Looking for a dental office in San Diego that offers laser dentistry? Laser dentistry refers to a field that uses lasers as a dental instrument to perform dental procedures rather than the low or high-speed rotary handpieces or conventional surgical instruments. The laser that is used in this form of dentistry is a light beam that can be modified based on the pulse and wavelength. Lasers are used for hard tissues, such as a tooth or bone structure removal and for soft tissues. Diode lasers are only recommended and used for soft tissue procedures and the wavelength of those is continuous.
Dr. Kristallis is a pioneer in cosmetic and laser dentistry in San Diego, CA. He is a board-certified specialist with almost 30 years of experience. If you are looking for a dental office in San Diego that offers laser dentistry, San Diego Dental Health Center has everything that you are looking for. You always get the best dental therapy from an expert cosmetic dentist and you will always be treated by an experienced dentist with many years of experience in the field of laser dentistry.
90210 Laser Dentistry
Lasers are non-invasive, making them a very popular option for people who want to go through a procedure without any anesthesia. They are ideal for anxious children and adult patients who fear the vibration, smell or noise of the high-speed handpiece. Laser dentistry is used to treat a number of different dental conditions and became available in the mid-1900s. Laser dentistry offers a more comfortable treatment option for a number of different dental procedures when compared with drills. LASER stands for Light Amplification by the Stimulated Emission of Radiation. The instrument generates light energy in a very focused and narrow beam.
This laser light generates a reaction when it strikes tissue, allowing it to shape or remove the tissue. Laser dentistry is used in a variety of different procedures, including the whitening of teeth, treating tooth decay, treating gum disease or treating hypersensitivity. Laser treatments can make general dental treatments more cost effective, efficient and comfortable. Laser dentistry has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as a treatment option for multiple dental conditions. It is also worth noting that the American Dental Association currently has yet to approve it, although they are hopeful about the field’s potential.
Laser Treatments 101
The two primary types of procedures used for laser dentistry are soft tissue and hard tissue procedures. Common hard tissue procedures include treating tooth sensitivity, tooth preparations in dental fillings and cavity detection. Common soft tissue procedures include treating muscle attachment, crown lengthening, treating a gummy smile or removing soft tissue folds.
Since the treatment can typically be completed in fewer sessions, it may even be equal in price. Dental insurance will usually determine, based on the reimbursement costs of the treatment itself and not which method is selected. Therefore, the compensation through the insurance company is likely to be the same with lasers as it would with drilling or other procedures, but it is important to always review your policy beforehand.
Laser Dentistry – Types of Lasers Used
Our local cosmetic dentist in San Diego will use either soft tissue or hard tissue lasers depending on the treatment. Some will use both types if the treatment allows. Hard tissue lasers can cut through difficult structures such as the teeth and the wavelengths are absorbed through a combination of a specific salt found in teeth and water.
These lasers are frequently used to shape or prep teeth for composite bonding, to handle dental fillings that have become worn down or to remove some tooth structure. There are many different benefits associated with laser dentistry, including the lack of need for anesthesia in certain procedures, minimal bleeding, decreased need for sutures, the procedures generating less damage to surrounding tissue and wounds can heal faster.
There may be some risks associated with laser dentistry that you should discuss directly with our prosthodontist, including that laser cannot be used on teeth that already have fillings, that certain procedures can’t be done with laser treatment, some laser procedures don’t require anesthesia and that lasers can’t be used to prepare teeth for bridges or to remove silver fillings or crowns.
Laser Dentistry Cost and Financing
If you need to apply for dental financing to pay for your cosmetic and laser dental treatment, you can always apply for credit to CareCredit. They are a very solid dental financing company that will get you approved for a certain limit based on credit history and your creditworthiness. After you get approved, you can apply a portion or all of your credit limit for your laser dentistry treatment or other cosmetic dentistry procedures. They work like a credit card and you will have flexible payments and you can pay it off over time. Contact our office and make an appointment to see one our board-certified specialist to have a better perspective over what is involved in these laser procedures and whether or not they are most appropriate for you and your individual needs. Financing may be available to cover a portion or your entire laser dentistry treatment.
