Soft Tissue Dental Laser

Lasers have transformed medical surgery by offering minimally invasive alternatives to traditional scalpel incisions and sutured closures. The laser’s intense, narrow wavelength has precise, predictable, and powerful reactions when it contacts soft tissues of the body. Laser light is extremely efficient, producing very little heat as it acts on its target. This makes it ideal for oral surgery, since it seldom affects tissues other than those it targets, minimizing pain and recovery time. The laser also provides precise control over the depth and extent of cutting, while simultaneously minimizing bleeding and sterilizing the treatment area.

BENEFITS OF LASER DENTISTRY

Here are some of the major benefits associated with laser dentistry:

• Procedures performed using soft tissue dental lasers may not require sutures (stitches).
• Certain laser dentistry procedures do not require anesthesia.
• Laser dentistry minimizes bleeding because the high-energy light beam aids in the clotting (coagulation) of exposed blood vessels, thus inhibiting blood loss.
• Bacterial infections are minimized because the high-energy beam sterilizes the area being worked on.
• Damage to surrounding tissue is minimized.
• Wounds heal faster and tissues can be regenerated.

SOFT TISSUE (GUM) LASER DENTISTRY PROCEDURES

The application of lasers in dentistry allows Dr. Michalski to perform a wide variety of dental procedures by incorporating the state-of-the-art precision technology into a number of common and not-so-common procedures.

• Crown Lengthening: Dental lasers can reshape gum tissue (soft tissue laser) and bone (hard tissue laser) to expose healthier tooth structure. Referred to as crown lengthening, such reshaping provides a stronger foundation for the placement of restorations.
• Gummy Smile: Dental lasers can reshape gum tissue to expose healthy tooth structure and improve the appearance of a gummy smile. Click here for more information.
• Muscle Attachment (Frenum): A laser frenectomy is an ideal treatment option for children who are tongue tied (restricted or tight frenum) or have a diastema (spacing between front teeth). A laser frenectomy may also help to eliminate some gum defects caused by the pulling action of a frenum.
• Soft Tissue Folds (Epulis): Dental lasers may be used for the painless and suture-free removal of soft tissue folds often caused by ill-fitting dentures.
• Benign Tumors: Dental lasers may be used for the painless and suture-free removal of benign tumors from the gums, palate, sides of cheeks, and lips.
• Cold Sores: Low intensity dental lasers reduce pain associated with cold sores and minimize healing time.