Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Lasers In Dentistry


Incredibly, dentists have been using laser treatment for over 15 years. Despite some early skepticism the industry is coming to realize that lasers may have a key part to play in the future of dentistry. Their accuracy and all round benefits mean they are becoming ever more popular in dental treatments.

Dentists use lasers for a variety of purposes. They can be used to remove decay and prepare a tooth for a filling and then used to cure or harden the filling itself. They can also be used to reshape gums and remove bacteria during root canal procedures. Other uses include removing small amounts of tissue for biopsy, especially useful in the fight against cancer, and to activate agents in tooth whitening procedures.

Lasers work by delivering energy in the form of light and can be used to cut or vaporize tissue as well as acting as a catalyst for other treatments.Several variants of dental laser are in use, with the most common being diode lasers, carbon dioxide lasers, and yttrium aluminium garnet laser. Different lasers use different wavelengths and these mean they are better suited for different applications. For example, diode lasers in the 810–900 nm range are well absorbed by red coloured tissues such as the gingivae increasingly being used in place of electrosurgery and standard surgery for soft tissue applications such as tissue contouring and gingivectomy They are particularly useful as they can often minimise the pain and anxiety felt by patients and also reduce swelling and bleeding during dental treatments. Also because of the high levels of heat used there is often a reduced risk of post-procedural infection as the laser acts as a sterilizing agent.

Lasers are an innovative and precise dentistry tool that more and more dentists are using because of the obvious advantages to both themselves and dentists. Ask your Dentist in India about laser treatment and take the pain out of your trip to the dentist.

No comments: