Laser Dentistry
Looking for a Setauket Dentist Specializing in Laser Treatment?
Preserve Your Teeth Laser Dentistry has offices in midtown Manhattan and East Setauket in Suffolk County, Long Island. Patients have the flexibility to schedule appointments in either location to accommodate their commuting and work schedules better. In addition, many of our patients visit us from nearby communities, including Stony Brook and Port Jefferson.
Our practice specializes in the use of state-of-the-art dental laser as well as non-laser equipment. This approach ensures the best results with the least amount of discomfort. We will quickly and professionally handle your visit for routine dental care, proactive preventative care, cosmetic dental care or emergency dental care. Our staff are compassionate and friendly and receive ongoing specialized training in the latest laser technologies.
Laser Treatment for Teeth
Dentists have been using lasers to treat teeth since 1989 for both hard tissue and soft tissue procedures. Lasers are an excellent treatment option for dentists, making procedures quicker, more comfortable and more cost-effective. Some common uses for laser treatment for teeth include:
- Cosmetic procedures and whitening
- Hypersensitivity treatments
- Gum disease treatment
- Tooth decay treatments
- Laser dental cleanings
- Laser root canal
Typical hard tissue laser treatments for teeth include:
- Hot and cold sensitivity treatment
- Preparation for fillings – reducing the need for drills and anesthesia
- Detecting decay and cavities earlier
- Removing white spots on teeth
Typical soft tissue laser treatments for teeth can include:
- Treating cold sores
- Correcting a gummy smile
- Crown lengthening
- Removing soft tissue folds for denture comfort
- Treating frenulum (the fold of skin under the tongue) attaching issues
- Removing benign tumors
- Taking biopsy samples
- Treating tissue growth for sleep apnea
- Uncovering impacted teeth and partially erupted teeth
- Wound healing
- Nerve regeneration
Here are additional benefits of laser teeth treatment compared to non-laser treatments:
- Lower infection rates (laser light sterilizes the area)
- Used as a regenerative treatment for gum tissue
- Regrows lost bone around teeth
- Reduced need for sutures
- Decreased need for anesthesia
- Wounds heal faster
- Can eliminate fungus, bacteria and viruses in the mouth
- Lowers inflammation
- Typically have less damage to surrounding tissue
Laser Teeth Whitening: Faster and Brighter
Preserve Your Teeth uses FDA-approved laser teeth whitening. This procedure enhances and speeds up the teeth lightening process and can make teeth up to 10 shades brighter. In addition, laser teeth whitening is fast and efficient and reduces the time for treatments compared to lightening gel trays or over-the-counter lightening strips.
Our dentists will tell you how to maintain your laser teeth whitening to get the longest-lasting results, including staining foods and beverages to avoid. Using over-the-counter whitening can cause problems if misused or used too often. We will evaluate your teeth to make sure you are a candidate for laser teeth whitening.
Are Laser Teeth Cleanings Better Than Traditional Cleanings?
Lasers are now the preferred method for routine teeth cleanings. The discomfort of scraping, pain, noise and bleeding associated with traditional cleanings is eliminated. Instead, light waves of various settings are used to remove plaque and bacteria embedded in gum tissue. The laser sterilizes tissue and kills the bacteria responsible for gum disease. The laser also reduces inflammation and promotes healing, and improves fibrous connections between teeth and gums.
Laser Root Canal for Improved Outcomes
A traditional root canal involves opening a tiny hole in the tooth, removing damaged pulp and disinfecting the area before filling the hole. Occasionally, bacteria remain and cause more problems requiring additional treatment. Using a tiny laser to sterilize the site results in more accurate and speedy sterilization and less bleeding than traditional methods.
Dentists are highly trained in the art of using tiny instruments in precise ways. Practitioners receive extensive training and ongoing education and are as skilled with lasers as they are with drills and other dental tools. As a result, a laser root canal is faster and more accurate and can improve recovery after your procedure.
Laser Dental Surgery
Lasers deliver energy in the form of light and act as a precise and sterile cutting instrument. As a result, laser surgery typically causes less pain and reduces the need for anesthesia. Laser dental surgery also minimizes bleeding and swelling and can preserve healthy tooth material during cavity removal. For patients uncomfortable with the sound of a dental drill, laser dental surgery can reduce anxiety. In some cases, traditional instruments may still be needed for polishing and smoothing.
How Effective is LANAP® Laser Gum Surgery?
LANAP® (Laser-Assisted New Attachment Procedure) is a significant advancement in the treatment of periodontal disease. When gums become infected with periodontal disease, the connections and normal attachments are damaged, and teeth may begin to loosen. As a result, bone loss from infection may occur. Traditional dental procedures to treat this condition, called osseous surgery, have required lengthy treatments and are known to be painful. In addition, recovery can take up to a month. Lasers are now used to remove the diseased tissue and to stimulate healthy gum tissue to regenerate and create new attachments for faster healing. Special light wavelengths are utilized and result in less trauma to the gums and improved recovery. Traditional cutting, scraping and suturing are eliminated, so recovery is faster with laser treatment. Laser dental surgery patients typically recover in just a few days and avoid the gum line recession and tooth sensitivity associated with traditional osseous surgery.
Recent studies show less tooth loss after laser surgery and increased new tissue attachments. In addition, patients using laser dental surgery have less recurrence of periodontal disease than those who have traditional osseous surgery. Laser dental surgery creates excellent conditions for success by eliminating much of the bacteria and promoting new tissue growth.
Am I a Candidate for Laser Dental Surgery or Minimally Invasive Dental Surgery?
The good news is that more patients qualify for laser dental surgery than traditional invasive surgery, including patients with diabetes or pregnant patients. Preserve Your Teeth Dentistry will thoroughly examine your teeth and gums to determine if you are a good candidate for laser dental surgery. We will always present all available options for your treatment.
Our goal is to preserve your teeth using the newest and best technologies available. Healthy teeth and gums are related to overall health. Prolonging the life span of your natural teeth contributes to patient satisfaction and confidence.
