Do Laser Dentistry Procedures Require Less Anesthesia?
By Nairi Kureghian | Published on February 10, 2011 | 0 Comments
Dental procedures performed with soft tissue diode lasers typically require less anesthesia than procedures performed with scalpels and drills. According to Dr. Nairi Kureghian DDS, a cosmetic dentist in Northridge, California, soft tissue lasers are quickly revolutionizing the way dental procedures are handled.
From teeth whitening to periodontal treatments, Dr. Kureghian says that soft tissue diode lasers can be used in a variety of ways. Although she has been using diode lasers at her practice for more than a decade, Dr. Kureghian says that many dentists have yet to catch on to the wide array of benefits presented with the use of soft tissue lasers.
Not only do soft tissue lasers help decrease the amount of anesthesia necessary for many types of dental procedures, but they also cut down on the number of days that patients must take off of work to recover from these procedures as well. When it comes to repairing excessively gummy or uneven gums, Dr. Kureghian says that a soft tissue laser is the best tool to use. Rather than use a scalpel to cut into the gums and remove a portion of the tissue, Dr. Kureghian can use a laser to reduce the swollen appearance without any cutting whatsoever.
Additionally, Dr. Kureghian explains that diode lasers are taking over for scalpels in many of the procedures that periodontists once performed exclusively. For patients with gum disease, for example, Dr. Kureghian can use her soft tissue laser to treat bacteria in the pockets along the gum line.
From a patient standpoint, Dr. Kureghian says that the biggest concerns with respect to dental treatment are usually about how much anesthesia will be used, how painful the procedure will be, and how long the recovery will take. Diode lasers are excellent in all these regards, since they allow Dr. Kureghian to perform complex soft tissue procedures with nothing more than a strong topical numbing agent. Pain is much less severe when patients undergo procedures with lasers, and recovery times are reduced significantly.
At her practice in Northridge, Dr. Kureghian primarily tries to use her diode lasers for cosmetic purposes – ideally, in whitening teeth, making gums look better, or working on crowns. The lasers make it much easier to create accurate dental impressions for patients who need crowns, particularly in cases where a small piece of gum is hanging down and interfering with the impression. In seconds, Dr. Kureghian can use her laser to get rid of the intruding gum tissue and create an extremely accurate impression.
*Disclaimer: The information on this website is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your healthcare provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with an appropriate healthcare provider.