A visit to the dentist typically appears in caricatures as set in a plain white room that resembles a torture chamber. The patient lies anxiously in a reclining chair beside a tray or table filled with strange metal instruments that glisten ominously under the harsh surgical light. The dentist is almost always depicted as a foreboding figure in a white gown with his face half-covered.
Thanks to advancements in medical technology, today’s dentists are well equipped to provide less painful and less invasive procedures. The era of laser dentistry has arrived. Laser dentistry is increasingly becoming an alternative to traditional dental procedures such as endodontic therapy (for root canals), frenectomy (removal of certain tissues) and treatment for oral ulcers.
People normally associate root canal surgery with a great deal of pain. General anesthesia is usually provided to alleviate the pain experienced during surgery, but some people prefer to forego this due to its possible side effects. Laser-assisted procedures can actually reduce the need for anesthesia as laser instantly cauterizes the affected tissues, minimizing bleeding and accelerating healing.
Laser dentistry is not limited to tooth restoration procedures. Laser hanahan dentistry can also be used for cosmetic procedures like gingivectomy. Derived from the Latin gingiva (gum) and Greek ektome (excision or removal), gingivectomy is a surgical procedure in which part of the gums is removed. This is performed either for health (to remove infected gums) or cosmetic reasons (to improve -gummy- smiles).
Although frenectomy is not technically a dental surgical procedure, it may also be done with dental laser. Frenectomy is the removal of the frenulum, a thin fold of tissue that keeps an organ from moving too far. In the mouth, there are the labial frenulum connecting the lips with the gums and the lingual frenulum under the tongue. Anomalous frenulums hinder mobility of these organs and can cause speech impediment. Hanahan dentists can therefore use laser frenectomy for a faster and less bloody operation.
Nasty oral ulcers or mouth sores can also be treated with laser. Using low-intensity laser beams, a hanahan dentist can minimize the pain in these sores. The laser also helps the sores heal faster.