Dental Research: Laser Dentistry vs. Traditional Dentistry

Laser dentistry is a unique type of dentistry. This treatment uses high-energy lasers on teeth and gums to remedy certain teeth problems. Two types of lasers are used for the teeth and gums. Lasers can be used on canker and cold sores. Lasers remove bacteria from teeth to give a better cleaning or detect early stage decay in teeth.

This gives an improved detection of cavities. Lasers can be used to reduce sensitivity in the teeth and whiten your teeth. Lasers can remove, fix or reshape gums and tissues affected by dentures or crowns.

Lasers are less painful and invasive that the surgical and dental tools used in traditional dentistry. This fact also lowers the need of anesthesia. Since drills aren’t used in the process; lasers can provide less anxiety in those that use this process.

This process preserves the tooth, with less bleeding and less swelling than traditional dentistry. Another advantage to lasers is the speed of the procedure compared to traditional dentistry.

Lasers are a lot quicker than drills. However, lasers cannot be used on fillings or to fill certain cavities. Drills are sometimes still used in the procedures to do the work the laser cannot do, such as reshaping or polishing. Lasers reduce the amount of anesthesia but it is still need throughout the procedure. Lasers are more expensive than traditional dentistry because the equipment is more expensive than the drills. Lasers are up to $45,000 and standard drills are around $600.

References:

• What is Laser Dentistry?; - Dental Student Books.
• Laser Use in Dentistry; - WebMD, LLC.