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 the teeth, and soft tissue lasers address the gum tissue. Our dental office uses soft tissue diode lasers. These lasers can 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
Dental lasers are quieter, more comfortable, and often more precise than other treatment methods. Lasers can save you time in the dental chair. Our laser dental treatments offer:
- Precise Treatment: A laser targets the tissue we want without removing any healthy tissue we don’t want to remove. Unlike traditional tools like scalpels, lasers do not affect surrounding tissue. Dental lasers provide quick treatment because of their precision.
- Quiet Care: Traditional oral surgery can use loud drills that can be jarring for patients. Dental lasers do not make any noise. Anxious patients do not need to worry about loud treatment with lasers.
- Painless Treatment: We do not need to perform injections or use anesthesia when we use dental lasers. Laser treatment is virtually painless. The dental laser does not touch the mouth, so it will not put pressure on the soft tissues.
- Natural Healing: Dental lasers promote natural healing following dental treatment. You will not need sutures if you undergo laser treatment. Lasers seal wounds; the laser does not make incisions during treatment. You will experience less bleeding with lasers than with conventional treatment.
Laser Dentistry in Groesbeck, TX
Before laser dentistry treatment in our office, we examine your smile to determine if laser dentistry is right for you. Our office uses dental lasers to contour the gum tissue. We can 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. Gum disease is an infection that can deteriorate the gum tissue. Often, gum disease leads to gum recession, deep gum pockets, and gum inflammation. Patients with moderate to severe gum disease benefit from laser density. 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 tissue and leave healthy tissue. We will determine how much tissue we remove with the patient’s approval before treatment. It can take one to two weeks for your gums to heal after dental laser treatment.
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. The dental laser will not make contact with the teeth or gums. Anesthetics are usually not required before dental laser treatment.
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. 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
You can easily irritate your gum tissue and potentially delay the healing process after laser treatment. 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) 556-3973. 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.