Laser Dentistry
bismarck, nd

All lasers perform by delivering energy in the form of light. When used in dental procedures, the laser acts as a cutting instrument or a vaporizer of soft tissue that it encounters. When used in teeth-whitening procedures, the laser performs as a heat source and escalates the effect of tooth-bleaching agents.

Laser dentistry is an extremely efficient way to re-shape or re-contour gum tissue. An uneven gum line or excess gum tissue can affect your self-confidence with the appearance of your smile. Teeth that are uneven or misshapen can affect the perception of your smile. Laser energy ablates the tissue painlessly and allows Missouri River Dental to target tissue precisely without causing any excessive bleeding. The laser cauterizes as it cuts, reducing bleeding and sterilizing the area as it works.

Common hard tissue procedures include:

• Treating tooth sensitivity. Teeth that have sensitivity to hot and cold can be treated with dental lasers that will seal the tubules on the tooth’s root.
• Cavity detection. Lasers can detect cavities earlier by finding evidence of decay.
• Tooth preparation and dental fillings. Local anesthesia and dental drills are usually not needed with laser treatments. Lasers will kill bacteria in a cavity, which then aids the long-term health of the tooth.

Common soft tissue procedures include:

• Correcting a gummy smile. Lasers are often used to reshape gum tissue associated with a gummy smile, in which the excess gums tissue covers much of the tooth.
• Crown lengthening. This procedure reshapes the gum tissue and bone for a healthier tooth structure, which also helps with placing restorations on the teeth.
• Treating tongue frenulum. If you have a thick or tight frenulum (the fold of skin under the front part of the tongue that anchors to the mouth floor) you could benefit from a laser frenectomy. This treatment will help children whose restricted frenulum causes them to be tongue-tied, have difficulty breastfeeding, or have developed a speech impediment.
• Removing soft tissue folds. Lasers remove soft tissue folds from ill-fitting dentures without any pain or sutures.

Other laser procedures include:

• Teeth whitening. Lasers speed up the bleaching process during teeth-whitening sessions.
• Treating obstructive sleep apnea. Lasers will reshape the throat and relieve associated breathing problems when sleep apnea is caused by a tissue overgrowth in the throat.
• Treating cold sores. Lasers can minimize healing time and reduce discomfort from cold sores.
• Nerve regeneration. Lasers can help regenerate damaged nerves, blood vessels, and scars.
• Viewing tissues. Optical coherence tomography allows us to safely see inside a tooth or gum tissue.
• Removing benign tumors. Lasers will remove tumors from the gums, palate, and sides of the lips and cheeks through a pain and suture-free method.
• TMJ (temporomandibular joint) treatment. Lasers can easily help reduce pain and inflammation in the TMJ joint.

Laser treatments will vary in price, depending on the procedure and the laser equipment used. Compared to non-laser treatment, they could be less expensive because the laser treatment is usually completed in fewer sessions.