Dental Lasers in Dentistry:
The Use of Lasers in dentistry is a relatively new innovation. The laser emits a concentrated beam of light sending a quantitative amount of energy targeted at a specific point in the mouth. These lasers may reduce the requirement of anesthesia and can significantly decrease the healing time for treatment.
Some of the potential uses of laser treatment in dentistry include:
Canker Sore and Cold Sore Treatment
Laser Assisted Periodontal Treatment
Laser Bacterial Reduction
Cosmetic Soft Tissue Procedures Such as Gingivectomy
Laser Root Desensitization
Laser in Root Canal Therapy
Intraoral Camera
Intraoral cameras are small dental cameras used by dentists and auxiliary staff to show patients the interior of their mouths as an alternative to using a mirror. These intraoral images allow the patient to visualize clearly the inside of the mouth aiding the dentist and the patient in consulting on a variety of treatment options.
These images can be saved to a patient’s digital profile to compare contrast prior and after treatment. The images are can also be used for future references.
Digital Radiographs
Digital X-Rays use computers and highly sensitive sensors instead of fil to capture and store these images. One of the major advantages of digital X-Rays is that they use less radiation compared to traditional film based X-Rays, thus significantly cutting down on the radiation dose and exposure. Since the images can be stored in a patient’s digital file, the X-Ray images can be modified for ideal diagnosis. Another advantage is the ability to transmit images from one health care provider to another.