For children, noisy drills, big needles, and numbness can make dental visits scary. In most cases, children have no other option to deal with cavities other than facing the big needles and the dreaded drills. However, dental technology has made significant progress over the years, allowing pediatricians to deliver better dental care that was not available before.
As X-rays go digital and most dental services beginning to move on-site in compact milling units, it isn’t a shock that lasers are playing a significant role in delivering an advanced dental care to both children and adults. Yet, most patients have misconceptions about the role of technology in the dental labs and dentists’ offices.
Laser technology has been in use in the dentistry since 1944. Modern laser technology works by offering energy in the form of light. When a dentist uses a laser to ‘cure’ a filling, the laser helps in strengthening the bond between the tooth and filling. When used for dental surgery and other related procedures, the laser acts as a cutting instrument. It also works as a vaporizer of the tissue it may come into contact with. If the dentist uses the laser in teeth whitening procedure, the laser serves as a heat source that improves the impact of teeth-whitening agents.
Perhaps when you hear of laser technology, you think of the Star Wars-type laser beam. However, when used by a professional dentist, the beam of light is controlled and travels in different wavelengths depending on the desired target and results. In dentistry, this target can be a soft tissue, a decayed section of a tooth, or enamel.
Here are the seven reasons you should choose laser dentistry for your child at a local dentist office.
1. Lasers cause less pain in some cases, reducing the need for anesthesia
The thought of the standard ‘shot’ of anesthesia can result in phobia in children. However, kid’s dental issues such as cavities are small and easy to treat primarily with laser technology. In fact, the problem may never show up again. A laser filling procedure on a small cavity is gentle and doesn’t take a long time. If the cavity isn’t located near a nerve, there is no need for anesthesia. However, some complex dental procedures might require mild anesthesia.
Besides, using laser technology to eliminate a decaying part of kid’s tooth results in less anxiety and fear because the kid doesn’t experience the vibrations, noise, and heat-friction associated with drilling. By treating children gently without the anesthesia, laser technology can eliminate the anxiety and phobia children experience at the thought of visiting a dentist.
2. It’s safe and simple
The most uncomfortable thing about dental visits and procedures is often the big needle that delivers numbing medication. Besides, the drill can also make a child hate dental procedures for years. However, laser technology replaces the noisy drills with a quiet dental procedure that is not painful even without anesthesia.
3. No pain
Laser dental procedures utilize a unique laser wavelength that acts as a natural anesthetic. This replaces the usual anesthetic shot, and your child won’t experience the numbness that follows a dental procedure. Even after leaving the dental office, your kid can go back to her daily routine without worrying about biting his or her lip on hurting her mouth unknowingly.
4. Reduces bleeding during and after the dental procedure
A child will feel uncomfortable and scared if he or she continues to experience bleeding and swelling after a dental procedure. However, the use of laser technology in dentistry reduces instances of bleeding and swelling during and after a dental procedure. Note that laser dentistry uses highly concentrated beams of light to perform dental procedures. This ensures bleeding and swelling is minimal after the procedure.
5. Fewer chances of a secondary infection
Laser beams help in sterilizing the section of tooth or gum they come in contact with, or they cut. Thus, there are fewer chances of infections, complications, or spread of bacteria during and after the dental procedure.
6. You will also enjoy the versatility
Laser dentistry is highly versatile. A dentist (must be trained and has experience in using the laser technology) can use the laser technology to perform a wide range of dental procedures on both soft tissue and hard tissue. It can be used to prepare a cavity for filling, remove a decaying part of the tooth, whiten kid’s teeth, and more.
7. Faster recovery
Laser treatments result in less trauma to the tooth and the surrounding parts as compared to drilling technique. That means your child will heal more quickly and will get back to his or her routine within a short time.
Is laser dentistry safe?
Laser dentistry is safe as long as the laser dental treatment or procedure is being administered by a professional with the desired know-how. Besides, the laser technology used for the procedure should be approved by FDA. If you’re considering a laser dental procedure for your child, ask your dentist about the technology they use and their experience in the laser dentistry.
About The Author:
Stacey Smith is the freelance health writer. She is passionate to write about women’s health, dental health, diabetes, endocrinology and nutrition and provide in-depth features on the latest in health news for medical clinics and health magazines.
