Dental technology is constantly making leaps and bounds forward. One tool that is rising in popularity is the soft tissue laser. This remarkable instrument is changing the way dentists perform procedures — it is also changing the way many patients think about dentistry. What benefits can a soft tissue dental laser in Leesburg offer you? Let’s talk more about this innovation and how it may change your dental care experience.
What Is a Soft Tissue Laser?
Dental lasers fall into two main categories: soft tissue lasers and hard tissue lasers. While hard tissue lasers are designed to be used during operations on the jawbone and teeth, a soft tissue laser is used primarily on the gums and other soft oral tissues. It uses a highly concentrated beam of light to cut into the tissues and help a dentist improve a patient’s oral health. In many cases, a laser can completely replace a traditional scalpel.
Some applications of soft tissue laser dentistry include:
- Removing diseased gum tissue and killing bacteria within the gum pockets
- Trimming the gums to make the teeth appear longer and more proportionate
- Performing frenectomies (lip and tongue tie treatment)
- Assisting in complex oral surgeries, such as dental implant placement
Benefits of Soft Tissue Laser Dentistry
A soft tissue dental laser offers some remarkable benefits over traditional tools:
- Precision. A laser is often more precise than a scalpel, meaning that as much healthy tissue as possible can remain intact.
- Comfort. Laser-based procedures are quite comfortable, often requiring less anesthesia than procedures performed with traditional tools. In fact, in some cases, local anesthesia is completely unnecessary when a laser is being used!
- Little to no bleeding. A laser cauterizes the tissue it cuts, meaning that there is almost no bleeding with most procedures.
- Sterilization. A laser has a natural capacity to kill bacteria, a fact that reduces the chance of infection to almost nothing.
- Quick recovery. Most patients find that they heal much faster when they undergo a laser-based procedure.
How to Take Advantage of Soft Tissue Laser Dentistry
Not every dental practice has a soft tissue laser, so if you want this technology to be a part of your next dental procedure, research local care providers to find one who uses a laser. From there, you can ask which procedures they use the laser for and what kind of training the dentist has completed. You can even ask which brand of laser they use and whether it has any outstanding features.
A soft tissue laser is an innovative tool that is transforming dental care. Find a practice who uses one to experience this amazing technology for yourself.
Meet the Dentist
Dr. Jennifer Pham is an experienced general, restorative, and preventive dentist who is always looking to incorporate new and useful technology into her practice. She is well-qualified to use a soft tissue laser for a range of procedures. To learn more about her and the technology used in our office, contact Downtown Family Dental of Leesburg at 703-777-5600.