What You Can Expect from Laser Dentistry

We use laser dentistry to perform procedures in a more comfortable way. Laser dentistry has been around since 1994 and has been used to cure any number of dental problems. The FDA has approved many of the procedures done using laser dental technology.  This has resulted in a us being able to cure a number of different conditions with the help of modern technology. Virtually all lasers work the same way. They are designed to deliver energy, in the form of light, to a very specific area with pinpoint precision. When a laser is used in dental procedures, and particularly in surgical procedures, the laser acts like a cutting instrument replacing things like the scalpel and the drill. Instantly, what you have is a situation where there is significantly less trauma to the tissue that we are working on and even the tissue surrounding the area that the dentist is trying to remedy.  As a result, the American Dental Association states that it is cautiously optimistic about the role that laser technology will have in the field of dentistry for centuries to come.

Being that laser dentistry is not new, we find that it is now being used to treat a number of different dental problems from the mild to the cosmetic to the more severe dental maladies. However, most dentists still do not use lasers.  We do and are now able to treat things like tooth decay with lasers by removing the decay within the tooth and preparing the surrounding tooth structure to receive a filling without having to use things like a dental drill.  For patients who suffer from dental anxiety, the ability for us to do all of this with the help of an energy-producing light, instead of the dental drill, allows them to come in with a sense of confidence and not having to worry about the tools that need to be placed in their mouth. We also treat things like gum disease with laser dentistry. Lasers can be used to reshape the gums and even remove bacteria which is taken out during the standard root canal therapy.  In other words, you can come in for a root canal procedure and never have to deal with the drill or some of the other tools that caused so much anxiety. This has allowed us to truly advance root canal therapy and other necessary treatment options for patients who have an extreme fear of dental procedures. In fact, laser dentistry is also being used for biopsies and lesion removal. Lasers can remove an extremely small piece of tissue, called a biopsy so that it can be examined for oral cancer. At the same time, dental laser technology is also being used to remove lesions from the mouth and relieve the pain of common problems like canker sores.

Whether you were using laser dentistry to have your teeth whitened or you are using laser dentistry to have a cavity removed, you can come in assured that we are going to preserve the health of the tooth itself, the teeth around it, minimize bleeding and swelling, protect the soft tissue, and all while reducing the anxiety that occurs with use of regular dental tools. In fact, it has been found that laser dentistry causes less discomfort in many instances, and so reduces the need for using anesthesia. Call our office today to enjoy more comfortable dental treatments.

What You Can Learn from a Periodontist Office

A periodontist is a special kind of dentist who specializes in preventing, diagnosing, and treating periodontal disease and also in the placement of dental implants. As a periodontist office, we are experts in the treatment of all forms of gum inflammation, bleeding gums, and other problems often associated with or found before the advent of, gum disease or periodontal disease.  While many things can lead to periodontal disease,  we find that there are some basic steps that people can take that can help them prevent periodontal disease and a milder form of gum disease known as gingivitis. In order for people to be able to prevent these kinds of occurrences, they need to be on the lookout for certain signs and symptoms that may indicate the need for specialized treatment.

You might not always need to seek out a periodontist because you are experiencing some bleeding in your gums. Bleeding gums tend to be an early warning sign that something may be more seriously wrong with your teeth. About 90% of the population occasionally experiences bleeding gums. Typically this happens when a person is brushing or flossing and can lead to a little bit of inflammation.  If you are experiencing inflammation in your gums more often than not, it is definitely a sign that you need to see your dentist. Bleeding gums, and inflamed gums can definitely be a sign of a disease called gingivitis, which is quite a common occurrence. In between 10% and 15% of cases of gingivitis, people tend to develop a more serious form of the disease called periodontitis.

Being a periodontist office means that we come in contact with people who have had severe repercussions from having periodontal disease. If you have gingivitis, even if it in its early stages, you need to seek out your dentist so that you can find solutions to your gingivitis before evolves into periodontitis. If periodontal disease is left untreated it will continue to get worse and eventually will lead to things like gum recession, bone loss, and eventually the loss of your teeth. In order to avoid this, the best thing to do is let your dentist or dental hygienist know that you are having bleeding of the gums, or inflammation of the gums on a regular basis so that they can examine your teeth to check the spaces between your teeth and your gums. As soon as you let your dentist or dental hygienist know that you are experiencing inflammation of the gums or bleeding of the gums, they will use a small hand-held instrument called a periodontal probe to check the spaces between your teeth and your gums with let them know if you have gum disease, gingivitis, or are on the way to having periodontal disease and need to be referred to a periodontist.

We note that are several factors that can influence the actual health of your gums. While there is always the possibility of the presence of gum disease including the formation of pus in deep pockets under the gums, this is typically caused when the gum tissue has been separated from the teeth. These deep pockets, where the gum has separated from the teeth, can have a harmful bacteria and will need to be treated as soon as possible. What you need to remember is that effective brushing and flossing has the most impact on the health of your gums.