Idaho Falls Laser Dentistry
Though it sounds like something from a bad spy movie, laser dentistry is, in fact, real. Lasers have been used for medical applications for years; lasers in dentistry is the next logical step.
Dr. Baker uses 2 different lasers in his practice:
The EPIC Diode Laser is a more compact, lower intensity laser that has a wide variety of uses, including treatment of pockets associated with periodontal disease, treatment of aphthous ulcers and cold sores, even in-office whitening! If you “fear the drill”, we guarantee our Idaho Falls laser dentistry will help.
Smooth: Mechanism of Action
Nightlase is a thermally mediated treatment that uses focal Er:YAG laser energy to cause collagen contraction and conversion of type III collagen to type I collagen. This contraction leads to opening of the airway and improvement in snoring and obstructive sleep apnea.
Mechanism has three components:
- Photo-Thermal Interaction
- The controlled heating process enables a controlled tissue temperature increase (50-700 C) to defined tissue depth of (200-500 micrometers) stimulating the desired collagen remodeling and collagen neogenesis
- Immediate collagen shrinkage of up to 30% is achieved
- The controlled heating process enables a controlled tissue temperature increase (50-700 C) to defined tissue depth of (200-500 micrometers) stimulating the desired collagen remodeling and collagen neogenesis
- Thermo-Mechanical Interaction
- Mechanical pull – a secondary effect where lower tissue layers get pulled together due to mechanical tensions between the layers after the shrinkage of the upper layers.
- Growth of New Collagen Fibers (Collagen Neogenesis)
- Formation of new collagen fibers as a result of the heating of the mucosa.
Lightwalker Facial Esthetics
Erbium VAG laser wavelength targets the uppermost layer of skin enabling extremely precise and controlled ablation of micron layer-by-Iayer ablation of the epidermis.
Erbium VAG laser energy is absorbed by the water content in the tissues or skin cells causing vaporization and shrinkage of the skin leading to new collagen synthesis in the dermis. Result = New, smoother, and tighter skin.
Sleep Disordered Breathing
Encompasses a spectrum of dysfunctional sleep breathing, including occasional snoring, habitual snoring, Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome (UARS), sleep apnea and hypoventilation such as (OHS) obesity hypoventilation syndrome.
Snoring typically occurs due to the turbulent air flow when it passes between the tongue and soft palate, causing vibration of the soft palate though snoring or turbulent airflow may also be produced from air passing through the nose.
Side Effects of Snoring, Sleep Disordered Breathing (SOB), and/or Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)
- Impotence
- Pulmonary hypertension
- Hypertension
- Cardiovascular disease – increased heart attacks and stroke
- Headaches – migraines
- Daytime somnolence/fatigue
- GERD
- Weight gain
- Stress
Periodontal (Gum) Disease Treatment
A laser drill can be used to remove inflamed gum tissue around the tooth of the tooth so that root scaling can begin.
Root scaling involves scraping off the plaque and calculus that has built up under the gum line which has caused the gums to become inflamed. Rough spots also need to be smoothed out, as these can attract bacteria and lead to later infections.
Don’t worry, your gums will regenerate on their own – it’s all part of the healing process.
Benefits of laser dentistry for periodontal disease treatment:
- No need for general anesthetic;
- More accuracy and precision in the treatment;
- There is less pain, swelling, and bleeding – laser dentistry is gentle and blood is cauterized almost immediately;
- Faster recovery time.
Clinical Laser Applications
Soft-Tissue – Nd:YAG, Diode
- Biopsies: fibroma removals
- Herpes labials and apthous ulcer treatments
- Gingivectomies
- Crown lengthening surgery, implant uncovering, enhanced capturing of crown margins, etc.
- Gingival pigmentation and amalgam tattoo removal
- Frenectomies
- Peri-implantitis/Twinlight Perio Protocol
- Nightlase & Smooth lase
Hard Tissue: Er:Yag or Er:Cr:YSGG or C02
- Teeth whitening/bleaching
- Pain-free option – often need topical anesthesia only
- Laser etch
- Removal of all caries classes
- Exostoses/mandibular tori reduction surgeries
- Bone spur reductions
- Enhanced initial bone healing
Benefits of Idaho Falls Laser Dentistry
Laser dentistry can be applied to both hard and soft tissues. The hard tissues being the teeth themselves and the soft tissues being the gums. Some Idaho Falls dentists can use laser dentistry for both, although there are different lasers that are used on each respective dental structure.
Hard tissue lasers are powerful enough to penetrate the structure of the tooth, without causing any unnecessary pain or damage to surrounding tissues. These laser dental applications use wavelengths that can be absorbed by the various chemicals and compounds found in the teeth – specifically water and salt.
Hard tissue Idaho Falls laser dentistry is a fantastic option for removing tooth structure, preparing the teeth for dental work, and repairing dental fillings that have worn down over time.
Some of the many benefits that laser dentistry offers include:
- There is less damage to tissues surrounding the area being worked on.
- There is faster healing after the procedure.
- It is far less painful, to the point that many patients don’t even require anesthesia.
- There is less bleeding due to the blood-clotting effect produced by the laser.
- There is a decreased need for sutures.
