Laser instruments have been aiding in the delivery of efficient, comfortable dental care for the past two decades. In this time, we have been fortunate to benefit from numerous advances. Patients who visit our Brookline dental office may find that we incorporate laser technology into diagnostic testing and into various treatments.

One of the common uses of laser technology in dentistry is the treatment of gums and root canal treatment. To accomplish this task, standard dentistry uses a tool that assesses the “softness” of tooth enamel. Laser cavity finders focus specific wavelengths of light onto enamel, which allows us to identify the smallest fissures and pits on tooth surfaces quickly. Laser cavity finders are immensely useful in the conservative treatment of tooth decay.

Laser diagnostic equipment may also be used to locate tartar on tooth surfaces above and below the gum line or to aid in oral cancer screening. Dr. Kovtun may also incorporate laser instruments into the repair of cavities and soft tissue conditions. There are several benefits to treatment with laser technology.

• Laser is effective yet gentle on hard-tissue repairs. Rather than drilling away areas of decay, we may use laser energy. Patients treated with our laser often find that they need no injections to numb the treatment area. Typically, discomfort in the tooth-repair process comes from the vibration and heat produced by drilling. Laser dentistry is also sometimes called drill-less dentistry and for good reason!
• Soft tissues respond very well to laser treatment. Precise wavelengths of light may be used to treat gum disease, contour the gums for cosmetic improvement, and more. Due to the precision of laser technology, gum procedures may be more conservative, removing no more tissue than what is necessary. In addition to vaporizing tissue very quickly and gently, the laser has the power to destroy harmful bacteria beneath the gums and in pockets around teeth. The thermal energy of laser treatment promotes circulation and therefore aids in a faster healing process.
• Our laser device may also be used to treat infection in the root canal. This procedure is designed to remove diseased pulp tissue at the core of a damaged tooth and to remove all bacteria from tiny canals that travel from the crown of the tooth toward the jawbone. The antiviral effect produced by laser energy maximizes the benefits obtained from precisely performed root canal therapy.