When you think of lasers, you probably think of a sci-fi franchise before you picture teeth. It turns out lasers also play a revolutionary role in the field of orthodontics. Johnson Orthodontics is going to explain what this means and how laser therapy can help you get your dream smile.
What is Laser Therapy?
Laser technology can actually be used in a number of different ways, contributing to the aesthetics and function of your teeth. It is an advanced tool for both general dentistry and Dr. Johnson’s specialized category of orthodontics. Here are some ways it can impact your orthodontic experience:
- Gum Reshaping for Aesthetic Balance:
- Uneven or excessive gum tissue can detract from your smile’s appearance in some cases. Lasers allow us to perform precise contouring, exposing more of your teeth and creating a balanced look for your smile. This might be a necessary step before we try to treat misalignment or other conditions.
- Bracket Placement Enhancement:
- Sometimes, this gum tissue obstructs us from being able to achieve proper bracket placement. Lasers enable us to position your brackets correctly for optimal results.
- Impacted Tooth Exposure:
- If certain teeth have not fully erupted, lasers can gently, painlessly expose them, enabling us to incorporate them within your custom treatment plan.
- Improving Oral Health:
- Lasers also help treat symptoms of gum disease and other soft tissue conditions, ensuring your oral health is in excellent shape as you progress toward your future smile.
- Frenectomy:
- By easily releasing tongue or lip ties, this treatment improves oral function and ensures smoother orthodontic progress. This can be especially impactful for children who are born with these conditions and provides an immeasurable improvement to their quality of life.
Myths About Laser Technology
We don’t expect you to be an expert on laser therapy when you visit us for the first time! But we also acknowledge that there might be some points of confusion, so Dr. Johnson wants to provide some clarity and debunk some popular myths:
- Myth: Lasers Are Painful
- Reality: Most of our patients report little to no discomfort during laser procedures. For example, during gum contouring, many patients describe the sensation as a mild warmth rather than pain. Remember that this technology is ultimately designed to minimize pain and maximize precision.
- Myth: Lasers Are Only for Gum Treatments
- Reality: While lasers excel in soft tissue procedures, they also play a role in addressing hard tissue issues. Lasers can actually etch enamel to prepare surfaces for bonding braces, ensuring a secure and precise fit. They’re also good for detecting early tooth decay and providing targeted treatments, making them a highly versatile tool in orthodontic care.
- Myth: Laser Treatments Are Risky
- Reality: You probably wouldn’t let a toddler drive a car, right? When performed by trained professionals, laser treatments are absolutely safe and effective. A provider must undergo rigorous training and certifications to confirm that they use laser technology properly and safely. This education allows them to deliver reliable results for every procedure, giving you peace of mind.
- Myth: Laser Technology Is Only for Adults
- Reality: Lasers are useful for patients of all ages, including children and teens. For instance, lasers can assist with exposing impacted teeth or treating tongue ties in younger patients, setting them up for a smoother orthodontic experience as they age.
The Benefits of Laser Therapy
This modern approach marks a vast improvement in treatment quality for patients compared to methods used in the past. We highly recommend it at Johnson Orthodontics for the following reasons:
- Faster Healing: With reduced trauma to tissues, laser treatments promote ultra-fast recovery times, allowing you to get back to your daily routine without too long of a wait.
- Reduced Risk of Infection: Lasers seamlessly sterilize as they work, minimizing the chance of infections during and after procedures. This can be a huge benefit for patients with compromised immune systems.
- Precision and Accuracy: Using a laser for any procedure provides unmatched precision, allowing us to target specific areas without impacting surrounding tissues.
- Comfortable Experience: Laser procedures are minimally invasive, reducing discomfort and eliminating the need for traditional surgical tools that were used before the advent of this technology.
Astonishing and Accurate
Laser therapy is often a single step in your broader treatment plan, but we’d like to remind you that it didn’t exist mere decades ago! Johnson Orthodontics is determined to offer only the most modern treatment approaches for our patients—because we’ve seen just how amazing the results can be. Our team looks forward to seeing you in Huntsville and Hampton Cove very soon.
