Laser Dentist

Springfield, Holyoke, Longmeadow, and Wilbraham, MA Laser Dentistry

Laser dentistry is an exciting dental technology that can provide you with new treatment options. At Baystate Dental, we are fully trained and experienced in laser dentistry and we use the CO2 dental laser for both cosmetic gum recontouring and for treating gum disease.

What is a Laser?

All lasers are man-made lights, made for specific purposes. They all differ from other lights like flashlights or incandescent lights because their light beams are directional instead of scattered. They travel in a parallel fashion. If you think of a classroom laser pointer, you will get the picture. A laser light is very precisely focused, and that is why they are superb for medical uses.

Light and heat are two sides of the same coin. All lights give off heat. Although some lasers are so hot they can cut through a slab of steel, medical lasers are designed not to burn. They are cooled by a screen, by water or air, or some method that prevents them from damaging human tissue. Since the beam is so sharply focused, they can be directed harmlessly at a tiny area of the body such as a little area of infection on the gums or the eye’s cornea, as is done in a LASIK procedure.

How Laser Dentistry Works

The CO2 dental laser is designed for working on soft tissue like the gums. It emits a focused beam of light that instantly vaporizes unwanted tissue and bacteria. It works microscopically, breaking the molecular bonds that hold tissue together. Without those bonds, the tissue disappears.

This process is so precise that healthy surrounding tissue is never affected. The CO2 laser gives us an exceptional level of control in dental procedures, making it possible to remove a single layer of cells.

There are also hard tissue lasers that can be used to reshape tooth enamel.

Benefits of Laser Dentistry

Lasers have been used in dental surgery since the early 1980s. CO2 lasers are now the preferred implement for gum work because they:

• Are extremely precise and efficient
• Do not cut any tissue
• Require no stitches afterwards
• Reduce or eliminate bleeding
• Drastically reduce any risk of infection
• Cause little discomfort
• Create no vibration or noise
• Allow a fast recovery with minimal swelling
• Evoke less anxiety because of all of the above

Cost of Laser Dentistry

Laser surgery is not typically any more expensive than conventional surgery. Since the laser works quickly, we are able to absorb some of the cost of purchasing the laser by scheduling shorter appointments. In cases where there is additional cost, it is possible to bill either medical or dental insurance for reimbursement.

We are happy to answer any questions you have about laser dentistry and to explain how laser procedures can be included in your treatment plan.

Please contact our laser dentists at Baystate Dental in Massachusetts today to arrange your cosmetic dentistry consultation. We have many convenient locations in Springfield, Longmeadow and Wilbraham, MA.