By: Dr. Elizabeth Eggert
Just like all technology, dentistry has changed over the years. Laser dentistry, introduced in 1994, is an exciting industry advancement. While laser dentistry isn’t a substitution for drills and cutting tools in most scenarios, it’s the perfect complement to traditional methods and boasts many benefits!
What is laser dentistry?
A laser is a beam of focused light that emits energy to cut or vaporize matter. There are two common types of lasers used in dentistry: hard-tissue lasers and soft-tissue lasers.
How does laser dentistry work?
Hard-tissue lasers cut through bone and can sometimes cut through teeth. Dr. Elizabeth Eggert and Dr. Jeff Eggert have experimented with these hard-tissue lasers and find they take extra time to prepare a tooth for a filling and can be slow to remove decay. We choose not to use hard-tissue lasers in our practice because we know time is important to our patients.
Soft-tissue lasers have even more practical functions for dentistry! Dr. Elizabeth Eggert and Dr. Jeff Eggert use soft-tissue lasers to reshape gums and vaporize diseased tissue. They also use lasers to lengthen crowns for better access to a tooth’s structure or for cosmetic purposes, such as reducing a “gummy” smile. If you’re dealing with sensitive teeth, Dr. Elizabeth Eggert and Dr. Jeff Eggert may use a soft-tissue laser to seal dentin tubules in your tooth, eliminating that sensitivity. At Eggert Family Dentistry, soft-tissue lasers are also used to perform biopsies, remove benign oral tumors, remove lesions in the mouth, and expose partially erupted molars.
What are the benefits of laser dentistry?
After its introduction in the mid-90s, laser dentistry has been widely adopted by dentists and prized by patients for its many benefits.
Benefits include:
Less pain: Because laser dentistry is minimally invasive, patients generally experience less pain and discomfort after the procedure.
Less bleeding: Laser light energy has a natural clotting effect, reducing bleeding and swelling and accelerating soft-tissue healing. In many cases, sutures are not required following a laser dentistry procedure!
Less damage or irritation to surrounding tissues: Because lasers facilitate utmost precision, tissues around surgical areas remain undisturbed.
Less fear: Lasers are silent and minimally invasive, making them a particularly great choice for children who can be intimidated by the noise and pressure of a drill.
Enhanced effects from teeth whitening procedures: When you see Dr. Elizabeth Eggert or Dr. Jeff Eggert for professional teeth whitening, they may a laser to speed up the whitening process.
If you would like to learn more about our laser dentistry services or other new and exciting dental technology here at Eggert Family Dentistry, give us a call at 651.482.8412. We would love to tell you about how we use laser technology to benefit our patients!