What would you say if you could have your fillings placed painlessly without drills or needles? You'd probably say, "Where do I sign up?" Well, now, in many cases, you can with a revolutionary new laser technology known as the Waterlase. Unlike lasers of the past, this laser is used for both gum and tooth procedures. Previous dental lasers were used only for the gums or whitening the teeth.
How it Works
This new water laser is a breakthrough in comfortable dentistry. Energy from the laser is absorbed by water instead of by the teeth. The microscopic water droplets are energized by the laser, and it is actually the energized water that removes the tooth decay—and usually with no pain and no need for needles. For many dental procedures the Waterlase replaces the dentist's drill.
The Advantages of Waterlase Dentistry
Anyone who has had a filling placed using traditional methods is probably familiar with localized numbing agents. In traditional filling procedures we use a drill to remove portions of infected tooth and decayed material from your tooth. This drilling can cause a lot of vibrations and heat within the tooth that is being worked on and without localize anesthesia a fair amount of discomfort in the patient.
If you are familiar with localize anesthetic, you probably remember that it can take up to five hours for the effects to wear off. In the period it can be hard to eat and drink without considerable setback. Not to mention it just feels a bit funky. Some people are overly sensitive to anesthesia and experience mild headaches. Being able to offer a solution to these annoying issue while also being able to provide a superior end product is what we love about the Waterlase system.
Focus on Preventing Cavities
It’s fantastic that we have the Waterlase system to ensure that you get top quality treatment of any and all cavities that you have. What we hope to focus on is preventing those cavities from forming. How do we do that? Patient education is the key to stopping cavities and dental issue before they progress to the point that they can only be treated by a dental professional.
If you engage in great oral hygiene routines every day you will prevent cavities from ever forming. The best part is it only take about 7 minutes of effort every day to accomplish this! Brushing thoroughly for 2-3 minutes after breakfast and before bed and flossing at least once a day can reduce the amount of dental issue you have by a tremendous margin.
Be on the lookout for changes in your oral hygiene. Things like gums that bleed easily or are swollen can be a sign of gum disease. If your bite changes or you notice that you have issues with jaw or tooth aches, you may grind your teeth at night. The bottom line is, if something changes and doesn’t right itself within a week, you should give our office a call and schedule an appointment to be seen.
Please call us today at (509) 590-1763 to schedule an appointment.
