Fairfax dentist offers modern laser dentistry: The end of the needle?

Patients have often feared trips to the dentist. Just thinking about the sound of the drills, the smell of teeth being drilled and the pain associated with the anesthetic injection can induce stress. Today, a new technology is reducing stress, pain and possibly time spent in the dental chair. In some cases, the patient does not need to have anesthetic at all. That is great news for patients of all ages.

Modern laser dentistry in Fairfax and throughout the country has grown at a phenomenal rate since its inception. A laser is an extremely focused beam of light with incredible power. It is used to perform tasks in a wide variety of applications. In dentistry, it does have advantages such as:

•       It has the ability to reshape diseased or overgrown gum tissue without excessive bleeding.
•       It is in different cases to remove caries and prepare a toot for filling material.
•       Tissue heals better as the surface is irregular and broader than that of a scalpel incision.
•       Enamel prepared with a dental laser has demonstrated better bonding with filling materials.
•       Bleeding, the need for surgical packing and sutures is reduced in laser surgery on gums and bone tissues.
•       Removal of caries and damaged tooth material is more precise with lasers than with conventional high or low speed drill bits. For small cavities, anesthesia may not be necessary.
•       Lasers can make the process of tooth whitening go quicker. This means using less bleaching chemicals inside the mouth.
•       A laser can aid in the treatment of canker sores and cold sores.
•       A laser can remove tissue that has overgrown due to medications, infections or scar tissue.

The patient will be given special sunglasses to protect his or her eyes during treatment. While a laser cannot be used for every dental procedure, its usefulness is proven and its scope of use is growing with research. Dentists will be happy to explain the procedure in detail to the patient. This will result in a comfortable, stress-free visit.

I encourage you to learn more about the benefits of laser dentistry and ask your dentist about it.

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