Soft Tissue Laser Dentistry

Dental lasers are a gentle, less invasive way to effectively and safely remove soft tissue, most often gum tissue and muscle attachment points. Used in a variety of procedures, dental lasers offer precise treatment that is more comfortable and faster than traditional dental methods. For children, this means far less fear and anxiety and an overall better treatment experience.

Laser therapy provides the following advantages:

• Minimal Bleeding: As the dental laser vaporizes the tissue, the high-energy light beam aids in the clotting (coagulation) of exposed blood vessels, which reduces blood loss.
• Reduced Swelling and Discomfort: The dental laser seals the tissue, reducing the swelling and discomfort associated with traditional scalpel surgery. It also reduces the need for stitches.
• Less Risk of Infection: The sanitizing effect of the laser reduces the risk of infection, which results in faster healing.
• Improved Treatment Experience: The laser hand piece is quiet and doesn’t vibrate like traditional dental “drills.” This approach is gentle enough that anesthetic is usually not necessary.

Laser Treatment of Tongue- and Lip-Tie

Tongue-tie is a developmental abnormality of the tongue, which occurs when the lingual frenulum is too short, causing limited tongue movement. Lip-tie occurs when the upper lip is attached to the gum tissue above the front teeth. Both conditions have been associated with breastfeeding problems among newborns, as the defect may cause poor latch, inadequate feeding, and maternal nipple pain. Poor tongue mobility, speech, and gingival recession have also been related to tongue- and lip-tie.

Laser treatment of tongue- and lip-tie for infants is a procedure called a frenectomy. Treatment with a laser will not require stitches and only a minimal amount of topical and local anesthetic may be necessary.

Periodontal Treatments

While gum and periodontal disease are most often associated with adults, children are at risk to develop gum disease as well. In place of traditional scaling and root planing, which removes plaque and bacteria by scraping the teeth and roots below the gum line, we can remove the bacteria that cause gum disease through non-invasive laser periodontal therapy. When the bacterial deposits are removed, the gums will heal and begin to reattach to the teeth.