Laser Dentistry – Arlington Heights, IL

What Are Dental Lasers?

Dental lasers are unique devices that can treat both hard and soft oral tissues. Their integration into dental offices generally began in the early 2000s, but they have gained popularity over the years, as more dentists are trading traditional drills and scalpels and sutures for this more modern approach.

At Westgate Dental Care, our soft tissue laser is used to treat a patient’s gums. Clinically, this is commonly referred to as a diode laser, which is designed to use electrical energy and convert it into laser light energy. This allows for easy treatment of the soft oral tissues that surround the teeth (i.e., the gums).

Types of Laser Dental Treatments

Although dental lasers can be used as part of various treatments, our dentists incorporate them into two specific services – gum disease treatment and gum recontouring.

Gum Disease Treatment

When infected gums require treatment, we can use the soft tissue laser to precisely remove damaged tissue while leaving all healthy areas untouched. The laser’s targeted accuracy and quick movement minimize bleeding, swelling, and infection so that you experience quicker healing and faster recovery.

Gum Recontouring

If you are unhappy with your smile because of the excess gum tissue that causes your teeth to appear shorter, we can use our dental laser to perform gum recontouring. This cosmetic service removes unnecessary tissue to expose more of your natural tooth structure. What is left is a more balanced and cohesive smile that looks proportional and beautiful.

The Benefits of Laser Dentistry

The decision to move forward with laser dentistry will lead to many great benefits, including:

• Minimal bleeding and swelling because of how quickly the laser cauterizes the tissue
• Additional local anesthesia may not always be required, reducing the cost of your treatment
• Lower risk of infection because of how the dental laser can kill bacteria on contact
• No need for sutures, which means faster healing
• Quicker recovery, allowing you to resume normal activity much sooner