Water laser dentistry

Laser dentistry – technology at it’s best, increasing comfort and decreasing time in the chair – the two things patients like most!

We can be set at different settings to perform a number of functions:

Fillings: Dental lasers may eliminate the need for a local anesthetic/freezing and may even eliminate the need for the traditional dental drill. The laser pulse also has the ablility to sterilize the surface of the tooth killing all the bacteria in the cavity. This is why they are ideal for young children who don’t understand the reason their face feels funny after anesthetic and you don’t have to worry about them biting their lip and causing trauma while still ‘frozen’. Lasers are best suited for smaller fillings in teeth that have not previously been restored.

Gum Surgery: At a different setting, dental lasers can be used to reshape gum tissue and bone to expose healthier tissue. Crown lengthening is a common use where we remove some gum tissue so that more of the tooth shows and the restoration has something to hold on to.   Dental lasers can also be used for the removal of benign tumors from the mouth and is usually painless and suture free.

Tongue tied and Frenum pulls: Often with young children there are small muscle attachments that develop and impede speech. Sometimes it’s because they are unable to lift the tongue due to the muscle attachment underneath, or the muscle that extends from the lip to the middle of the front teeth comes down between the teeth preventing proper lip movement, sometimes creating spaces between the teeth, and often creating a gummy smile. This is often the problem with some infants who have trouble feeding/nursing and it is procedure that can be done in infancy. This problem is easily corrected with the laser.

Sensitivity: Dental lasers may be used to seal tubules (located on the root of the tooth) that are responsible for hot and cold tooth sensitivity.