What is laser dentistry?
Laser dentistry is dentistry that's done by laser, very simple, right? In reality, the laser device is basically a light beam that can be used in dentistry. And with that light beam, you can either cut tissue or reshape tissue, right?
How does laser dentistry work?
So the light, the laser beam is the beam of light that is concentrated and in the concentration of it, it is penetrating a tissue. Some lasers work because they're penetrating water in the tissue, some just cut the tissue and the beauty of the laser is that it is painless. So you don't need injection when you're getting a laser treatment and that is the most beautiful thing about it.
Is laser dentistry safe?
Laser dentistry could be very safe. Some of the procedures, like for example, you can cut with the laser. So you do have to have precautions, like for example, it's a light beam, so you need specific glasses to make it safe for the operator to operate it, for the dentist or the doctor to cut it. And everybody in the room is supposed to wear safety glasses, right? Because you don't want to shine that beam into somebody's eyes, right? Because that would be damaging. But if you're wearing the safety glasses during the procedure, then it is very safe.
What are the benefits of laser dentistry?
The benefits are that you can do, let's say, fillings or you can cut tissue, whether it is soft tissue or hard tissue, like you can cut teeth or you can cut gum and you can reshape gum and you don't need injection for that. So it is painless, it is quick, and as the laser cuts, it also coagulates. So a lot of times the sutures are necessary. So it is much easier to tolerate procedures with that. Like for example, if you're getting a filling, you have a cavity, the cavity could be cleaned with the laser and then you would put the filling in it and you don't need injection and therefore after you're done with the filling, you can use the filling right away. So that's the beauty of the laser treatment.
What procedures can be done with laser dentistry?
I think I just answered that. You can do fillings, for example, with the laser dentistry. You can also do gum treatments, right? You can remove calculus from underneath the gum. You can do snoring techniques that you can shrink the palate of a patient so the patient doesn't snore anymore or reduce the amount of snoring and how loud they're snoring with the laser. So you can reshape different tissues with that. There are some cosmetic things that could be done with it. Some laser, if it's done on the skin, it could also remove acne and so on or reduce acne formation because they would affect the layer underneath the skin that produces acne so you can do ablation with it. Like, for example, the skin could be burned on the surface or it could be heated inside. Like, for example, some people have different pains and aches and the laser can go inside and heat up the tissue and remove the inflammation of the tissue with that and the pain will stop almost right away.
How much does laser dentistry cost?
Well, of course it depends on the procedure, but laser is just a tool to do the procedure, right? So the price would be varied. If you're interested to know how much would your particular procedure cost, then you can give us a call. We will evaluate you and we'll let you know before we start the procedure how much would it be for your particular procedure.
Is laser dentistry covered by insurance?
The answer is insurance does not cover using of any tools. They cover procedures, right? So it doesn't matter whether you use laser or not laser, the insurance company will pay for the procedure that you are getting done. So whether you use laser or you're not using laser, the procedure is what's covered, not the tool that you use to do the procedure. So the answer is no, they would not cover laser per se, but they would cover the procedure that you would get done with that laser.
What are the risks and side effects of laser dentistry?
Well, the risks are starting with you not being safe, with you not wearing safety glasses, for example, because it can be damaging to your eyes to look at it. Therefore, hey, you can look at it only if you are wearing safety glasses. If you're wearing your safety glasses, you can look at the procedures done and so on, and it's very safe. The other thing is you have to realize that the laser beam is cutting different than the burr, right? So first of all, you don't need to drill the tooth with the drill bit or with the burr, right? You can do that with the laser, you can clean the decay with the laser. You don't need to have a drill to be used in that. I think a lot of people like it, but there's no drill usage.
Can laser dentistry replace traditional drills?
Interesting. That's the next most common question. Can laser dentistry replace drilling of the teeth? The answer is for the most part, yes, it can replace for a lot of procedures. In some particular cases, the drilling is still necessary, but there are a lot of procedures that could be done without the drills because we can use laser for that.
How effective is laser dentistry for gum disease?
I would say it's very effective. In fact, I think it is more effective than using hands instruments alone, right? Because the laser actually hits the tissue and it's almost like sterilizing the tissue with that, right? It's like having your own autoclave, sterilizing the instruments. Now they're sterilizing the teeth inside, but it doesn't mean we're cooking it, right? Because the laser will hit the, right, the area that's full of bacteria. It's called pocket, right? It's the space between the gum and the tooth. So they would remove the tartar inside that becomes very hard and attached to the tooth and it's also will kill bacteria building it. So that's the beauty of laser treatment.
Is laser dentistry suitable for children?
The answer is yes, it is. It's actually very good for children because again, most children get upset that you would give them injection if you have to do a filling and so on, but you don't need to give them injection because with the laser, you can do it without injection. As long as the children can stay still for a little bit, and I'm sure your dentist is skilled in that, and if not, you can bring the child here and I will help you with this. And most kids are very appreciative and they do understand that they're interested that this laser beam can actually fix their tooth and it is painless. So that is an amazing, amazing tool.
How long do laser dentistry procedures take?
It depends on the procedure itself, but let's say a filling could be three to five minutes and you can have the decay cleaned out and the filling placed and cured and everything is adjusted and done. So from start to finish, it's actually very fast because you're not wasting time waiting for the anesthetic to take, right? You remember your dentist gives you injection and then you're sitting and waiting for you to get numb before we start. So that's just like 10, 15 minutes wasted. With this, you can start right away and you finish and you can use it right away. So three to five minutes.
How do I find a laser dentist near me?
If you're somewhere close to us, you can just call us for that. There's different, you can Google it as laser dentistry near me and see if somebody will come up. But it is a very tight community of dentists that have particular laser that can do everything. Most dentists can have specific small lasers, but it is the laser procedure itself. The laser themselves is so expensive that not a lot of dentists will go and spend the money, especially because we don't get paid a lot more because we use the laser on that.
Well, I hope I have been able to answer some of your questions because those are the questions that we get for us or the most common questions that we get. And if you didn't hear your question answered, you can call us and schedule an appointment with me at 718-728-3314 or go on alldentalneeds.com and request an appointment and we can talk about your particular problem.
What are the benefits of using laser dentistry compared to traditional methods?
Laser dentistry has benefits compared to traditional dentistry in that you can get fillings without any injections. With laser dentistry, the nerve inside the tooth goes to sleep and then you can drill the tooth without feeling any pain. It also makes the process faster. You can use the tooth right away after putting in the filling. If the decay comes closer to the nerve, I can come closer to the nerve with the laser than I can with the burr and the patient still doesn't feel it. It's a wonderful way of doing fillings without any pain. We can also cut the gum with the laser instead of cutting it with a blade, resulting in no bleeding and less pain.
What are the specific procedures or treatments where laser dentistry is most effective?
Laser dentistry is highly effective for fillings. We can clean out the decay, put a filling in, and save a lot more of the tooth structure. It can also be used in treating sleep apnea. We can hit the soft palate with the laser a certain way to elevate the palate and make it strong again, which can improve snoring conditions. Another procedure is gingivectomies. We can increase the gum and make the tooth look fuller, resulting in a more beautiful smile. These procedures are more comfortable for the patients, there's less bleeding and no downtime.
What safety procedures are in place when using laser dentistry?
Safety is a priority in laser dentistry. We use specific glasses that prevent your eyes from being damaged by the laser. Other than the glasses, the lasers are very safe to use and there's really not much needed for the safety of the use of the laser.
How has laser dentistry evolved and improved over the years?
About 10 years ago, it took me 40 minutes to do a small cavity. Today, I can do the same procedure in literally 2-3 minutes.
Are there any limitations or cases where laser dentistry might not be the optimal choice?
Yes, when you need to take a crown out, especially a metal crown, the laser would not be the correct choice for it. You would still use the burr for that.
How do you stay updated on the latest advancements and research in laser dentistry to provide the best care for your patients?
I take a lot of extra credits every year and also I do go for different conventions, like for example, laser conventions. I participate with other laser clinics and get more training on using the laser.
Can you share success stories or specific cases where laser dentistry made a significant difference in patients' outcomes?
I had a patient who was snoring really hard and it was affecting his family. After we did the sleep treatment with the laser, he stopped snoring altogether. I also have patients who are terrified of getting injections or using the drill. We use laser for those patients and they are completely happy because they haven't experienced that before.
What training and certifications do you and your team have in laser dentistry?
In order for you to use a laser, you do have to be certified. You have to take specific training to ensure it is safe and efficient.
How do you educate your patients about the advantages of laser dentistry and address any concerns they may have?
We help them make a decision by showing them what we can do for them. It is much easier than they had experienced before because laser dentistry is faster, easier, and painless.
Are there any misconceptions about laser dentistry that you commonly encounter and how do you address them?
The most common misconception about laser is that patients question if they are a candidate for it. Yes, anybody could be a candidate for laser dentistry. As for patients that have undergone chemotherapy or radiation therapy and are afraid to come in, laser dentistry is beneficial for them as it kills all the bacteria in the area.
How can potential patients get in touch with you?
If you need any dentistry, you can call us here at Steinway Family Dental Center at 718-728-3314 or you can request an appointment online.
Pain-Free Dentistry Has Arrived - No Drill, No Noise
Dr. Aleksander Dayanayev is proud to let you know that Steinway Family Dental Center now uses one of the most revolutionary options available in modern dentistry – Solea isotopic CO2 laser for use on the gingiva, dentin, enamel, and bone.
Is Laser Dentistry Safe And Is It Really Pain Free?
Yes it is 100% FDA approved and virtually pain free.
If you are looking for a laser dentist in Astoria, Queens then we are proud to offer pain free laser dentistry using a unique pain free dental laser. This procedure is ideal for patients that have dental phobia and who are uncomfortable with the idea of sedation. The process is ideal for patients that may have to undergo multiple fillings and this was one of the first procedures that Dr. Dayanayev performed using this technology on a patient that needed no anesthesia whatsover. Research has show that when using the Solea laser dentistry appliance that 95% of procedures can be performed using no anesthetic.
Luckily this means that not only will you not have to undergo sedation but that you will not have the usual lip swelling and numbness that is associated with these dental procedures. At Steinway Family Dental Center we can incorporate this procedure into your treatment protocol - the great benefit being that later that day with no lip swelling or numbness, nobody will even know that you were at the dentist.
At Steinway Family Dental Center you now have a pain free method available to treat cavities as we are one of the only practices in Queens offering laser dentistry and one of the few practices in Astoria. So now there is no need to worry about having painful dental procedures and removing decayed areas with our laser dentistry is very easy procedure.
Now you can have cavities treated using SOLEA - a pain free way to treat cavities:
If you are worried about cavities and have put off seeing the dentist then now is the time to see the dentist before any condition that you may have gets worse. Cavities can lead to severe decay and can lead to root canal treatments needing performed or possibly even dental extractions. Here at Steinway Family Dental Center we would remove all decay using our dental laser and fill those areas of decay with composite resin. No more need for amalgam fillings. We can now replace amalgalms fillings with composite resin fillings and we have a very easy and safe process to remove the amalgam fillings using the SOLEA laser. This means that when we do give you amalgam fillings we can do so by matching the color of your teeth. This allows for a more cosmetic approach to dentistry and people looking at your teeth when you smile will not see even know that you had fillings as they will blend in with your teeth.
Get Cavities Treated The Pain Free Way.
When we are using the SOLEA laser device to remove decay it allows the precision laser to remove the decay and disinfect it so that a filling can be placed immediately after. Now you can have cavities treated using SOLEA - a pain free way to treat cavities. Here we have answered a few questions about SOLEA:
Can Laser Dentistry Using SOLEA Repair A Gummy Smile?
SOLEA laser dentistry allows for a virtually pain free process of cavity removal. Patients undergoing this form of treatment do not need any anesthetic at all. The composite resin fillings are general more expensive than amalgam fillings with the results and benefits outweigh the price. If you have insurance most of the cost of composite resin fillings will be covered by insurance. So in the end you may only have to pay the difference between the cost of amalgam fillings and the composite resin fillings.
Is SOLEA Laser Dentistry Known To Be An Invasive Procedure?
SOLEA laser dentistry is far less invasive than using a traditional handpiece or any other dental instruments. The beauty of SOLEA laser dentistry is that it makes healing time much quicker than regular procedures. Normally when patients have anesthesia they leave the office with a numb feeling. With SOLEA laser dentistry you can go straight back to lunch or back to work without that numb feeling in your mouth or a swollen jaw.
What Should I Do If I Am Interested In This Procedure?
If you are looking for a laser dentist in Astoria or Queens are looking to find out more about this procedure then it is best to call our office on 718-728-3314. Laser dentistry using SOLEA is one of the biggest advancements in dentistry in recent years and will allow patients to overcome their dental fears due to the fact that the procedures are virtually painless. For any patients looking to learn more please call our office on 718-728-3314. We look forward to treating you in a pain free environment and this is a great way to have procedures performed without the fear of pain or the noise of a drill.