Laser Dentistry
People always ask me, "What the heck is a laser anyway?"
Well, the acronym LASER
actually stands for
Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. This is just a fancy way
of saying that it emits an "energy" that absorbs certain wavelengths of
color. The two colors that my specific type of laser absorbs is the
"relative" color of red irritated tissue or pigmentation and the color
of blood.
Since my laser absorbes these specific colors, it allows
me to treat these red, irritated, or bleeding areas without any damage
to surrounding healthy tissue. It really is literally like a "magnet"
for the bad stuff.
The actual laser looks like a fishing line coming out of a little
handle (above.) Its so simple and VERY SAFE.
I just run the laser tip over the effected area and depending on what
setting I have the laser set, I can disinfect (kill bacteria AND
viruses), cut tissue and cauterize while I cut (NO BLEEDING!!), and I
can sculpt tissue to pinpoint accuracy. The following are just a
few of the dental proceedures I do DAILY in my dental practice:
-TREATING PERIODONTAL
DISEASE (most important!)
- Esthetic Contouring of
the Gums
-Treatment of Cold Sores, Herpetic
Lesions
and Burns
-Frenectomy, Biopsy, and Removal of
small lesions or growths
-Removal of Unwanted Oral Pigmentations or
Discolorations
-Disinfecting abscesses or
ANY Infection or Ulceration in the mouth
-Stopping
Bleeding & Cauterizing Blood Vessels
-Help in crown and
bridge
-Implant
exposure
I emphasize that the purchase of my laser was honestly the BEST THING
I've ever done for the patients in my practice. (I've actually bought a
second one, want to buy a third, and have had all of my hygienists
laser certified!!.). Not only has it opened my practice up to many new
procedures and techniques, but it has allowed me to become much more
PRECISE and CLEAN in the procedures that I already perform.
Laser Dentistry for Periodontal
Patients:
One of the most imporant uses of the laser
is the treatment of periodontal disease. Patients with "deep
periodontal pockets" that don't resolve with the traditional "deep
cleaning" are often referred to a periodontist for "Periodontal
Surgery". This is an expensive and painful procedure involving a
surgical incision, peeling back gum tissue, cleaning the teeth, and
suturing tissue to a lower level, thus, closing the pocket. 
Laser therapy offers a less invasive and
less costly alternative. Instead of cutting and suturing, the laser tip
is inserted into the pocket causing a photothermal reaction. This
effect is a healing modality which disinfects the pocket while removing
diseased tissue. The remaining healthy tissue is then able to reattach
to the root surface, thus, closing the periodontal pocket. There is no
difficult surgical recovery with this method (in fact, anesthetic is
sometimes not needed for the procedure itself) and can be done at a
fraction of the cost of periodontal surgery.
"The Purchase of my
Diode Laser is one of the best things I've done for the patients in my
practice..."
- Dr. Ryan
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