Laser dentistry | Otahuhu Dental Care
From being used successfully in the USA and Germany for many years, they are now becoming more widespread in New Zealand. At Otahuhu Dental Care we have had a Waterlase™ dental laser for the past several years, however we have recently upgraded to the Waterlase MD™ and also incorporated the Ezlase ™ soft tissue laser into our practice.
Waterlase uses a unique combination of laser energy and water to provide gentler, more precise treatment that conserves healthy tooth structure, and minimizes pain and discomfort.
Laser dentistry has the following advantages:
- It can induce anaesthesia in the tooth so many restorations can be completed without local anaesthetics.
- The sound is a “popping” rather than the usual whine of a fast-speed drill.
- Procedures that once took several appointments to complete, such as multiple fillings, can now be finished in just one visit.
- Treatment can be more comfortable as there is no vibration.
- Preventative dentistry can be more effective as smaller restorations can be prepared.
- Tissue healing is faster and often occurs without swelling and with reduced post-operative pain.
Uses of Dental Lasers:
- To create a better gum line around natural teeth, crowns and veneers.
- To remove lesions in the mouth, such as polyps, without needing to be referred to hospital.
- To remove overgrowths of gum around teeth.
- To promote the healing of ulcers and cold sores.
- To whiten teeth using a specialised whitening gel.
- To disinfect the tissues in dental pockets and promote healing and bone regrowth.
- To sterilise the bacteria in root canals during root treatments and increase healing.