• laser dentistry potentially offers a more comfortable treatment option for number of dental procedures

• The term LASER stands for “light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation”. Use of laser proved to be an effective tool to increase efficiency , specificity, ease, cost and comfort of the dental treatment.

• The instrument creates light energy in a very narrow and focused beam. This laser light produces a reaction when it hits tissue allowing it to remove or shape the tissue.

• Types of lasers used in dental practice can be classified by various methods . According to laser medium used gas laser, solid laser ; According to tissue applicability hard and soft tissues ; According to range of Wavelength.

• Common hard tissue procedures include :-

-Cavity detection. Lasers can detect cavities early by finding evidence of tooth decay.

-Tooth preparations and dental fillings. Local anesthesia and traditional drills are often not needed with laser treatments. Lasers can kill bacteria in a cavity, which can aid in the long-term health of a tooth.

– Treating tooth sensitivity. Teeth that have sensitivity to hot and cold can be treated with dental lasers that seal tubules on the tooth’s root.

• Common soft tissue procedures include :-

-Treating a “gummy smile.” Lasers are used to reshape gum tissue associated with “gummy smile,” in which the gums’ length covers much of the tooth.

-Crown lengthening. This procedure reshapes both gum tissue and bone for healthier tooth structure, which helps with placing restorations on the teeth. Treating tongue frenulum attachment. Those with a thick or tight frenulum (the fold of skin under the front part of tongue that anchors to the mouth floor) may benefit from a laser frenectomy. This treatment helps children whose restricted frenulum causes them to be tongue-tied, have difficulty breastfeeding, or have a speech impediment.

-Removing soft tissue folds. Lasers can remove soft tissue folds from ill-fitting dentures without pain or sutures.

•Other laser procedures include:-

-Optical coherence tomography allows a doctor to safely see inside a tooth or gum tissue.

-Removing benign tumors. Lasers can remove tumors from the palate, gums, and sides of the lips and cheeks through a pain- and suture-free method.

-Treating obstructive sleep apnea.  Lasers can reshape the throat and relieve associated breathing problems when sleep apnea is caused by tissue overgrowth in the throat.

-TMJ (temporomandibular joint) treatment. Lasers can help reduce pain and inflammation in the joint.

– Nerve regeneration. Lasers can help regenerate damaged blood vessels, nerves, and scars.

-Treating cold sores. Lasers can minimize healing time and reduce pain from cold sores.

-Teeth whitening. Lasers speed up the bleaching process

Benefits of laser dentistry over other methods :-

– There is potentially a decreased need for sutures with soft tissue lasers.

-Bleeding is minimized in treated soft tissues, as the laser promotes blood clotting.

-With some procedures, anesthesia is unnecessary.

– The chance for bacterial infections is lower because the laser sterilizes the area.

-Wounds can heal faster, and it’s possible for tissue to regenerate. The procedures may involve less damage to the surrounding tissues.

Disadvantages of laser :-

– Lasers can’t be used on teeth that already have certain types of filling, such as metal amalgam.

-Hard lasers can sometimes injure tooth pulp.

-Some laser procedures still require anesthesia.

– Drills are still sometimes needed to complete fillings, including shaping, adjusting the bite, and polishing the filling.

Source:- http://www.healthline.com