I’m Nervous About Dental Work: Can Laser Dentistry Help?

Up to 20% of Americans avoid going to the dentist because they’re anxious about the visit. If you’re in that group, you may want to find a dentist who offers laser dentistry. Thanks to new technology, laser dentistry can provide a quieter, more comfortable, less invasive experience than what you may have come to expect with traditional dental drills and tools.

Here at Select Dental and Orthodontics in Torrance, California, our skilled team is proud to offer laser dentistry services to all our patients. Keep reading to find out more about how it works — and how it may be able to benefit you.

What is laser dentistry?

Laser dentistry uses the noninvasive energy from a focused beam of light to perform dental work quietly and painlessly. Compared to conventional dental tools, which can be noisy, uncomfortable, and anxiety-inducing for many patients, laser dentistry is a gentler, much less invasive technique for removing tooth decay, treating gum disease, and completing other common dental procedures.

What conditions can laser dentistry treat?

Select Dental and Orthodontics uses several types of dental lasers to treat various conditions. We use a soft tissue laser called the Biolase EzLase 940® to perform oral surgery with optimal precision and minimal heat and damage; combined with a hydrogen-based gel, we can also use it to accelerate the teeth whitening process to brighten your teeth by up to 12 shades.

The Biolase Waterlase® uses air, water, and laser energy to periodontal (gum) disease and tooth decay with painless precision. We can use this laser to repair enamel, reshape your gums, and treat cavities.

Cold laser therapy speeds up healing and reduces pain after dental procedures. We can use this technique to alleviate the severe jaw pain that comes from chronic grinding (bruxism) or a full-blown temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder.

What should I expect with laser dentistry?

Before your laser treatment, your dentist examines your mouth and may take digital images to get a more detailed view of your soft tissues and underlying bone. While you can request local anesthesia if you’re particularly sensitive, the procedure itself isn’t painful. Instead, you can expect to feel warmth and a sensation of mild heat.

Because it’s a more comfortable, less invasive way to perform dental work, laser dentistry can put your mind at ease and make you feel less anxious during your time in the chair. It can also reduce your pain and sensitivity, speed up healing, prevent infection, and accomplish many of the same results as traditional dentistry with increased precision.

If your anxiety is moderate or severe, you may want to consider combining laser dentistry with sedation dentistry, which uses a prescription oral medication to help you relax during a dental procedure. 

Painless dental care isn’t a concept of the future — it’s already here in the form of laser dentistry, and it can help you get the oral care you need to keep your mouth healthy for life. If you’re ready to give laser dentistry a try, our team at Select Dental and Orthodontics is here to help. Call our office in Torrance, California, today, or request an appointment with our online scheduling tool any time.