Experience Comfortable Treatments With Laser Dental Technology
Advances in modern dentistry have provided patients with better ways to enjoy a healthier, more beautiful smile. These advances include methods such as laser dentistry. At Gentle Family Dentistry, Bakersfield dentist Dr. Jonathan Garger utilizes laser dental technology to give patients the best possible experience. Whether you need a dental cleaning or root canal therapy, laser dentistry can enhance your experience. Learn more by calling our Bakersfield dental practice at 661-664-9900.
What Is Laser Dental Technology?
Laser dental technology or laser dentistry involves the use of lasers (light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation) to replace traditional dental tools or during a dental procedure. Today, laser technology can be utilized for multiple dental procedures including root canal therapy, gum disease treatment, and more.
Benefits of Laser Dentistry vs. Traditional Dental Tools
Traditional Dental Tools
- Mechanical instruments rely on direct physical contact with teeth and gums, which can create significant discomfort and potential tissue damage during dental procedures.
- Dental drills produce vibrations and heat that can cause patient anxiety and potential nerve sensitivity, making many individuals apprehensive about dental treatments.
- Scalpels and traditional cutting tools create more extensive tissue trauma, resulting in longer healing times and increased potential for post-procedural complications.
- Standard dental instruments have limited precision, often affecting surrounding healthy tissues during medical interventions.
- Traditional methods typically require more invasive techniques, leading to increased bleeding, inflammation, and potential scarring.
Laser Dentistry
- Laser technology enables non-contact tissue interaction, dramatically reducing physical trauma and patient discomfort and anxiety during dental procedures.
- Precision targeting allows dentists to treat specific areas with microscopic accuracy, minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissues and maximizing treatment effectiveness.
- The energy from dental lasers provides immediate sterilization of treatment areas, significantly reducing the risk of bacterial infections and post-procedural complications.
- Laser treatments often eliminate or substantially reduce the need for local anesthesia, making dental procedures less intimidating and more comfortable for patients.
- The focused energy of lasers promotes faster healing, reduced inflammation, and minimal bleeding compared to traditional surgical techniques.
- Advanced laser technologies can treat multiple tissue types, offering versatility that traditional tools cannot match.
Comprehensive Laser Dental Treatment List
Soft Tissue Procedures
- Gum Disease Treatment: Laser technology allows for precise removal of infected gum tissues, creating an environment that promotes faster healing and reduces bacterial presence.
- Periodontal Pocket Reduction: Specialized lasers can target and eliminate bacteria deep within periodontal pockets, helping to restore gum health and prevent further progression of periodontal disease.
- Soft Tissue Biopsies: Lasers provide minimally invasive methods for collecting tissue samples, reducing patient discomfort and potentially decreasing healing times compared to traditional biopsy techniques.
- Gum Reshaping: Dentists can use laser technology to precisely contour gum lines, addressing aesthetic concerns and improving overall smile symmetry with minimal invasiveness.
- Cold Sore and Canker Sore Treatment: Laser energy can accelerate healing, reduce pain, and prevent recurring outbreaks by targeting the affected areas with precise, therapeutic wavelengths.
- Frenectomy Procedures: Laser techniques allow for quick, nearly bloodless tongue-tie releases, minimizing surgical intervention and promoting faster recovery for patients.
Hard Tissue Procedures
- Cavity Preparation: Laser technology enables more conservative tooth preparation, removing decayed material with greater precision and preserving more healthy tooth structure.
- Decay Removal: Advanced lasers can selectively target decayed tooth materials while leaving surrounding healthy tooth structure intact, creating more conservative treatment approaches.
- Dental Filling Preparations: Lasers can improve bonding surfaces for dental fillings, potentially increasing the longevity and effectiveness of restorative treatments.
- Bone Tissue Modifications: Specialized lasers allow for precise bone contouring and preparation, particularly useful in dental implant and reconstructive procedures.
- Root Canal Therapy: Laser energy can more effectively clean and sterilize root canal systems, potentially improving long-term treatment success rates.
- Dental Sensitivity Treatment: Targeted laser applications can seal dental tubules, reducing or eliminating tooth sensitivity by blocking pain transmission pathways.
Specialized Treatments
- Teeth Whitening: Laser-assisted teeth whitening procedures can activate bleaching agents more effectively, producing faster and more consistent results compared to traditional methods.
- Dental Implant Preparation: Lasers provide precise tissue management and bone preparation, creating optimal conditions for successful dental implant placement.
- Crown and Bridge Preparations: Advanced laser techniques allow for more accurate tooth preparations, potentially improving the fit and longevity of dental prosthetics.
- Benign Tumor Removal: Minimally invasive laser techniques can remove small oral tumors with reduced bleeding and faster recovery times.
- TMJ Disorder Management: Laser therapies can help reduce inflammation and pain associated with temporomandibular joint disorders, offering alternative treatment options.
- Nerve Regeneration Stimulation: Specific laser wavelengths can potentially stimulate cellular repair and nerve regeneration, opening new possibilities in dental healing technologies.
CTA
Our Laser Dentistry Options
Our Bakersfield dental office is proud to feature two advanced dental lasers: the Diode and the Waterlase®.
Diode Laser Technology
Diode lasers are specialized soft tissue tools that use concentrated light energy to perform dental procedures with remarkable precision. Diode lasers offer many unique benefits:
- Incredible Accuracy: Diode lasers can target specific tissues with microscopic precision, allowing dentists to perform delicate procedures with minimal impact on surrounding healthy areas.
- Gentle Treatment: The laser’s energy can be precisely controlled to minimize discomfort and reduce healing time, making dental procedures less invasive.
- Healing Support: These lasers do more than just cut tissue—they can actually stimulate cellular repair, potentially helping patients heal faster after dental treatments.
Practical Applications of Diode Lasers:
- Treating small oral lesions
- Deep cleaning of periodontal pockets
- Managing soft tissue around teeth
- Preparing for cosmetic dental procedures
- Addressing specific oral health conditions
Waterlase Laser Technology
The Waterlase represents a breakthrough in dental technology by combining laser energy with a continuous water spray. This unique approach offers several advantages:
- Versatile Treatment: Unlike traditional lasers, Waterlase can effectively treat both hard tissues (like teeth) and soft tissues (like gums) in the same procedure.
- Comfortable Experience: The continuous water spray helps prevent heat buildup, making the procedure more comfortable for patients and reducing potential tissue damage.
- Minimally Invasive: By using water and laser energy together, this technology allows for more precise treatments with less trauma to surrounding tissues.
Innovative Uses of Waterlase Technology:
- Pediatric dental procedures
- Advanced gum treatments
- Dental implant preparation
- Precise tissue management
- Complex oral reconstructions
Key Differences Between Diode and Waterlase:
- Diode Lasers: Best for soft tissue procedures
- Waterlase: Capable of treating both hard and soft tissues
- Both: Provide more comfortable and precise treatments compared to traditional dental tools
Pricing Information for Laser Dental Procedures
Laser dental treatments vary in cost depending on the specific procedure and complexity of the individual case. While traditional dental procedures often have set pricing, laser treatments are typically customized to patient needs. Here’s a general pricing framework:
- Basic Laser Procedures:
- Soft Tissue Laser Treatments: $100 – $350
- Periodontal Pocket Reduction: $250 – $800 per quadrant
- Laser Dental Cleanings: $200 – $450
- Advanced Laser Procedures:
- Root Canal Therapy with Laser: $700 – $1,500
- Laser Decay Removal: $150 – $450 per tooth
- Gum Reshaping: $300 – $1,000
Patients should note that dental insurance may cover a portion of these treatments. Our office offers flexible financing options through CareCredit to make laser dentistry more accessible.
Frequently Asked Questions
While laser dentistry is incredibly versatile, not all dental procedures are ideal for laser treatment. Complex surgical procedures, some deep decay situations, and certain types of large fillings or crowns may still require traditional dental tools. Your dentist will conduct a comprehensive evaluation to determine whether laser technology is the most appropriate treatment for your specific dental needs.
Laser dentistry can be particularly beneficial for patients with chronic health conditions. For individuals with diabetes, compromised immune systems, or bleeding disorders, laser treatments offer several advantages.
The minimally invasive nature reduces the risk of infection, while the precise targeting minimizes bleeding and promotes faster healing. Patients on blood-thinning medications may find laser treatments particularly advantageous, as the technology significantly reduces surgical bleeding and associated complications.
Patients with existing dental work can still benefit from laser dentistry. The frequency of treatments depends on individual dental health, existing conditions, and specific treatment goals.
During a comprehensive consultation, your dentist will assess your current dental status and recommend a personalized treatment plan that may incorporate laser technology alongside traditional dental care.
Dental lasers have been FDA-approved for clinical use since 1990, but they have gained significant popularity in the past decade. While not entirely new, the technology continues to evolve, with modern dental lasers offering precision and patient comfort. Ongoing research and technological advancements continue to expand the potential applications of laser dentistry.
Call Gentle Family Dentistry to Learn More About Laser Dentistry!
Lasers have paved the way for numerous patients to enjoy an overall improved dental experience. At Gentle Family Dentistry, Dr. Garger offers laser dentistry services to patients in Bakersfield, and surrounding areas such as Gosford, Alameda, and Lakeview, CA.
If you’re interested in learning more about the benefits of dental laser technology, please call our Bakersfield office at 661-664-9900. You can also fill out our handy contact form below and one of our friendly team members will get back to you shortly.