Laser Pediatric Dentistry in Louisville & Westminster, Colorado
Laser pediatric dentistry is the use of lasers to treat a variety of different dental conditions in children. It first became commercially used in clinical dental practice for procedures involving tooth tissue in 1989. With laser dentistry, a pediatric and children’s dentist can offer a more comfortable treatment option for a number of dental procedures involving hard or soft tissue compared to drills and other non-laser tools.
LASER stands for “light amplification by the stimulated emission of radiation.” In dentistry, the instrument creates light energy in a very narrow and focused beam. This laser light produces a reaction when it hits tissue, allowing it to remove or shape tissue in the treatment site with great precision.
Laser Pediatric Dentistry at Young Dentistry for Children
Laser pediatric dentistry care is among dentistry’s most recent and beneficial breakthroughs. At Young Dentistry for Children the laser is used to treat soft tissue conditions, such as lip and tongue ties. Laser treatment is minimally invasive and usually, unlike treatment with a traditional scalpel, does not require local anesthetic. This is a particular benefit to the infants we treat in our office. Read more here.
Young Dentistry for Children has an ongoing working rapport with local and surrounding lactation specialists, speech pathologists and pediatricians and collaborates with them to determine if functional concerns, such as nursing or speech difficulties, may be improved with lip and/or tongue-tie releases.
Some laser pediatric dental treatments include:
Tongue and Lip Tie Releases
Lip ties and tongue ties are what we call it when the thin pieces of tissue that connect the upper lip to the gums and the tongue to the floor of the mouth are thicker and tighter than usual. These pieces of tissue are called frenula (frenum singular).
A normal frenum is supposed to be thin and highly elastic. This allows free mobility of the lips and tongue, which we need in order to chew, swallow, and talk normally. When the frenum under the tongue is too restrictive, it makes it harder to pronounce words correctly or chew effectively. Some people with tongue ties can’t even touch their tongues to the roofs of their mouths! They also can’t use their tongues to clean pieces of stuck food away.
A lip tie affects the frenum between the upper lip and the gums. Infants with lip ties may not be able to effectively latch when breastfeeding, and it can cause a large gap between the front teeth when they grow in as well as increase the risk of gum recession.
Exposure of Unerupted Teeth
In cases where a tooth cannot break through the gums on its own, laser dentistry can be used to clear the way for it. This is sometimes the case with an impacted canine tooth, and a combination of laser dentistry and orthodontic treatment can move it into its proper position in the dental arch.
Removal of Excess Gum Tissue
While having too little gum tissue can be a serious oral health concern called gum recession, having too much gum tissue is also a problem. It can happen for a number of reasons, including as a symptom of poor oral hygiene or as a side-effect of certain medications, resulting in a “gummy” smile.
The Benefits of Laser Dentistry
- • Minimal to no discomfort
- • Quicker soft tissue procedures
- • Less postoperative bleeding
- • Faster recovery than conventional scalpel/suture techniques
What does laser pediatric dentistry do?
A dental laser works by beaming intense light that painlessly cuts or vaporizes soft tissue on contact. This light energy travels at different wavelengths and is absorbed by a “target,” which in this case, is oral soft tissue.
How much does laser treatment cost?
Before your child undergoes treatment for any laser pediatric dentistry procedure in our office, we will review the involved fees. You are invited to contact Young Dentistry for Children with any specific questions regarding laser fees.
