Oral technology has come far in the last century, but even that rate of growth looks dismal compared to the advances being made in laser dentistry. Nearly every dental procedure can be complemented with laser technology, which is more efficient than older oral methods. Here are a few examples of how laser dentistry is changing the way dental practitioners do their work:
Tissue fold treatment. A common side effect of wearing dentures is the creation of soft tissue folds, something a few denture-wearers find disagreeable. Using a soft tissue laser, we can alter the appearance of your gums.
Tongue tie removal. A tongue tie (also known as ankyloglossia) occurs when tissue in the oral cavity bonds the tip of the tongue to the floor of the mouth. This impacts a child’s capacity to breastfeed, and it can be treated using oral lasers.
Tooth preparation. During oral services, your teeth are first prepped for treatment, usually with a dental drill. By using dental laser technology, we can prepare your pearly whites without using dental drills as much as we would with traditional means, and in a few cases, we might not have to use dental drills at all.
Caring for sleep apnea. Sometimes sleep apnea in the elderly is caused by surplus tissue growth in the throat, and in such cases, a surgery (palatoplasty or uvuloplasty) can be laser-assisted to release the throat of the excess tissue.
With all of the wide-ranging applications of lasers in dental procedures, it’s no wonder that laser dentistry is growing so speedily. We’d love to share more about the possibilities of laser dentistry and what they mean for your oral health. Please pencil in your next visit to our Slidell, Louisiana, office now by calling 985-643-4553. Dr. Kent Stasney and the staff at Slidell Family Dental Care will be happy to see you!
