What’s the Deal With Laser Dentistry?

Greetings, dear reader, and welcome back to the Bitterroot Dental blog! Over the years, we have dedicated ourselves to providing the best Missoula dentist experience that we possibly can. As part of this process, we make it our mission to stay current on the latest and greatest in dental services and technology so that we can offer our patients the best care possible. In today’s post, we are going to cover laser dentistry, a service that we offer and a relatively new addition to the world of dentistry. Keep reading below to learn more about the benefits that this form of dentistry offers as well as the procedures that are able to be performed with this exciting technology.

What is Laser Dentistry Used For?

Most commonly, laser dentistry is used as a pain free option that can be used by dentists in place of traditional dental tools such as picks and drills. Laser dentistry is quickly gaining a reputation for allowing dentists to perform dental procedures with precision while causing as little pain as possible for the patient. Below, we have listed a few more benefits offered by laser dentistry.

• Cavity Detection: Lasers that are low in intensity are often used as a way to detect cavities before they are detectable by other, more traditional forms of cavity detection. Lasers allow dentists to detect by-products produced by tooth decay, allowing them to treat cavities faster and more effectively.

• Crown Lengthening: Dental lasers, through the use of varying levels of intensity, can be used to reshape both gum tissue and bone. This is often done to expose healthier tooth structure, known as crown lengthening, and is most often performed in order to reshape the tooth and provide a stronger foundation for the placement of restoration options such as dental crowns.

• Fillings: Perhaps one of the best uses of dental lasers is in the preparation stage of placing a dental filling. Hard tissue dental lasers can eliminate the need for local anesthetics and drilling that is commonly used in dental filling procedures. They eliminate this need because the intensity of the laser is capable of killing bacteria located in a cavity which can potentially lead to improvements in long term tooth restorations.

• Gum Reduction: Dental lasers have been shown to be very effective in improving the appearance of a gummy smile. The laser is used to reshape the gum tissue, exposing more of the tooth structure, improving the appearance of the patient’s smile.

If you are interested in learning more about laser dentistry or you would like to schedule an appointment, please contact us today at Bitterroot Dental in Missoula. We are more than happy to make sure that you understand the applications of laser dentistry and, if it is determined that you have a dental issue that laser dentistry can help treat, we will make sure that you receive the best treatment possible. Contact us today and let us help you make sure that your mouth is as healthy as possible.