Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Use of Laser Technology in Dentistry


I am really excited about the new technology we have incorporated into our office recently.  The one piece of technology that I would like to highlight is a soft tissue laser.  Many of you are familiar with lasers in other applications to medicine such as varicose vein treatment, wart removal, and corrective eye surgery.  There are several exciting applications of lasers in dentistry. 

First, the laser can decontaminate our gum pockets.  There are millions of bacteria in our mouths.  If we have gingivitis, that is bleeding gums, swelling and inflammation of the gums, the bacteria can cause a bacteremia.  Bacteremia is where the bacteria from our mouth can travel in our bloodstream and get into the rest of our body.  This bacteria can cause plaques in arteries which can lead to heart disease.  There is also a link between gum disease and diabetes.  So, if we can reduce the bacterial load in one’s mouth, and help to keep the bacterial load down to within healthy limits between visits, then we have increased one’s oral health and quite likely overall health.    The laser can decontaimated the mouth , taking the bacterial level from 100 million to 100.  

Second, the laser is used in the treatment for periodontal disease.  We have the ability to do guided tissue regeneration with lasers.  Prior to lasers our treatment options were to clean the gums and teeth, place antibiotics, and surgery.  The laser allows us to provide a less invasive approach than surgery, while eliminating deep gum pockets.  If you really want to know the more technical aspects, read on in this paragraph, otherwise skip to the next paragraph.  You see, there is a race between soft tissue and hard tissue growth.  Soft tissues grow faster than hard tissue such as bone.  With a laser we can take away the soft tissue and allow the hard tissue to grow, thereby allowing bone growth in some critical areas around the teeth.   Incremental de-epitheliazation allows for the bone growth.  We can therefore, eliminate pockets not only by trimming them down, but also by re-growing bone at the base of the pocket.  The laser biostimulates the tissues to heal faster-stimulates collagen, fibrin,  and osteoblasts.   As a dentist, I get very excited about that!!!  

Third, we can do much less invasive method of minor surgical procedures with the laser.  I won’t get too graphic, but suffice it to say, we get much quicker healing.  If you are interested in those details please feel free to ask me. 

Fourth, lasers can shape gums for a much more esthetic and contoured look. 
Fifth, for those who suffer from canker and cold sores, the laser can be very helpful. The laser can stop the cold sore virus in its tracks.   When one gets that uncomfortable tingling, itching of the lip, that is called the prodrome symptom of the virus activating.  With the laser, we kill the virus in the tissue from the outside.  Typically, the cold sore does not have a chance to “blow up.”  We have helped severeal patients in this way already.  Also, anectodotally, those who had a few treatments this way, do not get them anymore.   Canker sores are an autoimmune origin and the laser can numb the sore, biostimulates it for faster healing, and can create a “band-aid” for the sore. 

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