Did you know that lasers are used in dentistry? At Dental House and Aesthetics, Dr. Jomana Shayota uses laser dentistry in Franklin, MI, to treat tongue-tie, lip-tie, and gum disease. Dental lasers are great alternatives to oral surgery, which uses loud and invasive tools like dental drills.
This general dental treatment also benefits patients who fear pain or loud instruments because lasers are quiet and painless. Dr. Shayota ensures that laser dentistry in her Franklin, MI, dental office is comfortable for patients of all ages.
How Do Dental Lasers Work?
Soft tissue dental lasers use light and heat energy to treat gum tissue in the mouth. During treatment, our dentist uses a small, handheld laser to focus this energy on specific areas of the gums. The laser can cut, reshape, or remove tissue with precision.
The Benefits of Dental Lasers
A dental laser is a small, handheld device that allows us to target and treat specific areas of the smile. For example, with lasers, we can provide these benefits:
- Painless care: Dental lasers are not painful; patients should not feel anything during laser treatment.
- Precise treatment: The small laser tip helps us treat tissue without affecting surrounding teeth or healthy tissue that does not require treatment.
- Anxiety relief: Patients with dental fear or anxiety benefit from lasers because they are quiet and painless.
- Quick healing: Lasers provide faster recovery and minimal bleeding, unlike other oral surgical methods.
Laser Dentistry in Franklin, MI
Dental lasers can treat hard or soft tissue. Our soft tissue lasers use light and heat energy to cut tissue in the mouth. We can quickly and painlessly cut, contour, or remove tissue with handheld dental lasers.
Our dental office can treat multiple problems with a soft tissue laser:
Tongue and Lip Tie
We can perform frenectomies with soft tissue lasers. This treatment addresses tongue and lip tie. Tongue-tie occurs when a band of tissue, called the lingual frenulum, attaches the bottom of the tongue’s tip to the bottom of the mouth. Lip-tie occurs when the lip is attached to the gums.
Tongue and lip-tie restrict movement and can cause nursing and speech development problems in young children. When we gently cut the restrictive band of tissue, it frees the tongue or lips. This treatment can prevent issues for children as they grow older.
Gummy Smile
A gingivectomy is a dental procedure that reshapes and removes excess or infected gum tissue. It can help people with a gummy smile, where too much gum shows when smiling. By carefully contouring the gums, a gingivectomy allows more of the teeth to be visible, creating a more balanced smile.
Gum Disease
Also, we can remove infected tissue for patients with gum disease using a dental laser. When someone has gum disease, the gums can become swollen or infected. Using a dental laser, the dentist can remove the infected tissue without harming the healthy gums around it.
The laser is precise, so it only removes the unhealthy tissue. It leaves healthy tissue intact. This makes the procedure less invasive and speeds up the healing process.
What Happens During Laser Treatment?
Before treatment, we will give you safety glasses to protect your eyes from the laser light. Next, the dentist will direct the laser onto the area that needs treatment. The laser uses focused light to carefully target the problem. It removes or reshapes tissue with great precision for a more accurate and gentle treatment.
The length of the treatment can vary. It can take anywhere from just a few minutes to about 30 minutes, depending on the procedure. One of the great benefits of laser treatment is that it’s often faster than traditional dental methods.
Laser treatment is often quicker than traditional methods. Many patients also find it to be more comfortable.
Dental Laser Aftercare
After treatment, you may experience some mild discomfort or swelling around the treated area. This is normal and should go away in a few hours to a day. We recommend that you take pain medication as needed, especially if you get laser treatment to treat gum disease. You may already have gum sensitivity from your symptoms of gum disease.
The laser helps reduce bleeding during treatment, so you will probably have less swelling and a faster recovery than with traditional surgery.
After laser dental treatment, you should avoid certain foods to help your gums heal properly. Here are some foods to steer clear of:
- Hot foods and drinks
- Spicy foods
- Hard or crunchy foods
- Sticky foods
- Cold foods and drinks
- Acidic foods
These foods and drinks can increase sensitivity and potentially damage your treated tissue.
You should also rinse your mouth with warm salt water or a special mouth rinse to keep the treated area clean. Avoid vigorous brushing in the treated area for a couple of days. We will give you a follow-up plan to ensure everything heals properly.
Are Dental Lasers Safe?
Yes, dental lasers are safe when used by a trained and experienced dentist. Dental lasers can treat multiple problems with minimal pain, bleeding, and recovery time.
Because lasers are very precise, they only target the treated area to protect the surrounding tissues. Lasers also promote faster healing times because they are antibacterial.
Can Children Get Laser Dental Treatment?
Yes, because dental lasers are so safe, we recommend them for children with tongue or lip-tie. Lasers are gentle and precise. They cause less discomfort than traditional methods. These treatments also reduce the need for stitches and can help wounds heal faster. Because of these benefits, laser dentistry can be a great option for younger patients who need dental care.
We always ensure patients feel comfortable and monitor them during treatment. Our office wants to provide a positive experience and help children get the care they need without stress.
Get Comfortable Care
Do you want a comfortable alternative to traditional oral surgery? Get laser dentistry treatment in Franklin, MI.
Call Dental House and Aesthetics at (248) 963-7925. You can also request a dental appointment with Dr. Shayota online. If you have questions, let us know at your next visit.