The Benefits of Laser Dental Technologies

Why lasers?

As time moves forward, dental health is improving and the inclusion of fluoride in water and toothpaste means that the general public has stronger enamel on their teeth. This is a benefit for dental health but makes diagnosing anything beneath the surface of the tooth more difficult.

Laser beams and technology allow dental professionals to “see” beneath the surface of the tooth and beneath the top layer of enamel. These readings allow your dental team to prevent and treat any “hidden” dental issues you may have, and ones that may have been unable to be detected with tools that came before laser dental technologies.

What was used before lasers?

Before lasers were available to use in general dentistry, practitioners would have to rely on the use of standard dental tools to find any issues within a patient’s teeth. This made it easier to miss a diagnosis of a cavity or decay.

While evaluating a tooth with the use of a standard tool like a pick, it would be easy to miss a very small fissure in the tooth. A pick is also unable to detect tooth decay beneath the surface, something that would be highly beneficial. Seeing these issues at the very beginning will allow your dental professional to plan accordingly and help you adjust your practices to avoid future problems.

Laser Decay Diagnosis

Just under the surface of the tooth, and that hardened enamel we mentioned, could be a cavity or tooth decay. While previously this could have been missed with the standard dental tools, a laser decay diagnosis has never been easier. The light of the laser can expand and allows your dental professional to see if there is decay beneath the surface. This diagnostic method allows us to find tooth decay even more quickly than an x-ray.

How does it work?

The process of utilizing laser dental technologies is very easy, and, as a patient, it is likely would would not even notice. The scan is completed by a wand-shaped instrument, and occurs by placing the light on each individual tooth to complete a scan. The scan then is digitally transferred to a computer screen for your dentist to evaluate. The laser decay diagnosis system provides a reading and information for the dentist, showing any structural changes or concerns about the individual tooth. From there, your dentist can recommend the best course of action for any problem (or lack thereof).

When evaluating a new dentist, be sure to ask about the types of technology within their practice. A dentist like Dr. Louis K. Cheung, DDS will be ready to show you the advancements available and how it will make your visit to the dentist all the more pleasant.

Does Alcohol Hurt Your Teeth?

While there are always new studies and articles being released with titles like “You CAN drink wine!” another study has been released that gets a little more specific. The Journal of Periodontology recently published a study about the effect that alcohol can have on gums. So the answer to the question is: indirectly, yes. Alcohol consumption can hurt your teeth.

Severe periodontal disease (periodontitis) among the test subjects in this study increased at the same rate as the subjects’ alcohol consumption frequency. That is, the more alcohol each subject drank on a regular basis, the more likely they were to have periodontitis. That’s not all—even drinkers without actual periodontitis had increased gum sensitivity compared to those who did not regularly consume alcohol.

“Although the topic of alcohol use and its effect on periodontal health requires further research, this report offers valuable insight on why we should care for our gums and teeth, especially if we might enjoy the occasional drink,”
--Joan Otomo-Corgel, DDS, MPH (President of American Academy of Periodontology)

Additionally, increased alcohol consumption showed a direct correlation with the amount of plaque in a person’s mouth. Why does this happen? Alcohol dries out your mouth, which is thought to increase the production of plaque. As you drink (and the more you drink), the production of saliva slows. The alcohol is dehydrating you, causing less saliva, more dryness, and, therefore, more plaque.

Why are we telling you this? Do know that periodontal disease is quite common, and half of Americans over thirty will get it. To help you combat it, we are not here to tell you not to drink alcohol. You can enjoy a beer or glass of wine and still have a completely healthy mouth. All you need to do is be proactive about your oral health. Brushing your teeth at least twice a day, flossing and using effective mouthwash. Most important, though, is to stay up to date on your dental cleanings.

A periodontitis diagnosis is not the end of the road. A dental practice like that of Dr. Louis K. Cheung, DDS, can help treat your periodontal disease. Treatment can often help reverse the effects of the disease, but you need to catch it in a timely manner. Without regular checkups and yearly dental cleanings, this is impossible. Call today to make an appointment to keep your mouth as healthy as possible!