Future technologies are usually associated with lasers in this case. From industrial and commercial fields to that of science and even in the military, you will be able to locate lasers being used one way or another as this has become a rather ubiquitous tool nowadays. An example when it comes to lasers being used in the areas of medicine and health is laser dentistry.
With regard to laser dentistry, there is a special laser used to perform surgical and dental procedures. The history of laser dentistry dates back to the 1960s when it was mainly used for soft tissue procedures. For it to be used for hard tissue like teeth, it was only in 1997 when the US Food and Drug Administration cleared it.
Various wavelengths are utilized here as the lasers emit energy in the form of light. For example, diode lasers are best applied in electrosurgery because it is absorbed well by red color tissues such as the gingivae. Because of the use of laser in electrosurgery, dentists are able to make precise cuts with minimal blood loss.
By using the yttrium aluminium garnet (Nd:YAG) laser, laser dentistry can be used for the treatment of gum disease as well as oral cavity surgery. It is a carbon dioxide laser that is the most effective when it comes to the removal of tumors of the mouth, frenectomy or the surgical removal of the fold of tissue under the tongue, and biopsies. You should consider using an argon laser for cosmetic dentistry procedures including filling cavities, repairing chipped teeth, and sealing teeth to prevent decay.
In the case of laser dentistry, it comes with a cost that dentists and patients both feel. Costing from anywhere between $8,000 to $50,000 are dental lasers while you can buy pneumatic dental drills for $200 to $500 only. In this case, the intimidating sound made by dental drills causes the fear in people to grow.
Remaining limited as of now are the possible uses for a dental laser but since it provides precise results it can minimize pain and damage on surrounding tissues. Without producing a sound, this tool can be operated effectively and this is what makes dental procedures more comfortable and bearable. Although there are a bunch of cheaper alternatives to laser dentistry, the high price is really worth it because of the long term effectiveness.
It is teeth whitening that is a common procedure when it comes to laser dentistry. What the laser does is activate the special gel that is applied to the yellow or discolored teeth causing it to lighten. A single session is all you need if you want to get whiter teeth.
When it comes to bleaching, whitening gel is placed on a custom fit tray and this is then put on the teeth of the patient by the dentist. Here, the tray should be worn for several hours a day and this is why patients normally take the tray home. Unlike laser whitening, this procedure doesn’t make use of a laser and offers gradual results, but costs relatively lower.
When you undergo a laser dental procedure, you should see if your dentist was properly trained to use the necessary equipment. Those who are offering educational courses on performing laser dentistry are dental associations, dental schools, and laser manufacturers. Some procedures actually work better when traditional methods are used and this is why the opinion of your dentist is very important in this case.
As experts further explore laser dentistry, the world is awaiting to discover more applications of the laser in dental procedures. Today, there are plenty of uses for the dental drill and scalpel but this may not continue on. A visit to the dentist will no longer be a horrendous experience from now on.
Further advice on dentistry is found at laser dentist sydney. For more information on dentistry check out zoom tooth whitening.