What is laser dentistry?
Lasers are a noninvasive tool that target a variety of dental problems quickly and with precision. Like other types of lasers used in medicine, dental lasers use light energy to restore, manage, or improve the soft tissues of your mouth, including your teeth and gums. Dental lasers are commonly used to:
Treat root canal infections
Expose partially erupted wisdom teeth for extraction
Remove inflamed gum tissue and help treat gum disease
Remove muscle attachments that hinder proper jaw movement
Ease TMJ-related pain in the jaw
Speed up in-office tooth whitening treatments
What are the benefits of laser dentistry?
Lasers are often used in conjunction with other dental tools to make a procedure more comfortable or effective. In cases where a dental laser can be used in place of a drill, patients are usually more relaxed and experience less anxiety.
Lasers are more precise than traditional instruments, and are better for controlling bleeding during oral surgery. Lasers can help reduce bacteria in diseased root canals and gum tissues, and also promote shorter healing time following treatment.
How do lasers help treat gum disease?
Gum disease is one of the most common oral health problems among adult patients. It starts out as gingivitis, or the buildup of bacteria-filled plaque that can cause irritation, redness, and inflammation in your gums. Left untreated, gingivitis can progress into periodontitis, or advanced gum disease. Symptoms of advanced gum disease include:
Receding, bleeding, or highly-sensitive gums
Chronic bad breath or bad taste in your mouth
Deep pockets between your teeth and gums
Loose teeth or painful chewing
Dental lasers help reduce gum inflammation by removing bacteria from root surfaces. Because laser energy also promotes tissue regeneration, your gums are more likely to heal faster after laser treatments than they would following other traditional gum disease treatments.
How does laser therapy help TMJ pain?
Your temporomandibular joint, or TMJ, is a type of sliding hinge joint that connects each side of your jawbone to your skull. Normally, these joints move smoothly and easily. TMJ disorders can cause a variety of painful problems, including:
Ongoing pain or tenderness in your jaw
Acute pain located in one or both of your TMJs
Difficulty eating or pain while chewing
Jaw immobility, also called “lockjaw”
Although TMJ disorders can result from injury or trauma, they can also be caused by chronically grinding or clenching your teeth.
Dr. Gertsen uses therapeutic laser energy to target the deep tissues of your jaw, helping to alleviate mild to moderate TMJ-related pain at its source.
We are happy to accept new patients! Contact us to book your appointment.
