Laser dental care restores and enhances smiles

Technological advances have dramatically changed dentistry over the last few decades. Among the new technologies available, lasers have been one of the most pivotal tools in changing how we provide safe and effective dental care. At The DentaLink in Ballwin and St. Louis, Missouri, we have equipped our office with the latest dental lasers because they are incredibly versatile and offer a number of benefits over traditional treatment options.

How lasers are used in dental care

Lasers are used for a wide variety of applications in both medicine and dentistry. They work by using a controlled beam of light energy to perform specific functions – for example, some lasers are designed to work on hard tissues such as teeth and bone, whereas others are intended to treat the delicate gums and soft tissues. Lasers can be used for preventative, restorative, and cosmetic purposes, including:

• Preparing teeth for fillings – Rather than using a traditional dental drill, which generates unpleasant sounds and vibrations, we can use a laser to prepare a tooth that has a cavity. In addition to providing a more comfortable experience – often without the need for anesthesia – using a laser versus a drill helps us be more precise in preparing the tooth, removing only the portion that is absolutely necessary to keep as much healthy tooth intact as possible.
• Gum disease treatment – With a soft tissue laser, we can treat areas of your gums that have been impacted by periodontal disease, gently removing diseased tissue and enabling us to access and remove disease-causing plaque and bacteria from beneath the gumline.
• Shaping gums (crown lengthening) – If you have a “gummy smile” or have uncomfortable soft tissue folds due to wearing dentures, we can use a dental laser to gently reshape your gums for a more attractive and pain-free smile.
• Removing growths and canker sores – Non-cancerous growths and canker sores can be quickly removed and treated with laser therapy so you can get back to your daily life.

Patients and our dental team both love laser dentistry for many reasons. In addition to being a gentler and more precise method of delivering dental care, lasers sanitize and cauterize tissues as they are being treated, which helps reduce the chance of bleeding and infection. In addition, they are often comfortable enough that patients don’t need dental anesthetics!

Learn more about laser dentistry

At The DentaLink, our dental team is always happy to discuss the benefits of laser dentistry with our patients and answer any of your questions. To schedule a consultation with Dr. Allan Link or Dr. Andrew Link, call us at (636) 496 8584 in Ballwin, Missouri or (314) 334-1474 in St. Louis, Missouri.