Dental lasers use light and heat to precisely and gently cut through soft tissue or gums in the mouth. They can also seal blood vessels for minimal bleeding. Dr. Sulekha Agrawal provides laser dentistry treatment to her patients in Columbia, MD at Columbia Family Dental Care.
Laser dentistry is a general dental solution that benefits patients with “gummy smiles” or even gum disease. Dental lasers comfortably remove excess tissue or remove plaque and gum infection to improve the health and aesthetics of patient’s smiles.
Benefits of Laser Dentistry
Laser dentistry offers multiple benefits to our patients. Dental lasers:
- Reduce downtime after a procedure
- Support tissue regeneration
- Reduce the risk of infection
- Are less invasive than other treatments
- Increase accuracy and efficiency
- Minimize bleeding and swelling
Laser dentistry offers comfortable treatment that is less painful than surgical methods. When patients undergo treatment with dental lasers, their procedure is painless and quick. Dental lasers also help our dentists efficiently target areas of the gums that require treatment.
Soft Tissue Laser Dentistry
Soft tissue laser dentistry pertains to treatments of the gums. Our dental lasers can contour the gums or remove gum infection:
Gum Contouring: Patients who have a “gummy smile” or excess gum tissue above the top teeth and below the bottom teeth can undergo dental laser treatment. Dental lasers comfortably recontour the natural gum line, pushing it up for a more balanced smile.
Gum Disease Treatment: Scaling and root planing are treatments that remove an infection from the gums. Scaling removes plaque from the gum line and even below the gums.
Root planing helps to smooth down the tooth roots and reattach the gums to teeth. Deep pockets can form as a result of periodontitis, or gum disease. Scaling and root planing help prevent gum recession and tooth loss.
Laser Dentistry FAQs
Why do dentists use lasers?
Dentists use lasers because it gives them extreme precision when performing operations. Lasers are also pain free for patients. Lasers are becoming commonly used in gum removal and reshaping. They can remove any tooth decay and remove any gum tissue that is receding.
What do gums look like after laser treatment?
After laser treatment gums may appear discolored. The discoloring typically comes in grey, red, purple, or slightly yellow. This is because your gums need to heal from the laser treatment. The discoloration of one’s gums can be compared to a sunburn and will go away a few days after treatment.
Can root canal be done with a laser?
The first part of a root canal can be performed with a laser, but not the entire procedure. Lasers can be used to remove diseased tissue and tooth decay. They can also be used to help shape the canal. Lasers give dentists the ability to work with extreme precision without hurting the patient.
Call Columbia Family Dental Care Today
Are you looking for painless, drill-free dental care? Schedule a consultation with Dr. Agrawal on our website. Contact our Columbia, Maryland dental office at 410.730.0011. Please let us know if you have any more questions about dental lasers or if you can receive gum treatment with laser dentistry.