Soft Tissue Laser Dentistry

Lasers don’t belong to the realm of science fiction anymore. In fact, they have become a part of everything from examining the moon’s surface to scanning the price of your groceries. Lasers even allow specialized surgeons to perform in utero fetal surgery – they are that precise! Even dentists are using lasers to treat their patients because they make any soft-tissue procedure a snap. And now, you can experience the comfort, speed, and accuracy of laser dentistry for yourself, right here at Burkburnett Family Dental.

What is Laser Dentistry and How Does it Work?

We have all heard the word “laser” so often, we may have forgotten that it is actually an acronym and stands for “ Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. “ Interesting, right? The light produced by a laser is tighter, more precise, monochromatic light (of a certain frequency and color). Because the light is so concentrated and coherent, it can be used to measure, send data, and cut with incredible precision. The process is pretty complicated, so here is a fun article for you to read if you are interested. http://www.explainthatstuff.com/lasers.html

Here at Burkburnett Family Dental, we use lasers to treat soft tissues such as gums with incredible accuracy and virtually no pain. The highly focused beam of light used in laser dentistry vaporizes soft tissue without the use of a scalpel, welding closed (sealing) tiny blood vessels, nerve endings, and lymphatics as it works.

How Does Burkburnett Family Dental Utilize Lasers?

We use our soft tissue laser technology to perform:

• Gum reshaping to reduce gummy smiles and expose more beautiful enamel
• Crown lengthening to allow restorations on even severely damaged teeth by exposing more tooth structure
• Frenectomies to help close gaps between front teeth, stop speech problems, help dentures fit more comfortably, and permit freer mouth movement
• Cold sore treatment to speed healing and reduce pain
• Periodontal treatment and comfortable removal of bacteria under the gum line and in tooth pockets
• Bone regeneration after tooth extractions

The Benefits of Laser Dentistry

Because lasers treat and heal simultaneously, they can:

• Stop bleeding before it starts
• Significantly reduce and even wipe out swelling
• Diminish pain and discomfort
• Eliminate the need for stitches and return visits to have stitches removed
• Lower the risk of infection
• Speed up recovery time

Of course, dentists offering laser dentistry must have special, advanced training in this process to keep their patients safe and comfortable – and Dr. Dustin Van Tassell has taken a significant amount of continuing education focused on oral surgery and soft tissue treatments using dental lasers. Our Burkburnett patients love that they can trust his training and knowledge in all aspects of their dentistry, not just the advanced ones!

If you live in the Burkburnett, Wichita Falls, or Iowa Park area and would like to learn more about Dr. Van Tassell’s training, how we use lasers in our office, or how laser-assisted dentistry can benefit you, please call us at 940-569-4901. We’d love to talk to you!