What is laser dentistry?

Laser dentistry is a dental procedure that uses a laser instead of a dental drill. The laser removes tooth decay, and also seals and disinfects the area that has been treated. Laser dentistry can be used in place of a dental drill, or as a supplement to rotary tools during cavity preparation.

Laser dentistry vs. traditional dentistry

Today’s dentistry is a far cry from the dentistry of the past. The laser dentistry of today offers faster, less invasive, and more accurate results. Traditional dentistry relied on hand tools, such as drills and saws, and required the dentist to physically touch the tooth. The laser dentistry of today relies on highly focused light energy, which is selectively absorbed by water in the tooth, causing the water molecules to vibrate and heat up to create a reaction that eliminates tooth decay and gum disease.

Laser dentistry has a variety of benefits, including:

• Less-invasive. Laser dentistry avoids gum damage, bleeding, and discomfort associated with traditional dentistry.

• Faster treatment. Laser dentistry reduces treatment time.

• Accuracy. Laser dentistry is highly accurate, resulting in minimal need for retakes.

Which is better, laser dentistry or traditional dentistry?

It’s common for many patients to ask which type of dentistry is better: laser dentistry or traditional dentistry. While both have their merits, each type achieves certain goals better than the other. For example, laser dentistry is better at removing soft tissue over traditional dentistry. Traditional dentistry is better at preparing teeth for dental fillings.