Laser Dental Surgery in Rockland, NY

What Is a Medical Laser?

The word laser is an acronym that stands for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. A laser is a beam of light so concentrated and focused that it can cut through metal and glass. 

Developed in 1960, medical lasers have applications in a wide variety of disciplines, including communications, military, entertainment, and medicine. In medicine and dentistry, laser technology is used surgically to both stimulate cell proliferation and vaporize cells, as well as many other things between those two extremes. The applications of lasers are virtually endless in modern dental technology.

In dentistry, soft tissue lasers perform various surgical methods by cutting tissues, including gums (soft tissues) and hard tooth surface structure and bone (hard tissues). Different types of lasers emit this concentrated light beam at different wavelengths. The various tissues in the body absorb different wavelengths, giving certain lasers effectiveness in specific types of tissue. 

Specific lasers are used for particular dental procedures. When the body’s tissue absorbs laser energy, the temperature it reaches determines what happens to the surrounding tissue. The laser can stimulate cell proliferation, cause proteins to denature, vaporize the tissue, or completely dehydrate and then burn the tissue. For this reason, only practitioners with advanced training in laser dental surgery provide safe, accurate patient care with a dental laser.

What Dental Procedures Use Soft Tissue Lasers?

Laser technology is used in a wide variety of dental services, including everything from removing tooth decay from teeth to cutting away gum tissue for the removal of diseased areas. In our practice, we use a laser geared toward the health of the hard and soft tissues around each tooth.

We use lasers to treat and remove excessive or diseased gum tissue. We kill bacteria and infection in deep gum pockets. Lasers can loosen hard tartar buildup, making removal easier from the root of a tooth. We also use lasers to stimulate the regrowth of bone around a tooth that was lost due to gum disease. Lasers can even help us save failing dental implants!

In our practice, we use laser dental surgery for periodontal (gum) surgery, treatment of peri-implantitis, preserving the jawbone in an area to receive a dental implant, and regeneration of bone and gum tissues. We also use lasers to cut away questionable lesions for biopsy and improve the cosmetic appearance of “gummy” smiles with greater accuracy.

How Does Minimally Invasive Laser Technology Compare to Traditional Methods?

Our minimally invasive laser treatments offer significant advantages over traditional methods. Where conventional surgery might damage healthy tissue, laser precision ensures only targeted areas are affected, preserving surrounding tissue integrity. This advancement in dental technology represents a fundamental shift from traditional dentistry practices.

What Are the Benefits of Laser Dental Surgery?

Lasers, like most technological advances in dentistry, provide many benefits to both the dentist and the patient. We choose to provide laser dental surgery because we believe it gives the best possible outcome for our patients through enhanced patient care.

Reduce Bleeding and Minimize Complications

Surgery involves cutting into tissue, which always carries a risk of bleeding. By using laser technology, we reduce the bleeding that occurs. Laser energy promotes hemostasis (the stopping of blood flow). Our lasers do this by producing a coagulating, or clotting, effect. In many cases, our patients do not have any bleeding at all after leaving our office.

No Scalpel – Reducing Dental Anxiety

In laser dental surgery, you do not go “under the knife” because there are no knives, scalpels, or blades used at all. The laser itself, which looks like a small dental handpiece (but without the terrible drilling sound), does the cutting. This fact is very comforting to someone who suffers from dental anxiety and fears the idea of a sharp scalpel cutting the gums. For patients with dental anxiety, this minimally invasive approach provides significant comfort.

No Stitches or Sutures Required

We do not cut open the gums during laser surgical procedures, so there’s no need for sutures to stitch them back together. Stitches can be uncomfortable and irritating to the cheeks, lips, and tongue inside your mouth. They also risk coming untied and needing replacement. Skipping the stitches is a definite benefit of laser dental surgery!

Less Swelling and Inflammation

A smaller, more conservative surgical site leads to less swelling and inflammation. The laser energy itself also reduces the influx of inflammatory cells to the site of injury, minimizing post-operative swelling. Both medical and dental professionals often use lasers at low levels to reduce inflammation and swelling in joints and other areas of the body.

Less Post-Operative Pain

Less inflammation leads to less post-operative pain following a laser surgical procedure. Managing pain after surgery is what caused our nation’s current opioid crisis. By using lasers for surgery, we make the post-operative healing period far less painful, often requiring less anesthetic during the procedure. Patients can easily manage post-operative discomfort from laser treatments with over-the-counter pain relievers like Tylenol or Advil, avoiding stronger medications.

Faster Recovery Time

Every one of those benefits leads to this one. Smaller surgical sites with no scalpel cutting, no irritating stitches, and reduced postoperative inflammation allow the human body to experience faster recovery from laser dental surgery. A laser creates less damage to the tissues, so there’s less to heal. Laser energy also stimulates cell reproduction, which promotes quicker healing and faster recovery for patients.

Treating Oral Lesions, Cold Sores, and Canker Sores

Our advanced laser technology effectively treats various oral lesions beyond traditional gum disease. We can treat cold sores quickly and effectively, often providing immediate relief. Cold sores respond exceptionally well to laser treatment, reducing healing time significantly. 

Similarly, canker sores can be treated with precise laser application, providing pain relief and promoting healing. For patients suffering from recurring canker sores or cold sores, laser treatment offers a breakthrough solution. These lesions heal faster with laser treatment compared to traditional methods, and many patients report immediate pain relief after treatment.

Frequently Asked Questions About Laser Dental Surgery in Rockland County

Is Laser Dental Surgery Painful?

No, laser dental surgery is typically less painful than traditional methods. Many procedures require minimal anesthesia, and the minimally invasive nature means less post-operative discomfort.

How Long Does It Take to Recover from Laser Gum Surgery?

Thanks to the faster recovery times associated with laser technology, most patients return to normal activities within 24-48 hours, compared to weeks with traditional dentistry approaches.

Can Lasers Remove Tooth Decay?

Yes, lasers can effectively remove tooth decay and prepare teeth for fillings. The precision ensures healthy tissue remains intact while targeting only the decayed surface areas.

Do I Need a Consultation Before Laser Treatment?

Yes, we recommend scheduling a consultation to evaluate your specific needs. During your consultation, we’ll discuss how laser dental surgery can address your concerns.

Will My Insurance Cover Laser Procedures?

Many insurance plans cover laser dental surgery similarly to traditional methods. We’ll review your coverage during your consultation.

Schedule Your Laser Surgery Consultation at Rockland Dental Specialists

It’s vital to get treatment right away if you’re dealing with dental issues that require laser dental surgery. Untreated infection risks bone and tooth loss, severe gum recession, and more significant health complications. Best of all, there is minimal LANAP recovery time thanks to our minimally invasive approach.

Rockland Dental Specialists offers LANAP laser dental surgery alongside state-of-the-art dental technology and comprehensive patient care in the New City, NY area. Board-certified periodontist and implantologist Dr. Shalom Mintz, along with Dr. David Peto and our team of periodontists and implant specialists, bring you the best laser gum surgery experience possible with more than 24 years of combined experience. He is passionate about helping patients resolve their gum disease, treat various oral conditions, and maintain their overall oral health. In addition, he is an instructor for the Institute for Advanced Laser Dentistry, teaching dentists in the use of the PerioLase MVP-7.

Schedule a consultation today and discover how our advanced laser technology can transform your dental experience. Contact us today at 845-259-2500 to speak with one of our team members about the dental services we perform using state-of-the-art procedures, or book an appointment online here.