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Dentistry, like all medical sciences, is continually evolving with new techniques and technologies. All the advances in technology have affected many different dental procedures and devices by making them more sophisticated and effective. An example of this evolution is the invention of root canal treatment, which nowadays preserves teeth that would have been extracted in earlier dental practice. Another significant example is how Invisalign clear aligners now offer a more effective way to straighten teeth than traditional metal braces while also being virtually invisible to observers. One of the latest scientific advances that has made its way into the realm of modern dentistry is laser technology, and in this comprehensive article, you will learn everything you need to know about advanced laser dentistry treatments available in Edmonton.

The Evolution and Applications of Laser Technology in Modern Dentistry

How Dental Lasers Have Been Used in Dentistry Since 1994

It may sound a little surprising, but the reality is that dental lasers have been FDA-approved for their use in clinical dentistry since the year 1994. These specialized lasers can be used for a variety of dental procedures such as teeth cleanings, cavity fillings, teeth whitening, the initial steps in root canal treatments, oral biopsies and gum reshaping procedures just to name a few. Dental lasers work by delivering concentrated energy in the form of light, and depending on the specific dental procedure, these precision instruments can act as a cutting tool, a tissue vaporizer, or a controlled heat source for various therapeutic applications.

How Laser Technology Improves Dental Cleaning Experiences

One of the main benefits of laser teeth cleaning is that unlike the traditional teeth cleaning techniques, there is no need for a metal scaler instrument. Normally, this metal scaling tool creates scraping sounds that many dental patients find unpleasant or anxiety-inducing during routine cleanings. While this traditional scaling step isn’t typically painful, it can still be intimidating for patients with dental anxiety. If laser teeth cleaning sounds like something you would be interested in for your dental hygiene needs, contact a dental clinic near you and ask if they perform this type of advanced cleaning procedure.

How Dental Lasers Precisely Target Cavities Without Drills

Normally, when treating a cavity, your dentist uses a mechanical drill to remove the decayed and infected tooth tissues. Then they insert a composite filling material to restore the tooth structure. This conventional process can be stressful for many people, especially because of the loud drill sound and associated vibration. Also, this traditional technique isn’t very precise, so some healthy tooth tissue gets removed unnecessarily during the procedure. Laser dentistry has brought a new way of fighting cavities, with the help of a focused light beam that is targeted precisely towards the infected tissue, and with no need of using a conventional drill. This way, it is only necessary to fill in the cavity after laser treatment. Also, the laser approach preserves the healthy tissue from being removed, since the light beam is incredibly precise in targeting only the decayed areas.

How Laser Technology Effectively Treats Periodontal Disease

Dental lasers can help treat periodontal gum disease without the need for traditional scraping and root planing procedures. The specialized periodontal laser kills the infected gum tissue and exposes the tooth root for treatment. After that targeted laser application, an ultrasonic cleaner removes the accumulated calculus and tartar from the tooth roots. Some of the significant benefits of choosing laser periodontal treatment over traditional gum disease techniques are that patients experience less bleeding during the procedure, enjoy shorter recovery times after treatment, and face minimal infection risks due to the laser’s simultaneous sterilization effect.

Precision Oral Biopsies Using Advanced Laser Technology

Specialized dental lasers at a dental clinic in Edmonton can even help with oral biopsies. These diagnostic mouth procedures need to be very precise for accurate tissue sampling. This precision requirement exists because mouth lesions are often tiny, and dentists want patients to have as little discomfort as possible during the biopsy process. This level of clinical precision can be achieved with dental lasers. Some laser systems have specific wavelengths that let them cut soft tissues and remove these suspicious lesions with minimal trauma. Some of the key benefits of performing an oral biopsy with lasers are that the bleeding is minimal during the procedure, patients don’t feel much pain and normally only require a topical anesthetic rather than injections, there is almost no need for sutures after the biopsy, and the chances of developing an infection after the procedure are almost non-existent due to the sterilizing properties of the laser beam.