For many patients with dental anxiety, the sights and sounds of the dentist’s office can be intimidating – the noise of the drill can bring back bad memories from childhood, and the appearance of dental instruments with sharp edges can invoke memories of discomfort. While modern dentists are often far more aware of patient comfort than in decades past, dental technology has improved as well. One example of such advancement is dental lasers.

Dental lasers can be used in a variety of dental procedures where tissue or material needs to be cut or removed. Depending on the patient and procedure, dentists may use dental lasers for procedures such as removal of decay (cavities) rather than using a traditional dental drill, or in the treatment of gum disease to reshape gum tissue in periodontal treatments or cosmetic procedures. If a dentist notices a suspicious tissue within the mouth, lasers can be used to take a biopsy for analysis.

Lasers can also be used for some procedures that don’t necessarily call for cutting or tissue removal. Certain lasers can be used for teeth whitening – the peroxide bleaching solution can be ‘activated’ by laser energy, making it more effective in a shorter period of time. Dentists and periodontists may also use lasers to attack bacteria deep in a given tooth or below the gums – certain wavelengths are known to treat bacterial infections, reducing the bacterial colonies and helping the body combat the infection.

For many patients, laser dentistry may have a number of advantages. The laser can treat tooth decay with less overall tooth loss, typically involves less pain, and for soft tissue procedures, the laser allows for less bleeding and inflammation. Finally, the antibacterial benefits may be especially useful for patients with infections within the tooth or below the gums, and the lack of noise may be great for patients who experience anxiety when they hear the sound of the drill. If you expect to need dental procedures in the near future, ask your dentist if laser dentistry is an option for your specific case.