Cavities are among the most common dental concerns in toddlers, children, and adults. Although primary(baby) teeth eventually fall out in childhood, leaving cavities untreated can result in further complications in adolescence and adulthood. Cavities most often occur from inadequate oral hygiene, such as poor brushing and flossing or missing routine dental checkups.
Cavities form as a result of plaque buildup as the sticky substance eats away at tooth enamel, the surface layer of teeth. As enamel deteriorates, it creates a hole where the cavity resides. Plaque naturally occurs in the mouth when combined with saliva, acid, and food. To prevent cavity formation, it is important to brush and floss twice a day and rinse after every meal.
Laser Dentistry for Those with a Dental Phobia
While patients of all ages can struggle with varying levels of dental anxiety, laser dentistry can help enhance the treatment process in more ways than one. With laser dentistry, we can increase the precision of our treatment without the need for certain traditional metal dental tools. This way, patients who have any concerns about dental checkups can still receive the dental treatment they need. In fact, laser dentistry can make it so patients feel minimal to no sensations.
Laser Dentistry Provides a Better Experience
By performing laser dental treatments, we can eliminate the common reasons why people are uncomfortable during dental procedures – heat, pressure, and vibration. When it comes to treat child patients with laser dentistry, we will need to make sure they are a candidate. We use the SOLEA laser system. As the first CO2 dental laser system cleared by the FDA, we can use SOLEA laser for various types of oral tissue procedures.
With this system, most patients do not require any anesthesia and benefit from this system causing little to no irritation. Laser dentistry is the next step in oral health care from professional cleanings to various dental procedures. The laser is incredibly thin so we can make precise incisions when necessary. We can even use lasers to correct issues like tooth decay. The difference is that the surrounding gum tissue is not impacted or irritated in any way.
By removing this risk, our patients can undergo the same dental procedures but with a faster recovery time. Simultaneously, our patients are more comfortable than if the procedure was performed in the traditional manner. For example, laser dental fillings achieve the same results but without the discomfort. Simultaneously, lasers can also be used to help stop the bleeding so that when a more intensive procedure is being performed, gauze may be unnecessary or only used temporarily. Patients can appreciate the opportunity to have dental work completed in this non-invasive way. If you would like to experience laser dentistry for yourself, we invite you to call 760-730-3456 and schedule an appointment.
Laser Gum Surgery
Perhaps one of the most significant advances that gentle dentistry has made is associated with treating gum disease. This condition is so common that most adults will suffer from some form of gum disease in their lifetime. The symptoms typically start with red, swollen, and bleeding gums but if left untreated, it can lead to gum recession. Receding gums are particularly dangerous because more of the tooth and roots will become exposed and open for attack by bacteria. Many people suffer bone and tooth loss as a result. Treating gum disease, therefore, is critical for preserving your teeth as you age. The traditional method of treatment involves pulling the gums away from the tooth and using metal dental tools to scrape off the bacteria, plaque and tartar that has formed on the tooth but underneath the gums. This can be uncomfortable to say the least. Laser dentistry has completely changed the procedure. We offer periodontic care, and our patients can have their gum disease treated by using lasers to break up the plaque and tartar. This will remove the irritant that is causing the gum disease in the first place. Typically, the gums will then return to good health. Since this is a non-invasive procedure, our patients start to feel better right away. Not all dentists in the Carlsbad area offer this new method of treating gum disease, making it important to visit a laser dentistry office.
Call Us to Learn More Today
The technology is continuing to change and improve so if there are procedures that we are still using traditional dental tools for, we expect all or most of them to eventually be done using lasers. For now, we have implemented the use of lasers in our procedures to place dental veneers, fillings, crowns, dental implants, to whiten teeth, and treat gum disease, among others. If you want to learn more about how we use laser technology currently, call CarlsbaDDS Pediatric Smiles and schedule an appointment with our dental office.
Helpful Related Links
- American Dental Association (ADA). Glossary of Dental Terms. 2015
- American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry® (AACD). Home Page. 2015
- WebMD. WebMD’s Oral Care Guide. 2015
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Definition of Cosmetic Dentistry Terminology
Allograft
An allograft is a graft of tissue from a donor within the same species as the patient that is not a genetic relative.
Alveolar Ridge
The alveolar ridge is the bony ridge for one of the jaw ridges located on the roof of the mouth or on the bottom of the mouth.
Autograft
An autograft is a graft of tissue from one portion of an individual’s body to another.
Bleachorexia
Bleachorexia is when people continue to abuse teeth whitening solutions without consulting professionals, causing significant damage to their enamel and gums in the process.
Cap Splint
A cap splint is a plastic or metallic device that professionals may use to treat mandible or maxillary fractures and cover crowns of teeth.
Cosmetic Dentistry
Cosmetic dentistry is generally used to refer to any dental work that improves the appearance (though not necessarily the function) of a person’s teeth, gums and/or bite.
Crown Lengthening
Crown lengthening is a surgical procedure that increases the extent of a tooth structure for restorative or esthetic purposes.
Dental Crown
A crown is an artificial tooth, usually consisting of porcelain, which covers the top of the implant to provide people with an aesthetically pleasing and fully-functional tooth.
Dentin Hypersensitivity
Dentin hypersensitivity is when the enamel wears down on the tooth enough that the dentin faces exposure and will cause great levels of pain when a person applies pressure to the tooth or drinks hot/cold beverages.
Dentist
A dentist, also known as a dental surgeon, is a doctor who specializes in the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases and conditions of the oral cavity.