Oral health care technology has come a long way in the last 100 years, but even that pace of growth looks dismal compared to the growth being made in laser dentistry. Nearly every dental procedure can be supplemented with laser technology, which is more efficient than traditional dental methods. Here are a few illustrations of how laser dentistry is changing the way dental practitioners work:
Tissue fold treatment– A prevalent side effect of wearing dentures is the formation of soft tissue folds, something that some denture-wearers find disagreeable. Using a soft tissue laser, we can change the look of the gums.
Tongue tie removal– A tongue tie (also defined as ankyloglossia) occurs when tissue in the mouth tethers the tip of the tongue to the floor of the mouth. This impacts a child’s ability to breastfeed and to speak clearly, and it can be fixed using dental lasers.
Tooth preparation– During oral services, your pearly whites are first prepped for treatment, usually with an oral drill. By using oral laser technology, we can prepare your chompers without using oral drills as much, and in a few cases, we may not have to use oral drills at all.
Treating sleep apnea– Occasionally sleep apnea in the elderly is caused by superfluous tissue growth in the throat, and in these cases a surgery (palatoplasty or uvuloplasty) can be laser-assisted to release the throat of the excess tissue.
With all of the broad applications of lasers in dental procedures, it’s no wonder that laser dentistry is advancing so hastily. We’d love to share extra information about the potentials of laser dentistry and what they mean for your dental health. Please schedule your next visit to our Gilbert, Arizona, office now by calling 602-492-9003. Dr. Sheldon Sullivan and the staff at Artistry in Dentistry will be ecstatic to see you!