Keeping up with your oral health is a crucial part of self-care. A healthy mouth and stunning set of teeth can give us the confidence we need to maneuver our day-to-day lives and can make us feel fabulous with every smile. But when our oral health starts to fail on us—or simply isn’t where we’d like it to be—it can have a drastic impact on our self-perception. Thankfully, fixing dental issues, gum problems, and more has never been easier, thanks to our readily available and highly-effective laser dentistry treatments in Houston, TX!
Laser dentistry is a revolutionary 21st-century solution to age-old dental problems. And if visiting the dentist conjures up images of sharp instruments that whine, whir, and jab, then you’re in for a pleasant surprise when you visit Dr. Heather Fleschler. That’s because laser dentistry is a quieter, faster, and more pain-free alternative to traditional dental care treatments!
Moreover, Dr. Fleschler uses the most advanced technology in order to deliver the exceptional results you deserve while providing high levels of comfort. To learn more about the state-of-the-art lasers we use, please call 713-660-6500 today.
What Can Be Treated With Laser Dentistry?
Laser treatments can address a variety of dental issues, including the following:
- Tooth decay and gum disease: Dr. Fleschler uses lasers to remove decayed parts of a tooth before introducing a filling, and we can use low-level laser light therapy to reduce inflammation and remove infected gum tissue during periodontal treatment.
- Root canals: Root canals have a reputation for being painful and lengthy, but using a laser allows Dr. Fleschler to remove bacterial infection more precisely and comfortably than with traditional mechanical tools.
- Gum recontouring: Dr. Fleschler uses a laser to reshape your gum tissue and eliminate a “gummy smile” during cosmetic gum recontouring procedures.
Who Is a Candidate for Laser Dentistry?
Dental lasers may not be appropriate for every condition and procedure. For relevant procedures, such as cavity detection, root canal preparation, and gum reshaping, most people are good candidates for laser dentistry treatment in Houston, TX. Before making a recommendation, Dr. Fleschler carefully examines the teeth and gums and discusses with the patient the benefits and potential risks a laser may present in their case.
What Are the Advantages of Laser Dentistry?
Laser dentistry offers many advantages over the mechanical approaches you may be accustomed to. Specifically, laser therapy can:
- Reduce the pain associated with procedures like root canals and, as a result, reduce our reliance on anesthesia.
- Reduce the amount of bleeding and swelling from the gums during gum disease treatment.
- Make patients more comfortable. Nobody likes the drill, but some are more anxious than others.
- Help Dr. Fleschler remove only tissue that needs removal, preserving more of your natural healthy tissue.
Are There Any Risks Involved With Laser Dentistry?
The general consensus is that laser dental procedures can be less risky than many traditional dental techniques. This is because the laser eliminates the need for drilling and cutting in many cases. Still, it is important to have laser dentistry treatment performed by a trained, experienced dentist who can minimize risks like:
- Injury to the dental pulp
- Injury to the gums
Patients should also know that laser dentistry treatments may still require the use of a drill or other instrument, depending on the complexity of the dental condition. Sometimes, a dentist will also still administer local anesthesia when performing a laser procedure.
What Age Is It Appropriate to Receive Laser Dentistry Treatment?
One of the best parts about laser dentistry is the fact that it is a perfect dental health treatment solution for patients of all ages. No matter whether your child has wound up needing a cavity dealt with, your elderly parent needs a gum problem addressed, or it’s you who’s been considering gum recontouring in order to achieve a perfect smile, laser dentistry has been proven to be effective regardless of what phase of life you may be in.
How Can I Prepare for Laser Dentistry?
There are no special precautions to take before having a laser dentistry procedure. Just keep up with your usual oral hygiene routines, such as daily brushing, flossing, and the use of mouthwash. Dr. Fleschler will perform a thorough consultation and examination to ensure that the use of a laser device is appropriate for your unique case and will offer you the highest level of benefit possible.
How Does Laser Dentistry Work?
Laser dentistry works through specific wavelengths of light. The wavelength utilized depends on whether the dentist is using a hard laser or a soft tissue laser.
Hard laser devices emit wavelengths of light that cut through bone and water. These devices are especially effective at reshaping the calcium phosphate that makes up our teeth.
The precision of hard laser wavelengths can cut teeth or shape smaller areas to prepare teeth for other procedures or improve their appearance. Hard lasers are used both diagnostically, such as in cavity detection, and clinically, such as in preparing a tooth for a filling.
Soft tissue laser devices emit wavelengths of light that are easily absorbed by water and hemoglobin, the molecule found in the blood. Soft tissue lasers are primarily used on the gums but may also be used to correct conditions such as a tied tongue. Because the laser energy seals off blood vessels, soft tissue lasers are known to reduce bleeding and recovery time.
Is Laser Dentistry Painful?
Typically not! Since the use of a high-tech orthodontic laser means that there won’t be any sharp metal objects poking and jabbing at your mouth, making the entire experience far less painful—if not completely painless when it comes to resolving tooth decay and gum disease. However, when it comes to more invasive dental procedures such as root canals, there may be some discomfort during the procedure, as well as following the treatment during your natural healing time.
Will I Need Anesthesia for Laser Dentistry Treatment?
Many smaller dental issues that can be treated with laser dentistry in Houston, TX, may not require any local anesthesia. However, we prefer to be safe rather than sorry, so during most treatments, you’ll likely be given a light covering of local anesthesia on whatever part of your mouth Dr. Fleschler intends to work on. This serves to give both you and Dr. Fleschler peace of mind knowing that no one is in pain.
We can also offer stronger sedatives for more invasive procedures, like root canals, to make the treatment less stressful for our more anxious patients and negate the possibility of any pain during the process.
Are There Drawbacks?
Laser dentistry in Houston, TX, cannot be used in every situation. The following situations don’t lend themselves well to laser treatment and usually require that we use traditional mechanical methods:
- Teeth with existing fillings
- Cavities located between teeth
- Preparatory work for locating dental bridges
- Preparatory work for crowns
- Old fillings, including silver
Laser dentistry also costs more than traditional methods, but most patients would say that the cost is worth the increased comfort and precision that it offers.
Read what our patients are saying!
“My daughter and I have been going to Dr. Fleschler for the past few years. She is the most competent, professional dentist/doctor that I have ever worked with. She truly analyzes every situation and explains it with total clarity. Plus, she genuinely cares about her patients having great results. Her staff is equally professional – Katie, Lisa, etc. I can’t say enough good things about her and her team.”
What Is Recovery Like From Laser Dentistry?
Because laser procedures are often performed without the need for traditional dental instruments like scalpels and drills, the recovery from laser dental treatment is minimal. The laser does all the work, even the cauterizing and sterilizing that other instruments cannot achieve. By sealing off blood vessels immediately, the laser significantly reduces bleeding both during the procedure and after. Patients may still experience minor soreness, sensitivity, or tenderness for a day or two, but these side effects are rare and easily managed if they do occur.
Schedule Your Consultation With Dr. Fleschler Today!
So, if you’ve been recently diagnosed with some form of dental troubles, or you’re looking for some cosmetic work to be done so you can boast the smile of your dreams, then you should get in contact with Dr. Heather Fleschler whenever you’re ready. Our practice is located conveniently in Houston, TX, and is equipped to help you with whatever laser dentistry treatment that you may need. Please feel free to reach out to us at 713-660-6500 if you have any further questions about laser dentistry or if you would like to go ahead and schedule your initial consultation with Dr. Fleschler.
