Lasers can help harden the filling material quickly.
What Are Some Benefits of Laser Dentistry in Brookyln, NY?
Laser dentistry offers several benefits over traditional dental procedures, and that is why Sconzo & Sciascia General, Cosmetic, and Family Dentistry offers this treatment option to our patients.
First, many oral health treatments done by laser are faster than traditional procedures, and recovery time can also go more quickly. The speed of treatment means less time in the office and overall downtime for patients, even when facing severe oral health concerns.
Second, laser dentistry is extremely precise. Using laser energy allows your dentist to perform treatment with pinpoint accuracy, which reduces some risks for patients. This accuracy means the treatment can often preserve more of a patient’s healthy tissue.
Third, laser dentistry creates fewer complications for patients. Because of the cauterizing effect of laser treatment, these procedures rarely require sutures and may not require anesthesia. The laser kills bacteria, reducing the risk of infection after treatment. Laser dentistry leads to less blood loss than other types of dental procedures.
Finally, many patients feel less anxiety when they can have laser dentistry procedures instead of procedures using a dental drill. Anxiety about the sound and feel of the drill is a common concern for our patients, and the laser dentistry procedure and experience are far different.
What to Expect with Laser Treatment?
If you decide to move forward with laser dental treatment, the procedure will be similar to traditional dental treatment. However, you will not hear or feel any drilling. Instead, you will visit our office, lie back comfortably, and wait while we use the laser to treat the infected area of your mouth. You should not feel any pain or discomfort during the procedure, and minimal bleeding will occur. You can return to your normal daily activities as soon as we are done. Most patients experience no pain or swelling, though there is a slight risk if your procedure is an extensive one.
Is Laser Dentistry Right for You?
If you need to have oral surgery or a cosmetic procedure, chances are you can benefit from laser dentistry. However, the best way to determine if you’re a good candidate for using this technology is to talk to our dental team. We will walk you through your options and the benefits of laser treatment, and in some procedures, like filling cavities or performing root canals, laser treatment is standard at our practice.
Schedule Laser Dentistry Today!
If you are ready to benefit from laser dentistry in Brooklyn, NY, reach out to the team at Sconzo & Sciascia General, Cosmetic, and Family Dentistry. Our experienced dental team will help you take the best control over your health. Call 718-339-0252 to schedule today.
