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At Family Dentistry and Aesthetics, Dr. Thomas Teel, and Dr. Thomas Gilbert are dedicated to making your dental care as safe and comfortable as possible. We use modern tools and proven technology, including dental lasers.
Lasers have been used in dentistry for more than 20 years, and have improved routine procedures with their preventive, restorative, and cosmetic applications. They are a safe, gentle tool that can simplify and reduce treatment time for a number of procedures. In our practice, our skilled dentist uses a diode laser to perform laser gum contouring and restorative crown lengthening.
If you are interested in learning more about laser gum contouring, call our Fort Wayne, Indiana dental office today at (260) 432-0561 to schedule a consultation.
Why are lasers used in dentistry?
Lasers are intense beams of focused light, which serve various purposes at different wavelengths. Lasers can either illuminate, provide friction, or cut soft and hard tissues. They have become useful in dentistry because they can replace lighting, scraping, and cutting tools, offering greater efficiency and accuracy.
Laser Gum Contouring
This cosmetic procedure is a popular choice that lets patients improve the appearance of their smiles, not by changing their teeth, but by changing the gum tissue that frames those teeth.
Having a “gummy” smile is a common complaint. The gummy appearance is caused by an overgrowth of gum tissue on teeth. A variety of factors can contribute to this, including heredity, health conditions, and even the use of common medications, such as blood pressure medicine. With this condition, gums tend to dominate the mouth, making the teeth seem almost secondary in appearance.
Many of our smile makeover patients want to change their appearance by reducing the amount of gum tissue visible when they smile. Even patients without especially gummy smiles have appreciated the subtle improvements we can make by evening out discrepancies in gum tissue height.
How It Works
Before lasers, the only solution for patients who were unhappy with their gum line involved gum contouring performed via scalpel and sutures. This typically caused excessive bleeding, required a long and uncomfortable recovery period, and was accompanied by high risk for infection.
However, with state-of-the-art diode laser technology, we can trim and cauterize the gum line all in one motion, reducing the risk for infection, and reducing your recovery time. Patients find laser gum contouring rewarding because it transforms a smile in just one visit. In most cases, the procedure lasts about 30 to 60 minutes, and patients can return to their normal routine the same day.
Crown Lengthening for Restorations
In addition to cosmetic gum contouring, it is sometimes necessary to reduce gum tissue to allow greater access to the root of a tooth. For example, sometimes a dental crown or filling cannot be administered until more of the tooth’s root is exposed. Gum tissue may also need to be reduced during periodontal (gum disease) treatments, in which the gums and roots must be cleaned and resurfaced to remove bacteria and damaged tissues.
Are lasers safe?
Lasers are safe for dental and oral health applications, as explained in the American Dental Association’s statement on laser dentistry. Because lasers are focused beams of light, patients will be given eye protection during treatment, the same way you use sunglasses to protect your eyes from bright sunlight.
If you are interested in learning more about laser gum contouring, call our Fort Wayne, Indiana dental office today at (260) 432-0561 to schedule a consultation.
