Dental Lasers, Revolutionary or Hype?

Article By Dr. Ron Ritsco

June 2007, Houston, Texas

The advent of laser procedures have been in the forefront of technology in medicine and beyond for more than ten years. But what does the buzz mean to patients in the dental chair? The laser is a tool that can truly change a patient's experience. The erbium laser, is considered micro dentistry, as a clinician's can remove, sculpt and change hard and soft tissue one cell layer at time, creating a level of precision never before available to dental practitioners. The technology has also allowed for decay removal without anesthetic, which for the fearful can ease anxiety to perform conservative dentistry.

Lasers have improved dentistry considerably from a patient's perspective by increasing the comfort of procedures, and reducing time and pain. However, just like all things frequently hyped in the media, a distinction must be made from clinicians who have a laser and one that has mastered the technology. Choosing a clinician with considerable experience and several examples will demonstrate their expertise in this exciting and advanced area of dentistry.

Top 5 reasons I include laser treatment in almost all of my dental treatment:

1. Precision. By controlling tooth, bone and tissue removal by one cell creates an unparalleled results and a conservative approach that is unmatched.
2. Accelerated Healing. Compared to other techniques the erbium laser seals lymphatic and nerve endings creating less trauma and quicker healing times.
3. Eliminates Anxiety. By performing procedures that may have required traditional local anesthetic in the past with an injection, often times with the laser I am able to place a gel solution in the mouth to numb topically and perform great dentistry without an injection.
4. Less Pain. Many procedures that would require sutures and complex healing times, now can be done in one appointment with immediate results. This allows a patient to experience phenomenal results without traditional invasive procedures done with a scalpel or drill.
5. Superior Aesthetic Results. Many of my patients come to me for smile enhancement and to create a stunning smile. The difference between in a nice smile and stunning smile at times is as simple as the architecture of the gum tissue.

Lasers in dentistry will continue to revolutionize dental treatment for patients. As a clinician who relies on lasers every day, this is simply a tool I wouldn't practice without!

Dr. Ron Ritsco is a specialist in Prosthodontics with a private practice in Houston, Texas. To share his experiences and knowledge with others, he has published implant articles in national professional journals and has given presentations on a variety of dental topics including dental implants, veneers, crowns, TMJ disorders and laser dentistry. In his relentless effort to provide the best quality dental care to his patients, he continuously hones his skills by investing hundreds of hours in continuing dental educational courses focusing mainly on advanced restorative esthetic techniques.