Visiting the dentist as a child can be daunting, especially if your child is still building a relationship with their pediatric dental team. Add on the fact that they need a procedure like a frenectomy or dental crown, and it could lead to fear and a flat-out refusal to go back! Fortunately, there are a number of advanced techniques and technologies that your pediatric dentist in Leesburg implements to make a treatment visit as quick, effective, and comfortable as possible, like using a dental laser. This advanced dental technology can help your child have a more positive visit to the dental office. Read below to find out four benefits your child will enjoy from laser dentistry.
More Comfortable Treatment
Unlike traditional handheld dental tools, dental lasers do not rely on pressure, heat, or vibration to get the job done, which minimizes fear and anxiety your child may feel during the process, as well as make it much more comfortable. As a dental laser only uses a small and precisely maneuvered beam of light which can have analgesic effects, children are able to relax during the procedure, and in many cases, there’s no need for local anesthetic.
Minimally Invasive Procedures
Whether your child needs to have their tooth prepared for a dental crown or a frenectomy to address a lip or tongue-tie, dental lasers have the ability to make treatment much less invasive. The precise beam of light allows for direct and focused treatment, yielding minimal alteration of your child’s natural dental structure and oral tissues, thereby helping to preserve the integrity of their natural growing smile. The beam of the laser can also be adjusted based on the treatment being done, allowing every step of the process to be customized to fit your child’s unique needs.
Shorter Recovery Time
One of the most impressive benefits of using dental lasers is that they are able to immediately cauterize the soft tissue area being operated on. This means that they can stop any bleeding that may otherwise occur during procedures such as frenectomies and operculectomies (when the flap of gum over a tooth is removed to prevent irritation and infection). Because of this, as well as the minimally invasive nature of laser technology, children often experience much shorter recovery times and less discomfort following their procedures.
Reduced Risk of Post-Operative Complications
In addition to faster healing periods, laser dentistry also reduces the risk of post-operative issues like infection. This is because the laser is able to eliminate harmful oral bacteria on-contact, sterilizing the tooth structure to limit further bacterial development. This can be especially useful during pulpal treatments, thereby preventing the inside of a tooth from becoming reinfected.
In actuality, many people often do not realize nor consider how advanced technology and modern techniques in dentistry have allowed patients to have a more positive experience during their visit. Sometimes, it is a good detail to look into when your little one requires dental treatment beyond just a cleaning!
About the Author
Dr. Vani Takiar, best known as “Agent T” by her patients, is an experienced board-certified pediatric dentist who is dedicated to using the latest techniques and technology in her practice. She is an active member of seven professional organizations and earned her Standard Proficiency Certification from the Academy of Laser Dentistry. For questions or to learn more about how laser dentistry can help make your child’s experience at the dental office even better, visit Tooth Clues’ website or call 571-799-0559.