Lasers are a rapidly growing application in dentistry, with more dentists adopting different types of lasers for various procedures.

Lasers have become safer and more practical in dentistry procedures, both for their efficiency for dental procedures and comfort for patients who would otherwise experience pain or discomfort.

Encino Dentist embraces the safe use of lasers to ensure that our patients are as comfortable as possible during their dental procedures. Apart from our educational qualifications, we are trained in the safe use of lasers to ensure that we do not harm our patients.

We have incorporated Ezlase and Waterlase lasers into our practice to facilitate effective, comfortable, efficient, painless, quiet, and minimally invasive dental procedures. Read on to learn more about how we apply these lasers in our dental practice.

Overview of Lasers in Dentistry

Dentists have used lasers in dentistry since the 1990s, and the practice has grown common in most dental offices today. These lasers have made the practice of dentistry more comfortable and painless for patients, most of whom delay seeking treatment due to fear.

Lasers are minimally invasive devices that allow dentists to operate on patients and perform various procedures without pain or an increased risk of complications.

Dental lasers come in different types, but the most commonly used ones are hard and soft tissue lasers like Waterlase and Ezlase.

Biolase is a leading manufacturer of dental lasers for cosmetic, restorative, and surgical procedures for both children and adults. Their lasers target both patients and dentists to provide effective products for both patients and dentists.

Waterlase and Ezlase are products from Biolase, a market leader in medical devices and dental lasers. These lasers are FDA-approved as safe in dentistry for various procedures such as teeth whitening, cavity removal, removal of gum tissues, and other oral surgery applications. The lasers can be used for periodontal, cosmetic, and restorative dental procedures, allowing dentists to meet various dental needs you might have.

Waterlase and Ezlase are the most advanced dental lasers currently in the market. What makes these dental lasers stand out is the comfort they offer patients. Conventional dental tools produce vibrations and heat uncomfortable for patients and likely to damage neighboring oral tissues. A dental drill is a common tool that often scares patients into avoiding dentists until their conditions worsen. But more patients are going for laser procedures due to the comfort they experience.

Apart from being comfortable for the patient, Biolase lasers offer the following advantages:

  • They have higher precision than traditional tools, which also shortens recovery time and the risk of injuring surrounding tissues.
  • Procedures done using Waterlase and Ezlase take a shorter time to complete, which is convenient for both the patient and the dentist.
  • Laser dental procedures are minimally invasive and conservative. Therefore, result in lesser bleeding and swelling, and shorten the recovery time.
  • The use of Waterlase and Ezlase lasers reduce post-operative pain among patients. In traditional oral surgery, the dentist must suture the surgical opening at the end of the procedure, which causes post-operative pain and lengthens healing time.
  • Procedures conducted using Biolase lasers require little to no anesthetic.
  • These lasers also help in the reduction of pain for people experiencing temporomandibular joint pain. The lasers trigger blood circulation and relax the muscles of the affected area, thus providing pain relief.

Dentists have used these lasers on millions of patients with successful results over the years. Lasers are safe for most dental procedures, and almost all patients (children and adults) qualify for their use. Some of the people who cannot have a dental laser procedure include:

  • Those with metal fillings such as amalgam, since these will reflect the laser and cause tissue damage.
  • People with preexisting oral conditions for which laser use is contraindicated

Your dentist will gather your medical history, including conditions or features on your teeth that might affect the safety and effectiveness of a laser. He or she then decides on the type of laser to use, and in some cases, whether to use conventional methods alongside the laser.

When these lasers are used in periodontal dentistry, they make the procedures easier since children are more receptive and unafraid of the laser, unlike when dentists use dental drills.

Although these lasers are safe for dental procedures, you must go to a dentist trained in using these lasers. You must ask about the dentist's training on using Biolase lasers before you book a date for the procedure.

These lasers can also harm your eyes. Therefore, you must wear protective eyewear before the procedure.

Waterlase Laser

The Waterlase laser is a hard and soft tissue laser that utilizes atomized water to remove soft and hard tissues gently. This high precision laser allows dentists to perform some procedures without applying anesthesia to the patient. It also provides the added benefit of sterilizing the surgical area, thus reducing the infection risk from the procedure.

The laser offers several advantages, such as:

  • It reduces pain, which increases comfort for the patient.
  • The laser does not cause additional damage to the surrounding teeth and tissue, therefore eliminating the need for further restorative procedures (traditional methods cause cracks on teeth creating the potential for future dental problems such as cavities and decay).
  • Waterlase lasers increase the longevity of tooth-colored restorations by increasing their bonding strength.
  • The laser is minimally invasive, leading to an almost bloodless procedure.
  • Waterlase dental lasers are conservative, thus preserving a majority of healthy tooth tissue.
  • Dental procedures done with Waterlase require less time at the dentist, thus reducing chair time and the number of visits for the procedure.
  • Using Waterlase lasers reduces recovery time for patients.

Waterlase laser combines a gentle spray of water and laser energy for different applications on gums, teeth, and bone.  The laser uses hydro photonics technology to create a tooth cutting action free from vibration, pressure, and heat.

The most common applications are for procedures done on the enamel. The enamel is the hardest part of your teeth. Dentists previously relied on tough tools like dental drills for procedures on the enamel. Waterlase lasers provide the precision of these procedures without being so hard on the tooth or causing pain and discomfort for the patient.

Waterlase is a versatile technology that can be used for both soft and hard tissues. Some of the applications in soft-tissue dental procedures include:

  • Exposure of unerupted teeth by removing the overlying gum tissue
  • Fixing tongue ties
  • Implant recovery
  • Preparation of the gingival tissue for crown impressions
  • Gingivoplasty
  • Draining abscesses
  • Oral papillectomy
  • Removing diseased and inflamed soft tissue
  • Treating canker sores and ulcers in the mouth
  • Reduction of overgrown gum tissue (gingival hypertrophy)

Applications in hard-tissue procedures include:

  • Preparation of class I, II, III, IV, and V cavities
  • Removal of dental caries
  • Etching of hard tissue
  • Enameloplasty

Waterlase is also used for correcting gummy smiles by shaving, contouring, and resectioning bone and gingival tissue.

In root canal therapy, Waterlase is used for:

  • Disinfection of the root canal
  • Preparation of the tooth to allow the dentist to access the root canal
  • Pulpotomy
  • Removal of the infected pulp (extirpation)
  • Preparation of the root canal
  • Flap preparation and cutting bone during endodontic and root canal procedures
  • Apicoectomy
  • Preparation of the root end for fillings

Ezlase Laser

Ezlase is a laser device designed for procedures on oral soft tissues. The laser works by sending concentrated light energy, which it sends to the handpiece through a fiber optic.

Ezlase 940 is the latest Ezlase laser that uses ComfortPulse settings. These settings allow the laser to deliver short, powerful pulses that provide great thermal relaxation for patients.

Ezlase laser uses a solid-state diode as a semiconductor, which is the source of infrared radiation used for soft-tissue laser applications. The laser uses disposable laser tips, which dentists replace after each use.

Dentists have used Ezlase lasers for a variety of dental procedures such as:

  • Reshaping and contouring the gum, which leads to a better smile. People with gummy smiles approach dentists for cosmetic dental procedures to help improve their smiles and confidence. Ezlase laser removes the excess gum tissue leaving you with a beautiful smile without the pain and prolonged recovery time associated with conventional oral surgery.
  • Treatment and prevention of periodontal diseases by removing bacteria and debris between teeth
  • Ezlase laser is ideal for the removal of oral growths and biopsy samples. Ezlase allows fast, efficient, and pain-free removal of excess gum tissue covering unerupted teeth, fibromas, benign growths, and papilla in the mouth.
  • Ezlase lasers are used to prevent gum recession by fixing tongue ties that restrict tongue movement or trigger gum recession.
  • Dentists use Ezlase for faster teeth whitening, producing results in half the time (with Ezlase lasers, teeth can go 6 to 12 shades lighter in a 20-minutes treatment, thus reducing sensitivity and discomfort that arise from prolonged exposure to teeth whitening products). Once your dentist applies the whitening gel, he or she will activate it using an Ezlase laser, which triggers the whitening process.
  • Ezlase lasers are used in root canal procedures for the entire process, including removing the decayed material and cleaning and disinfecting the tooth before placing the filling material.
  • Hygienists also use Ezlase lasers for scaling and planning procedures, which facilitate deeper dental cleaning.

Other applications of Ezlase lasers dentistry include oral surgery, pre-prosthetic procedures like ridge preparation, and traditional oral procedures.

Benefits of Laser Dentistry

Lasers have a wide application across medical fields, including dentistry. Patients and dentists alike have embraced this technology to allow for better treatment and patient outcomes. Some of the benefits of laser dentistry include:

  • Using lasers has led to a wide acceptance of dental treatment among patients. Most patients avoid dental treatment due to the pain and longer recovery time associated with conventional procedures. However, lasers offer a more tolerable, comfortable, and painless procedure for these patients.
  • Lasers reduce teeth sensitivity: lasers such as Waterlase and Ezlase are minimally invasive. Therefore, they provide minimal exposure to For example, Waterlase hydrates teeth during the treatment process, preventing painful conditions like a dry socket or post-operative sensitivity.
  • Lasers such as Ezlase can be used for cold laser therapy to provide relief from cold sores. When the laser is directed at a cold sore, it triggers blood circulation and reduces inflammation, thus providing pain relief and facilitating healing.
  • Lasers are gentle when cutting oral tissues, which minimizes operative and post-operative bleeding and swelling.
  • Lasers reduce the need for anesthesia for most procedures (which also reduces side effects such as numbed lips)
  • The use of soft tissue lasers reduces the need for surgery to correct gum disease and receding gums.
  • Lasers facilitate faster healing by triggering tissue regeneration.
  • Lasers produce strong light energy that sterilizes the mouth as the dentist performs a dental procedure.

Always discuss with your dentist the possible options you can explore, including laser dentistry procedures, to have a better experience during treatment.

The preparation for treatment with dental lasers will depend on your situation and the specific procedure you require. Ideally, follow the same preparation tips you would for conventional dental procedures.

You can ask your dentist about additional preparation measures such as medication you should stop taking before the procedure.

After the procedure, you need to take good care of your teeth and oral tissues. Brush your teeth daily, floss, and visit your dentist for regular checkups. Improve your diet as well to promote healthy teeth and recovery from your dental laser procedure.

Find a Laser Dentist Near Me

More dentists across the nation are embracing the use of dental lasers to make dental procedures as minimally invasive and comfortable as possible. More patients are also choosing to have laser-assisted dental procedures rather than the conventional approaches if possible, due to the vast benefits dental lasers afford them.

At Encino Dentist, we embrace technological advancements in dentistry that will benefit our patients, including lasers. We choose lasers made by respectable manufacturers and that have the approval of the FDA.

We also ensure that our dental staff is trained in using these lasers to ensure that our practice is safe for our patients. Call us today at 818-650-0429 for a consultation on your dental problems.