Laser Therapy Treatment
Laser Therapy Use at the Dentist
At Higginbotham Family Dental, we are committed to providing a superior level of dental care for you, your family, and your friends through the latest technology. You’re most likely aware that laser treatment has revolutionized several industries, but did you know laser therapy expanded into dentistry? The innovative Gemini 810 + 980 diode laser results in faster, smoother, and more efficient procedures for our patients. The following is a list of FDA-cleared indications for use of diode soft tissue lasers at our dental offices:
- Periodontal Disease (also known as Gum Disease)
- Gingivitis (inflamed or puffy gums)
- Fever Blisters
- Ulcers
- Sensitivity to cold and sweets
- Pain management
- Increase of healing time after extractions
- Stimulates faster healing after dental implant procedures
Using for Periodontal or Gum Disease
If you’re not familiar with periodontal or gum disease, it is a bacterial infection in the pockets and gums that surround and support the teeth. If caught in the early stage, called gingivitis, it can be reversed with a diligent oral care routine. However, anything beyond the stage of gingivitis requires professional treatment. It is used in conjunction with traditional treatment such as scaling and root planning. They are now safely being used to decontaminate infected gum tissue around the tooth’s root while avoiding the healthy tissue prior to a dental cleaning. From there, they will remove the built-up tartar and plaque above and below the gum line. Next, using a different tool, they will smooth out any rough spots on your tooth above and below the gum line to lower the chance of future infections or bacteria.
Benefits of Laser Gum Disease Treatment
- Lasers can accurately target diseased areas
- It is less invasive meaning there is less bleeding, swelling, and pain
- The healing and recovery times are shorter
- While using laser therapy, it is easier to preserve the healthy tissue
- Reduces the bacteria count
- It is painless
- Using a laser prior to your cleaning allows us to remove the bacteria and reduce the bacterial flow into your bloodstream
- Prevents cross-contamination
Using to Treat Lesions
A Hygienist can also use a laser to treat lesions in the mouth such as ulcers, fever blisters, and canker sores. Utilizing this therapy to treat lesions will not only eliminate the pain, but will also speed up the healing process.
How laser therapy treats lesions:
- Kills viral particles
- Inactivates the lesion
- Begins the healing and dormant process
- Cauterizes the nerve endings to reduce pain
- You can expect the lesion to shrink throughout the day and crust over the next day
Treat with Dental Implants and Extractions
Dental implants are a great solution for missing teeth and your dentist may choose to utilize laser therapy to stimulate healing during an implant procedure. Diode lasers can be used during a tooth extraction process to reduce post-op pain and swelling, lessen healing time, and reduce the need for opioids and pain medication.
Using to Treat Sensitivity
Tooth sensitivity is a common condition that causes discomfort or severe pain. Laser therapy can help treat sensitivity to cold or sweetness by using the laser to suppress the nerve fibers by sealing the tubules. It may completely eliminate sensitivity to cold or sweetness immediately resulting in leaving the office pain-free. If you would like to do more research on this service, you can read more about the benefits of laser therapy on several blogs.