How Does Laser Dentistry Work Without Anesthesia?

Laser technology plays a role in almost every aspect of modern life, from reading bar codes at the grocery store to the printer at the office and even at your local dentist’s office. While you may be more familiar with the use of lasers in medicine, particularly as a surgical tool, did you know lasers may make it possible to have a dental procedure without anesthesia?

Jose Marcano, DMD, at Orlando Center for Cosmetic Dentistry, unpacks what laser dentistry is and how it’s transforming the patient experience at dental practices across the country with many benefits, not the least of which is providing more comfort.

Laser dentistry explained

Each year, millions of Americans avoid visiting the dentist because of fear. For some patients, the issue revolves around the sounds of the office, like the high-pitched shrill of the dental drill. For others, the fear has everything to do with pain and discomfort, such as whether the anesthesia is going to work and when it’s going to wear off.

With laser dentistry, a quieter, more comfortable experience is now available. Laser dentistry offers dentists a new, minimally invasive tool that kicks many of the previously perceived downsides of many dental procedures to the curb. 

It works because a specially trained dental provider uses a hand-held laser device, which emits targeted light energy that can be applied to soft and hard tissue. When the light comes in contact with the tissue, it can re-shape it or remove it altogether.

Here at Orlando Center For Cosmetic Dentistry, Dr. Marcano and the team perform laser dentistry using the Waterlase™ by Biolase® system. Patients are more comfortable throughout the procedure because Waterlase’s proprietary laser facilitates energy absorption.

Waterlase mixes water, air, and laser energy to keep your teeth and gums hydrated, limiting the sensation of heat and allowing for a virtually pain-free experience. Using the Waterlase system often enables us to perform many dental procedures, such as filling cavities, with minimal or no anesthesia.

Highly versatile treatment tool

As if comfort and less anxiety and stress weren’t enough, laser dentistry offers a plethora of applications in dental offices. In fact, the Food and Drug Administration has approved more than 20 uses of lasers in dentistry. Its sheer versatility is made possible because dental lasers are highly precise and efficient at cutting through hard and soft tissues, including gum tissue and tooth enamel.

Here at Orlando Center for Cosmetic Dentistry, our highly trained dental team uses the Waterlase™ by Biolase® laser system to address many dental and oral issues, such as treating:

• Gum disease
• Cavities
• Temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) or TMJ 
• Tooth Sensitivity
• Cold sores
• Benign tumors
• Oral abscesses 
• Obstructive sleep apnea

Reduces inflammation and bleeding

Since dental lasers are minimally invasive and provide such precise, targeted treatment compared to traditional dental tools, such as the dental drill, a scalpel or scaling and root planing tools, the dental provider completes procedures that result in less inflammation and less bleeding.

This scenario not only means a more comfortable experience for the patient but also translates into reduced exposure to toxins, thereby minimizing the patient’s risk of infection.

The efficiency and precision qualities of laser dentistry provide layered benefits for the patients. The way it works is less inflammation, bleeding and risk of infection translate into expedited recovery times.

Essentially, instead of being sore for a day after a dental procedure, you may not feel any discomfort during your drive home from your appointment.

If you need some dental work and want to learn if laser dentistry is right for you, request a consultation at Orlando Center for Cosmetic Dentistry. Click the online booking tool or call or text the office today.