If you have a family, choosing a dentist can be difficult. You may have children at various stages of childhood who all have different needs, ranging from general dentistry to possibly needing some support with realigning their teeth if they are teenagers. Then there is you; you may need preventive treatment or cosmetic treatment. You may also have a fear of the dentist, or perhaps one of your children does. There are so many factors to consider and you certainly want to find a Coorparoo family dental that is welcoming, friendly and considerate of all of your needs. It may be useful to know then that there is another way that some dentists are able to treat patients, using laser dentistry.
Laser dentistry includes a wide range of treatments from restorative work such as fillings, soft tissue surgery and oral surgery to other treatments such as cosmetic skin treatment, teeth whitening, muscle tightening around the perioral area and removal of crowns and veneers. It can even help with snoring! The lasers can be used in different ways depending on the treatment involved, but generally it is used on tissue and the laser light causes a reaction which then allows the tissue to be moved and reshaped.
What are the benefits of having laser dentistry?
If you’re considering laser dentistry at a dental practice, then you may be pleased to know that there are a number of benefits to choosing it. Firstly, in treatments where there may be some bleeding, laser dentistry reduces the amount of bleeding that a patient experiences. It may also remove the need for stitches with some gum treatments and it can also allow for faster healing times. Another benefit for nervous patients can be that laser dentistry sometimes removes the need for the use of drills and needles, which means that their treatment is less intimidating and may also feel a more pleasant experience during the procedure and afterwards. Another benefit of laser dentistry is that it can be more hygienic, as it is able to sterilise the area being treated and therefore reduces the risk of infection and further complications. It can also reduce the amount of discomfort a patient may feel during a treatment and in some cases, anaesthesia may not be required when a laser is being used. Another major benefit is also that laser dentistry can increase the success rate of treatments, including root canals.
As with any treatment, there may be a few downsides, but these can be discussed with a dentist prior to commencing any treatment that you may be considering. Generally speaking, the negatives are that lasers can’t be used on any fillings that are already in place, for example. Another is that sometimes traditional drills may still be required to shape a filling, adjust the bite and polish the filling. If you are interested in finding out more about laser dentistry, you will need to find a dentist who offers this. You should be able to book the family in for a consultation to discuss everybody’s needs before committing to joining a practice and this will allow you to find out more about laser dentistry and ask the questions about this and other treatments that may be required before you embark upon anything.
Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.
