You may have heard of laser dentistry in conjunction with gum disease and receding gums, but did you know that it actually has many other purposes? Laser dentistry has actually been used since the late 80s, and since then it has developed by leaps and bounds. Essentially, it simply refers to the use of lasers in dental procedures. Here are a few times when laser dentistry should be used.

Detecting and Treating Cavities

Dental lasers don’t just offer treatment; they also offer the ability to detect problems that dentists can’t always see with other methods. The dental laser can be passed over throughout your mouth, giving it the opportunity to detect any pockets of infection or bacteria and debris. Once identified, the dentist can use the tool to remove the offending matter and repair the cavity. If you allow your dentist to do this as a part of your annual checkup, they may be able to detect cavities much sooner.

Removing soft tissue from the mouth

Lasers are often used in dentistry to remove soft tissue from the mouth. This is because it offers decreased levels of bleeding and bacteria and improved outcomes without infection. The laser even kills bacteria still in the area so that it doesn’t cause any more damage, while the most severely damaged tissue is removed.

Medical laser dentistry

There are some medical uses for dental lasers as well, and some dentists are trained in their use for these medical conditions. These conditions may include:

• Removing benign tumors in the mouth
• Treating sleep apnea caused by airway obstruction
• Nerve regeneration
• Relief of chronic joint pain 

Dental lasers can also be used to improve the outcomes of other dental treatments when the two modalities are combined into one procedure.

If you are interested in how dental lasers might be able to help you, contact us today for more information.