Dental lasers in our office has made it easier to give patients more comfortable care. This advanced technology is an essential tool for gum disease and gummy smiles. At Longview Family Dental in Longview, TX, we rely on laser dentistry because it’s precise and effective. Lasers are valuable dental tools that provide non-surgical gum treatment.
Lasers are part of our general dentistry services. With this technology, we can treat the gums with less pain or bleeding. We can also help keep your teeth and gums healthy.
What is a Dental Laser?
A dental laser is a hand-held tool that emits concentrated light energy. Our dentists use this tool for various procedures as a modern alternative to dental scalpels. A dental laser allows for a more precise treatment area, meaning more healthy tissue is left unaffected. Dental treatments that use lasers are less invasive and enhance your overall experience.
Gum Contouring with Laser Dentistry
We contour the gums when we trim excess gum tissue to reveal more tooth structure. People with a “gummy smile” have an excess amount of gum tissue that covers their teeth. Also, a dentist can contour uneven gums where some gum tissue is lower on some teeth than others.
Using the dental laser, our dentist precisely removes the necessary amount of gum tissue. He reshapes the gums to ensure they are symmetrical over all the teeth. Removing gum tissue will reveal more teeth and create a balanced and more attractive smile.
How Laser Dentistry Help Treat Gum Disease
Periodontal disease is a serious gum problem that damages gum tissue and can affect your overall oral health. In the past, treating gum disease often required invasive procedures. In severe cases, surgery was needed to remove damaged gum tissue and reshape the gum line.
Today, laser dentistry offers a modern and effective way to treat diseased gums. After a careful examination, the dentist will locate areas of gum infection. Then, they use a hand-held dental laser to remove the damaged tissue precisely.
One major advantage of lasers is their precision—they only target the diseased tissue, leaving healthy tissue untouched. The laser also seals blood vessels as it works. It reduces bleeding and makes the procedure more comfortable for patients.
The Benefits of Laser Dentistry
Using laser dentistry offers our patients so many benefits. Lasers:
Provide Less Invasive Treatment
Lasers are less invasive than traditional tools like scalpels. They gently and precisely remove damaged or diseased tissue, leading to less bleeding and usually no need for stitches. This method causes less discomfort and helps patients heal faster, so they can get back to their normal activities sooner.
Preserve Healthy Tissue
Lasers are very precise and only remove the tissue that needs to be treated. Unlike traditional methods, which can sometimes take away healthy tissue along with the diseased areas, lasers allow dentists to be more careful. Keeping healthy tissue safe lowers the chance of complications like infections and helps protect your teeth and gums.
Improve the Look of Your Smile
We can use dental lasers for cosmetic procedures, such as reshaping the gums. Lasers can gently contour the gumline for patients with a “gummy smile,” where the gums cover too much of the teeth. This creates a more balanced and aesthetically pleasing smile with a precision that traditional methods can’t achieve.
Can Provide Multiple Treatments
Advances in dental technology have made lasers versatile tools for treating a wide range of dental conditions. They can treat gum disease and change the look of the gums. Their precision ensures better results with minimal discomfort for patients.
Provide Comfortable Care and Quick Recovery
Many patients feel less nervous about dental procedures with laser dentistry because lasers are less scary and usually cause less pain. They often require little or no anesthesia and have shorter recovery times. Lasers make treatments more comfortable and help you improve your oral health.
Are Dental Lasers Safe?
Yes, dental lasers are safe when used by a trained and experienced dentist. Lasers have been approved for dental treatments and are designed to target specific areas in your mouth without affecting the surrounding healthy tissue.
We follow strict safety guidelines and provide protective eyewear for you during treatment. Because lasers are precise, they reduce the risk of excessive bleeding or damage to nearby areas. If you have concerns, we can help. We can explain how dental lasers work and why they’re a safe and effective option for you.
Are Dental Lasers Right For Me?
Dental lasers might be a good option for treating gum disease, a “gummy smile,” or other dental issues. However, not everyone is a good candidate for laser dentistry. We may recommend other treatments if you have certain health conditions or need more complex dental work. For example, if you have advanced gum disease, we may recommend surgery.
Talk to our dentist to see if dental lasers are the right choice for your needs. They will evaluate your oral health and help you decide on the best treatment.
Dental Lasers: Post-Op Care
After gum treatment with a dental laser, you can expect a quicker and easier recovery compared to traditional methods. Since lasers are precise and less invasive, there’s usually minimal bleeding, swelling, or discomfort. Most patients heal faster and experience little to no pain after the procedure.
Your gums may feel tender or slightly sensitive for a few days. This is normal if you have gum disease and already feel pain and inflammation from your infection.
Because you may feel more sensitive, eat soft foods for a few days after treatment. Avoid hot or spicy foods, because this can irritate the treatment site. Also, keep up with gentle oral hygiene.
Our dentist may schedule a follow-up visit to check your progress and make sure your gums heal properly. Contact us immediately if you experience any unusual symptoms, like severe pain or excessive swelling.
Get Comfortable Dental Care
To schedule a dentist appointment, call our office at 903-662-7811. You can also request an appointment online by filling out the form. Let us know if you have questions about treatment. We’re here to help.