A dental laser makes comfortable dental treatment possible. Our office uses a soft tissue laser to aid in certain procedures. Laser dentistry in our Knoxville, TN office is essential for painless treatment. This modern technology has many practical uses, including gingivectomy, treatment of cold sores, and desensitizing teeth. Lasers also aid in implant dentistry treatments and some periodontal procedures.
Two types of lasers in dentistry are hard and soft tissue lasers. Hard tissue lasers treat the tooth enamel, while soft tissue lasers treat the gums and other softer tissues of the mouth.
Laser Dentistry in Knoxville, TN, for Pain-free Procedures
Lasers offer many benefits in dentistry. However, the most notable benefit of the dental laser is that it allows for a more comfortable surgery. In traditional surgeries, a scalpel removes tissue. Instead, the dental laser uses a pinpoint, high-frequency laser beam that cuts through soft tissue without contact.
Dental lasers deliver light at different wavelengths to treat hard or soft tissue, such as teeth and gums. Our office uses lasers as valuable dental tools for comfortable gum treatment. We can also use lasers for LANAP®, a series of gum treatments that treat infection and help regenerate gum tissue.
The laser beam is also sterile, which reduces a patient’s risk of infection. In addition, the dental laser minimizes the amount of swelling and bleeding during the procedure to accelerate the healing process. The laser will encourage blood to clot, so you do not have to worry about using too much gauze after treatment.
Laser dentistry also offers a quick, safe, and affordable treatment for sensitive teeth. Many patients experience tooth sensitivity, which can cause severe pain and irritation. The dental laser effectively desensitizes teeth without the use of anesthetic. Patients often experience 80% to 90% relief from tooth sensitivity.
Another essential benefit, especially for patients sensitive to noise, is that lasers are quiet. Dental drills are loud and often startling for patients to hear during treatment. Lasers offer quiet and non-invasive care.
Laser Dentistry Treatments
Dental lasers have many uses, from treating gum problems to preparing patients for implant treatment:
- Gingivectomy: This treatment removes diseased gum tissue. Instead of surgical tools, we can use a comfortable laser to gently remove the tissue. The laser precisely targets infected tissue and does not affect surrounding healthy tissue.
- Gingivoplasty: We can use a laser to provide cosmetic gum treatment. If you have a gummy smile, we recommend contouring the soft tissue with the laser. The laser will gently remove the excess gum tissue.
- Implant Preparation: Before implant treatment, a laser can prepare the gum tissue in the areas where we will place dental implants.
Depending on the type of treatment and your gum problems, the gum tissue will take time to heal after your laser treatment. If you have healthy but excess gum tissue, your gums will heal faster than if you have gum disease. It can take a couple days to weeks for the gums to heal.
Some gum inflammation is common, especially if you have infected gum tissue treated with a laser. However, you will have minimal bleeding after laser treatment. The laser will seal the tissue without the need for sutures.
As with other dental treatments, you will need time to heal. Still, you have less downtime with laser treatment than with regular surgery.
How to Keep Your Teeth And Gums Healthy
Most people care for their teeth and gums, and hope for a beautiful white smile. But did you know that when you brush, floss, and visit Dr. Cain, you also do your heart a favor?
Gum disease is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Inflammation caused by gum disease may be responsible for heart disease. The bacteria that occurs when gums are infected is also found in the heart and is harmful to the rest of your body.
If the gum layer is disrupted, bacteria from the mouth travel into the bloodstream and move throughout the body. The bacteria found in gum disease can contribute to strokes and heart problems.
Gum Disease Study
According to a recent study in the American Journal of Preventative Medicine, treating gum disease can improve health among people with certain conditions.
Analyzing health and dental records from 339,000 people with gum disease and these problems had lower medical costs:
- Type 2 diabetes
- Cardiovascular disease
- Cerebrovascular disease (stroke)
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Pregnancy
These patients also had fewer hospitalizations within four years of treatment of gum disease than those that weren’t treated.
Specifically, those with cardiovascular disease who also had gum disease treated had medical costs 20-40% lower than those who did not have their gum disease treated.
Though more research is needed to declare a cause-and-effect relationship between gum health and heart disease, experts agree there is a link. At the very minimum, gum health can indicate heart problems. Those with poor oral health have more heart attacks than those with better hygiene and gum health.
Symptoms of gum disease include:
- Bleeding gums
- Constant bad breath
- Red, swollen, tender gums
- Loose teeth
- Change in bite
- Gum and teeth separation
Though it’s not always intuitive, the body is all connected. When you treat one aspect or condition, it can only improve other parts of the body.
See a dentist regularly to keep your teeth and gums healthy and to spot any potential heart problems. In addition, if you are pregnant, have heart problems, or have diabetes and notice signs of gum disease, contact our office. Early dental care can prevent gum problems from worsening over time.
We may also recommend deep gum cleanings in our office to prevent gum problems. Thorough brushing and flossing can also prevent problems like gum disease at home.
Call Our Office
Do you need dental care but don’t want loud or painful treatment? Our office offers comfortable soft tissue laser treatment.
In addition, if you have symptoms of gum disease or it’s been more than six months since your last dental checkup, call our Knoxville, TN, dentist’s office today to schedule a cleaning. You may also call our office today at (865) 276-7173.
If you have any questions about laser treatment, let us know at your next visit. We will be happy to help.
