You're about to have your first experience with a
new and exciting technology. LASERS. A million questions are probably
going through your mind. Perhaps you've head about dental lasers on
T.V. or on the radio. Just in case you haven't had the opportunity to
learn about lasers, I want to give you some basic information and maybe
even allay some of your concerns regarding dental laser treatment.
Dental lasers are designed to assist the dentist
in the treatment of the gingival tissues ( gums ). They have been approved
by the Food and Drug Administration for the use on gum tissue only.
We will not, therefore, be using the laser on your teeth. Sometime
in the near future there will be a dental laser specifically designed
for use on the teeth. But not just yet....
The laser your dentist may use looks similar to
the picture in the upper right hand corner of this page. When you are
seated in the operatory, one of the dental assistants will give you
a pair of safety glasses to wear, position the laser next to the dental
chair, and place a sterile laser tip in the sterilized handpiece. You
will then be ready to go. Unlike the dental drill, there is no whining
sound to disturb your sleep or to make you grip the sides of the dental
chair. The only noise you will hear will be the slight hissing sound
of the air jet that is attached to the laser. According to most of our
patients, this silent feature is definitely a big plus !
Dental lasers can be used for a variety of treatment
procedures. Depending upon the treatment needs, your dentist may use
the laser for several minutes or possibly for only a brief moment. However,
even those procedures that require only a short period of laser usage,
benefit from the many advantages of laser therapy. Bleeding is minimized,
swelling is controlled and there is usually little if any postoperative
discomfort. For maximum comfort, most of the procedures do, however,
require a local anesthetic. This will be discussed with you prior to
the beginning of the treatment session.
