Laser dentistry is an up-and-coming technology, now estimated to be in use by more than six percent of dentists in the USA. There are many uses for lasers within general dentistry, and dental lasers typically fall into one of two categories.
Soft Tissue Lasers
The first kind of oral laser is defined as a soft tissue laser. These lasers are used in treatments involving the soft tissue of the oral cavity. One specialized use is to kill acids and spur the onset of healthy gum tissue. (We recommend this for all patients with red or bloody gums, and we generally perform this as an add-on to your regular checkup and cleaning.) Soft tissue lasers can seal nerve endings and blood vessels without the patient even feeling a thing, and they’re a good addition to the dentist’s toolset!
Hard Tissue Lasers
The second kind of dental laser, called the hard tissue laser, is used primarily for penetrating teeth. As mentioned earlier, dental lasers are extremely accurate cutting instruments, so Dr. Lawrence Gerhart can utilize hard tissue lasers to contour or prep your chompers in preparation for many of the procedures we offer at Lawrence Gerhart DDS. Hard tissue lasers are more effective and efficient than traditional tooth-cutting tools.
We’re proud to offer our patients these laser dentistry technologies. If you are in need of an appointment or would like to set up a checkup with our office in Tucson, Arizona, please call 520-326-5442 now and we’ll get you scheduled.