Laser Cavity Detection

Uses of Lasers in Dentistry

The dental profession has long looked to lasers as a means to treat and diagnose dental cavities. While lasers have been developed to remove decay, the technology is still limited in its uses. On the other hand, lasers have been developed to actually diagnose early decay that visual examination and x-ray cannot find, due to the small size of decay. While this technology is expensive for dentists to purchase, the benefit to patients can be tremendous.

Patient Benefits

You've heard, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure? That saying describes where the benefit of early detection of decay lies. By detecting decayed areas in teeth before they become larger, your dentist is able to remove only a small amount of tooth structure. This preserves the overall strength of the tooth. In this way the tooth is less likely to fracture (due to a large filling which weakens the tooth), and the filling is less likely to need replacement, due to is small size. By treating these cavities early, we can prevent the cycle of large fillings, which may lead to broken teeth, which in turn may require more extensive work (such as larger fillings, crowns or even root canal therapy) to repair.

How Long Does an Examination With a Laser Take? Does It Hurt?

An examination with the DIAGNOdent takes less than five minutes. It is completely painless.

How Much Does a Laser Exam Cost?

Nothing. If you have teeth that are not already covered in crowns or large fillings, your laser exam will be performed as pert of your normal cleaning visit at no additional cost.

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