Bogota Dental Center
85 East Main Street
Bogota, NJ 07603
888-505-1145

Dental Laser Surgery

Dentists use a variety of techniques to treat patients. Dental laser surgery is a popular treatment option general and cosmetic dentists use. Laser surgery is effective in a number of oral health applications. Most oral health issues can be treated with laser surgery. Lasers can treat patients more quickly and reduce recovery time.

What Can Lasers Treat?

Your dentist may suggest dental laser surgery as a treatment option for oral health issues related to tooth decay, gum disease, lesion removal and teeth whitening. Lasers are very powerful at removing plaque, stains and calculus. Lasers can also treat tooth decay and rot. Your dentist can use a laser to burn decay out of a tooth. The laser cleans and prepares the surrounding enamel to receive the filling. Lasers harden the filling. Lasers are also used to reshape the gum line and remove bacteria or lesions found on gum tissue. One of the most popular uses of dental lasers is teeth whitening. Teeth whitening treatment is not classified as a dental laser surgery. Teeth whitening with lasers is a cosmetic dental treatment. Lasers quickly whiten teeth with the help of a peroxide bleaching solution. The solution is activated by the laser and break down stains on the teeth.

Benefits

There are many potential benefits to dental laser surgery. One of the biggest benefits is how quickly patients recover after treatment. Lasers used on soft tissue decrease morbidity after oral surgery and reduce the need for anesthetics. Laser oral treatment performed on the soft tissues of the mouth heal quickly. Dental laser surgery causes less pain during treatment for gingivectomies. Laser treatment automatically cauterizes the tissue and reduces bleeding.

History

Dentists have practiced dental laser surgery since the early 1990s. Early oral lasers were only approved for use on teeth and bones. The Food and Drug Administration first approved lasers as treatment options for hard tissue. Modern technology and advancements in laser dentistry have expanded the use of oral lasers. Dental laser surgery is now used to treat dental problems including gum disease and tooth decay. The American Dental Association (ADA) is optimistic about the role of laser technology used in the field of dentistry.

Dental laser surgery uses diode lasers, carbon dioxide lasers and yttrium aluminum garnet lasers. Each type of laser is used to treat a different oral health condition. Only a few dentists can perform dental laser surgery. Oral lasers are very expensive. Many dentists who are qualified to treat patients using oral lasers refer patients to facilities where the lasers are available. Dental lasers cost between $8,000- $50,000. The expense of purchasing and maintaining oral lasers makes treatment options limited. Dentists who perform dental laser surgery may only offer a few treatment options, depending on the lasers they own.