Laser-Assisted Dentistry (LAD)

Laser Assisted Dentistry is traditional dentistry in a modified manner, using a dental laser. Depending on the procedure involved, the dental laser may be replacing the dental drill, dental freezing, the dental scalpel etc…

Several factors make the dental laser an ideal piece of equipment for doing certain dental procedures. The results, in many situations, may come out looking better than if a traditional method was used. These my include:

1. All dental lasers are end cutting instruments.
2. Laser energy is shown to have a bactericidal effects.
3. Dental lasers can be more hemostatic (less bleeding) than traditional pieces of dental equipment after making incisions in tissue (ie scalpel blade)
4. Dental lasers are very precise in what they do.

Both soft tissue and hard tissue procedures can be treated with dental lasers, but not all dental lasers perform both hard tissue and soft tissue procedures.

Some hard tissue procedures include:

1. Decay removal
2. Tooth structure removal
3. Bone recontouring and removal
4. Tooth sensitivity treatment

Some soft tissue procedures include:

1. Gum surgery
2. Gum reshaping
3. Removing soft tissue lesions in the mouth
4. Soft tissue biopsies
5. Treatment of soft tissue infection
6. Treatment of sores in the mouth
7. Treatment of gum inflammation
8. Relief of gum recession causing muscle attachment (frenum) without sutures
9. Removing pigment in the gums

Other procedures that may benefit from dental laser therapy include:

• Teeth whitening (Laser Assisted Whitening)
• Periowave (laser activated bacteriocidal treatment for gum disease)
• Biostimulation/Low Level Laser Therapy(LLLT)

Different dental lasers (varying wavelengths) can do different things. The more common types of lasers used in dentistry include:

1. Diode lasers
2. Nd YAG lasers (ie. Periolase )
3. Erbium lasers (ie. Waterlase)

In order to reap all the benefits that lasers can provide in dental treatment, our offices have access to all three types. Call us for an appointment if you would like to find out how lasers can help you achieve optimal oral health.