Laser Treatment Advantages

Benefits & Treatments with Laser

 

 

 

Fillings with the Water Laser

Pain free fillings without injections – laser light has the ability to penetrate the nerve fibres in and around the tooth, producing a drowsiness effect on the nerve tissue thereby switching of the sensations of pain and discomfort. This allows most fillings to be performed painlessly without injections.* Unlike the drill the laser will also kill the bacteria in the tooth that originally caused the decay. Not only is this a more hygienic method of providing dentistry but additionally research shows that fillings have a strong bond to tooth substance if done using a water laser.

Children’s dentistry using the Water Laser

The laser is the ideal tool if your child is unfortunate enough to need a filling due to decay or an accident. The laser never touches the tooth so there is no vibration, unlike a drill, and the use of the laser, even in deep fillings, is a wonderful advantage for children. Also the children tend to look at the laser differently, regarding it as a high-tech toy rather than an instrument of fear.

Root canal treatment with the Water Laser

Since root channels are very fine they have a tendency to trap air bubbles where the disinfecting liquid cannot reach and clean effectively, leading to a regrowth of the bacterial infection. If x-rays are taken a few years down line one may observe that there are still areas of low grade infection visible.
The Waterlase MD “pressure washes” and sterilises the inside of root canals 10x more efficiently than other conventional methods. This reduces the incidence of after pain, re-infection and increases the success. Root filling experts agree that the most important part of any root filling is the disinfecting and cleaning of the complex root canal system.

Gum disease treatment using the Water Laser

This is one of the most amazing uses of the laser. In gum treatment the dentist/hygienist will thoroughly clean the tooth surface underneath the gum by using special instruments and in some cases chemicals/medications to destroy the bacteria. Unfortunately the tooth surface is not smooth. Furthermore, current research shows that the bacteria penetrates into the tooth surface by about 1mm.
The adjacent skin is also bruised and infected by the bacteria and the toxins released. The best gum treatment can hope for is to reduce this inflammation and allow skin to grow where once there was bone. However, this is a compromise as this healing is very poor and can easily revert into the diseased state.
The water laser works on a number of levels to regenerate the bone (this was not possible until the advent of the hard tissue laser). The laser energised water sterilises by penetrating 1 mm into the tooth resulting in total destruction of the bacteria and the toxins. Furthermore because the laser reacts with the tissue on a cellular level then it is possible to regenerate the lost bone (a ground breaking achievement).

Treating gummy smiles with the Water Laser

A “Gummy Smile” is more than a cosmetic problem – it can make you self conscious and cause you to cover up your true emotions. Until recently, the only way to correct this problem was to undergo aggressive surgery to cut and reposition the front segment of the upper jaw.
Understandably, not everyone is willing to go through with this treatment because of the complexity of the surgery, discomfort, hospitalisation, and inherent complications. In recent years a lip repositioning procedure has become a more acceptable alternative. It requires minimal surgery and more predictable results.
The advent of the water laser has totally revolutionised this procedure still further – and it offers highly predictable results with a minimum of after pain and rapid healing, unlike scalpel surgery.

Desensitising teeth with the Water Laser

The laser can gently seal the nerve endings in the open pores of the roots leading to an immediate reduction in tooth sensitivity.

Minimal Invasive Dentistry using the Water Laser

The laser can be set to remove the very smallest amount of tooth enamel to painlessly remove small imperfections such as black and white marks and stained cracks.

No or Minimal preparation Veneers using the Water Laser

The laser can gently remove any excess tooth and create the perfect surface for high strength bonding of veneers, one that is slightly roughened and totally clean.

Veneer Removal and Refitting using the water Laser

The ability to soften the bonding glue of existing veneers means they can be removed without deep drilling of the tooth that results in further tooth loss. It is also possible in certain circumstances to remove existing veneers intact, remove the old glue and rebind them to the teeth giving them several years more life. (This is useful when, for instance, the veneers look good but the glue around the edges has discoloured – common on older veneers).

Muscle Attachment (Frenum)

The frenum under the lip or under the tongue (tongue tied) can be removed usually with anaesthetic gel. The healing is very rapid unlike if the same procedure is carried out using a scalpel.

Crown lengthening

Dental lasers can reshape gum tissue (soft tissue laser) and bone (hard tissue laser) to extend the length of a crown for better grip and strength as well as improve the appearance short stump teeth.

Implant surgery using the Water Laser

The water laser has changed the way in which surgical procedures are carried out. We have eliminated the use of scalpels altogether. This results in no bleeding when the skin is cut. It has been shown that when the skin or the bone is cut by a scalpel or the drill the body reacts to this process in the same way as if it had been assaulted – histamine release, inflammation, bruising and pain. Since the water laser uses a gentle stream of water the body does not detect this as an assault resulting in much less inflammation, bruising and pain. This has been a great benefit in implant surgery where control of the healing process is advantageous. Implant exposure does not cause trauma and does not require any skin to be pulled off the bone to expose the implant(s) or stitches.
Lasers represent an innovative and more precise technology for specific and soft tissue applications. You may find that you feel more comfortable and less anxious during your treatments.
The numerous clients who have undergone treatment with this remarkable tool have been thoroughly impressed as can be seen by the number of positive comments in our testimonial book. We have had great success with children who are otherwise anxious about the sensations of the drill.
80% of patient’s do not require anaesthetic for fillings with the