Advances in dentistry allow us to provide comfortable yet efficient treatments for our patients. Lasers are just one of the general dental treatment options we offer patients in our office. Groesbeck Family Dental uses dental lasers to treat the mouth’s soft tissues, including the gums.
Laser dentistry in our Groesbeck, TX, dental office can treat gummy smiles and symptoms of gum disease. You benefit from less downtime and more comfortable care with laser dental care.
What Are Dental Lasers?
A dental laser is a small, handheld device that dentists use to treat the hard or soft tissues in the mouth. Hard tissue lasers can treat teeth, and soft tissue lasers address the gum tissue. Our dental office uses soft tissue diode lasers to remove and reshape the gum tissue.
A dental laser acts as a cutting instrument. However, it uses a thin light beam to cut and contour tissue gently. This device targets the tissue and delivers heat through a small fiber-optic tip. Dental lasers can use different wavelengths depending on their purpose.
The Benefits of Dental Lasers
Soft tissue dental lasers have transformed the way dentists treat gum-related issues. These advanced tools offer a more precise, comfortable, and efficient alternative to traditional methods like scalpels and sutures. Patients who choose laser dentistry often experience less pain, reduced bleeding, and shorter recovery times.
Less Pain and Discomfort
One of the biggest advantages of soft tissue lasers is their ability to minimize discomfort during dental procedures. Standard gum surgery usually means cuts, stitches, and recovery with some pain/swelling. In contrast, lasers work with pinpoint accuracy, sealing nerve endings as they remove tissue. This means most patients feel minimal pain during the procedure and require less anesthesia.
Reduced Bleeding and Faster Healing
Soft tissue lasers significantly reduce bleeding and swelling. When you cut gums with a scalpel, they tend to bleed a lot – which can complicate the work. Lasers cauterize the tissue as they work, limiting blood loss and promoting faster healing.
Since the laser seals the tissue immediately, the gums recover more quickly than they would with traditional surgery. Many patients experience little to no downtime and can return to normal activities soon after treatment.
Lower Risk of Infection
Another major advantage of soft tissue lasers is their ability to fight infection. Bacteria thrive in damaged or inflamed gum tissue, increasing the risk of infection after a procedure. Because lasers sterilize the area as they remove tissue, they lower the chances of post-treatment infections. Laser treatment helps gum disease patients by removing infected tissue and killing bad bacteria.
Improved Aesthetics and Precision
Soft tissue lasers also improve the overall appearance of the gums. Patients with a “gummy” smile or uneven gum lines can achieve a more balanced look with laser gum contouring. Lasers reshape gums precisely for a better-looking smile. Laser contouring provides a comfortable and efficient solution, unlike traditional gum reshaping, which can be painful and require stitches.
Laser Dentistry in Groesbeck, TX
Before laser treatment, we’ll check your smile to see if it’s your best option. We use dental lasers to contour the gum tissue. We can also provide cosmetic treatment to address gummy smiles or remove infected gum tissue.
A gingivectomy removes gum tissue. We may remove gum tissue in patients with gum disease, an infection that can deteriorate the gum tissue. Often, gum disease leads to gum recession, deep gum pockets, and inflammation.
Laser dentistry benefits patients with moderate to severe gum disease. Lasers help us gently remove infected gum tissue while killing harmful bacteria.
Gingivectomies also treat gummy smiles. A gummy smile occurs when excess gum tissue covers the teeth. Contouring the gums uncovers more of the natural tooth and creates a more aesthetically pleasing look.
Treatment with Dental Lasers
Before you get into the dental chair, we will provide special glasses to protect your eyes during treatment. We will not use sedation unless you have dental fear or anxiety. Laser treatment is quick and painless.
Dental lasers use light and energy wavelengths to target tissue in the mouth. We vaporize the infected tissue with the laser when treating gum disease patients.
The laser tip targets the infected tissue and leaves healthy gum tissue intact. Lasers sterilize the tissue, which helps kill bacteria that cause gum disease. This is helpful when treating deep gum pockets.
We also use the dental laser to provide gum contouring. When we reshape the gums, we gently remove unneeded and leave healthy tissue. We will determine how much tissue we will remove with the patient’s approval before treatment. It can take one to two weeks for your gums to heal after dental laser treatment.
What Do Soft Tissue Dental Lasers Treat?
Soft tissue dental lasers are a modern tool dentists use to treat various conditions in the mouth. These lasers target and treat soft tissues, such as the gums, tongue, and cheek lining. Compared to traditional methods, they offer a less invasive, more precise, and often more comfortable treatment option.
Gum Disease
One of the most common uses of soft tissue lasers is treating gum disease. Gum disease starts when plaque germs attack your gums, making them swollen, bleeding, or losing teeth if untreated.
Lasers remove infected gum tissue and kill harmful bacteria deep in the gum pockets. Unlike traditional methods, lasers seal the tissue as they work, reducing bleeding and speeding up healing. This method is often less painful and requires a shorter recovery time.
Gum Reshaping
Soft tissue lasers, such as gum reshaping, are also used in cosmetic dental procedures. Some people have uneven or excessive gum tissue, making their teeth look too small or their smiles look “gummy.” Dentists use lasers to trim and reshape the gums to create a more balanced and attractive smile. This procedure improves the appearance of the gums and teeth without needing scalpels or stitches.
Frenectomy (Tongue-Tie Treatment)
A frenectomy treats tongue-tie, where the frenulum (the small fold of tissue under the tongue) is too tight. This can restrict tongue movement and cause difficulties with speech or breastfeeding in infants. Dentists can quickly and effectively release the frenulum using a soft tissue laser. The laser cuts the tissue with minimal bleeding and discomfort, and the procedure usually requires little recovery time.
Removing Oral Lesions or Tumors
Soft tissue lasers often remove benign (non-cancerous) lesions, such as canker sores, fibromas, or mouth growths. The laser can precisely target and remove the lesion with less pain and faster healing than traditional surgical methods. We can often perform the procedure in a single visit, and patients experience less post-treatment discomfort.
Treating Cold Sores
Cold sores are painful blisters that can form on the lips or inside the mouth. Soft tissue lasers can treat cold sores by reducing pain and speeding healing. Lasers can also prevent the cold sore from becoming more severe if treated early. The laser treatment is quick, and many patients find relief almost immediately after the procedure.
Crown Lengthening
Crown lengthening is a procedure that involves removing excess gum tissue to expose more of the tooth’s surface. We do this when there isn’t enough tooth structure visible for placing a crown or filling. Soft tissue lasers work perfectly here—they remove gum tissue precisely, often avoiding major surgery. Lasers also help reduce swelling and discomfort, making recovery easier for patients.
Laser Dentistry FAQs
Learn more about dental lasers with answers to these common patient questions:
Are dental lasers safe?
Yes, dental lasers are safe. We provide protective eyewear for patients during laser treatment. Dental lasers are also less painful than other treatment methods.
What are the benefits of dental lasers?
Dental lasers provide:
- Minimal bleeding after treatment
- Painless care
- Minimally invasive treatment
- Quick recovery time
Do I need to be numbed during dental laser treatment?
No. We do not use numbing agents during laser dentistry treatment. Lasers work without touching your teeth or gums, so you usually won’t need numbing shots.
Are dental lasers painful?
You will feel minimal discomfort or pain during laser treatment. Lasers are less painful than surgical treatments that add pressure or vibration to the teeth and gums. You may feel soreness in your gums as you recover from treatment. However, you will not feel pain during treatment.
Do gums grow back after laser gum contouring?
No. Your gums will not grow back after dental laser treatment, so you do not need to worry about your gummy smile coming back. Dental lasers permanently contour the gums.
What should I avoid after laser gum treatment?
Up to two weeks after your dental laser treatment, you should avoid:
- Using straws
- Eating hard or crunchy foods
- Drinking alcohol
- Smoking
After laser treatment, you can easily irritate your gum tissue and potentially delay the healing process. For the first few days following treatment, avoid hot foods. Begin a soft diet and do not eat foods high in sugar, refined carbohydrates, or spicy foods.
Treat Your Gums with Laser Dentistry
Soft tissue laser dentistry in our Groesbeck dental office can make a big difference in your smile. Call Groesbeck Family Dental for laser treatment today at (254) 729-8400. Feel free to schedule a dental appointment online. Dr. Todd Collins and Dr. William Jennings will help you find the right treatment for your gum problem.