The Complete Guide to Laser Dentistry

That drilling sound can make anyone's heart race. That's exactly why Priest Dental has invested in laser dentistry—to completely eliminate that experience for patients. Instead of a drill that vibrates and creates heat, the practice uses gentle, focused light beams to remove decay from teeth. The laser is smart enough to distinguish between healthy tooth and decay, so it only removes what's damaged while preserving all the good tooth structure. Patients experience no drilling noise, no vibration through the jaw, and often no numbing shots that leave the face feeling strange for hours.

At Priest Dental in Ashland, Dr. Kevin Priest uses advanced Fotona laser technology for many procedures. What used to require multiple visits can often be completed in one comfortable appointment. Because the laser is so precise, patients' mouths heal faster and they can return to eating and drinking normally the same day.

Quick Overview

• Much more comfortable: Most patients report that laser treatment feels significantly better than traditional drilling, and many procedures require no numbing at all.
• Extremely precise: The laser removes only decay and leaves healthy tooth structure completely untouched.
• Heals faster: Laser-treated areas heal about twice as fast as traditional methods with less swelling.
• Kills bacteria: The laser naturally sterilizes the area as it works, reducing the risk of infection.

How Does Laser Dentistry Work?

A dental laser is an incredibly precise light beam that dentists can adjust to specific settings. These settings allow the laser to interact with different parts of the mouth in exactly the way needed. For example, when treating a cavity, the dentist sets the laser to a wavelength that gets absorbed by decayed tooth material but bounces harmlessly off healthy tooth structure. It's like having a key that only opens the locks they want to open.

When the laser encounters decay, it gently breaks it down at a molecular level and turns it into vapor that the dentist simply suctions away. The healthy tooth remains completely intact. For gum procedures, the laser cuts tissue while simultaneously sealing blood vessels, which means much less bleeding during treatment and faster healing afterward.

The laser also stimulates the body's natural healing process by encouraging new cell growth and collagen production. This is why laser-treated areas heal so much faster than areas treated with traditional methods.

What Types of Dental Lasers Are Used?

Different lasers work better for different procedures, and dentists choose the right one for each patient's specific needs:

• Diode lasers: Perfect for gum treatments and eliminating bacteria in infected areas
• Erbium lasers: Excellent for removing tooth decay because they work so effectively on the water content in decayed teeth
• CO2 lasers: Provide the most precise control for delicate gum work
• Nd:YAG lasers: Can reach deep into tissues, making them ideal for root canal treatments and deep gum infections

What Are the Benefits of Laser Treatment?

The biggest difference patients notice is how comfortable the experience feels. Most patients are pleasantly surprised by how much better laser procedures feel compared to traditional drilling. Many laser treatments require no numbing shots at all, or just a gentle topical gel instead of an injection. When patients do need numbing, it's usually much less than with traditional methods.

Here are the other wonderful advantages:

• Faster healing: Patients' mouths heal about twice as fast with less swelling and discomfort afterward
• Kills germs: The laser naturally sterilizes the treatment area, greatly reducing the risk of infection
• Preserves healthy tooth: Dentists can remove incredibly small amounts of decay while preserving all healthy tooth structure
• Selective removal: The laser only removes what's damaged—something impossible with traditional drilling
• Less bleeding: The laser gently seals blood vessels as it works, creating a cleaner treatment area

Does Laser Dentistry Hurt Less Than Drilling?

Yes, significantly less. With laser treatment, patients feel a gentle warming sensation instead of pressure and vibration. There's no physical contact with the tooth, no vibration through the jaw, and no high-pitched drilling sound that can make patients tense.

About 85% of laser cavity treatments need no numbing shots at all, compared to nearly every traditional drilling procedure requiring injections. When dentists do need to numb the area, they can often use just a comfortable topical gel instead of a shot.

Because there's less trauma to surrounding tissues, patients experience less discomfort after treatment too. Most patients don't need any pain medication after laser procedures, while traditional drilling often requires pain relievers for several days.

How Well Does Laser Treatment Work for Gum Disease?

Laser gum treatment works just as effectively as traditional gum surgery but with much greater comfort for patients. The laser carefully removes infected tissue and bacteria from the pockets around teeth while leaving healthy gum tissue completely alone. Dentists typically see pocket depths reduce by 3-5mm, which matches the results achieved with traditional surgery.

The laser also eliminates bacteria on the root surfaces and encourages new, healthy attachment between gums and teeth. Success rates of 85-90% are seen in treating moderate to severe gum disease with laser therapy. Patients experience minimal discomfort and can return to normal activities within a day or two.

For advanced cases, dentists use a procedure called LANAP, which is FDA-approved and uses specific laser wavelengths to remove diseased tissue while promoting regeneration of the ligament, bone, and other structures that support teeth. This achieves pocket depth reductions of 4-6mm with very little post-treatment discomfort.

What Happens During Laser Cavity Treatment?

Here's what patients can expect when visiting Priest Dental's Ashland office for laser cavity treatment: First, the dentist examines the tooth with digital imaging to see exactly where the decay is and how deep it extends. Everyone in the room wears protective eyewear for safety, then the dentist carefully calibrates the laser to the right settings for the specific tooth and cavity.

The treatment happens in three gentle steps:

• ‍Remove the decay: The dentist aims the laser at the decayed area using a tiny fiber-optic tip. The laser gently vaporizes only the decay while leaving healthy tooth structure completely untouched‍
• Clean the area: The dentist uses air and water to remove the vaporized decay particles, revealing the clean cavity while the laser sterilizes everything‍
• Place the filling: The dentist places tooth-colored filling material, which actually bonds better to laser-prepared surfaces than traditionally drilled ones

The whole appointment usually takes just 15-20 minutes compared to 30-45 minutes for traditional drilling with numbing. Patients only feel the gentle warming sensation during the 2-5 minutes of actual laser treatment.

How Does Laser Teeth Whitening Compare to Other Methods?

Laser whitening works much faster than other professional whitening methods, which means less time in the chair for patients. Dentists apply a special whitening gel to teeth, then use gentle laser energy to activate it. This speeds up the whitening process by 3-4 times compared to gel alone. Patients can see 6-10 shades of improvement in a single 60-90 minute appointment.

Here's how it compares to other methods:

• Speed: One laser appointment achieves what take-home trays require 2-3 weeks to accomplish
• Deeper whitening: The laser helps whitening agents penetrate deeper into teeth, removing both surface stains and deeper discoloration
• Longer lasting: Results typically last 18-36 months with proper care, compared to 12-18 months for conventional methods
• More even results: The deep penetration creates more uniform whitening with less risk of sensitivity or uneven results

What Do Laser Procedures Cost?

Laser procedure costs depend on what treatment patients need and how complex it is. While the investment reflects the advanced technology, patients often save money overall because they need fewer follow-up visits, less pain medication, and heal faster so they can return to work sooner.

Cost considerations include:

• Laser fillings: Cost varies based on the size and location of the cavity
• Laser gum treatment: Depends on how much treatment is needed
• Laser whitening: Single appointment with immediate, visible results

The precision of laser treatment also means fewer complications that might require additional work. Many patients find that the immediate results and longer-lasting effects make the investment worthwhile. Priest Dental is fee for service but works with any insurance benefits patients have.

Are There Any Side Effects or Risks?

Laser dentistry has an excellent safety record with fewer side effects than traditional dental treatments. When side effects do occur, they're typically milder and shorter-lasting.

Possible side effects include:

• Mild sensitivity: May last 1-2 days in some cases
• Slight gum irritation: Possible with soft tissue procedures, resolves naturally within 3-5 days
• Temporary tooth sensitivity: Happens in about 10-15% of cavity treatments, usually resolves within 1-2 weeks
• Minor swelling: May occur with some procedures, typically resolves within 3-5 days

Patient safety is the top priority—everyone in the treatment room wears protective eyewear because laser light can damage eyes if safety protocols aren't followed. Some medications make patients more sensitive to laser light, and certain medical devices might interfere with laser function. Dentists always carefully review patients' complete medical history before recommending laser treatment.

Is Laser Dentistry Safe for Children?

Yes, laser dentistry is very safe for children and often works even better than traditional methods for young patients. Kids especially benefit from the reduced noise, no vibration, and often no need for numbing shots. This makes dental visits much less intimidating for anxious children.

Children naturally heal faster than adults, and laser treatment makes that healing even quicker with less discomfort. The precision also means dentists preserve more of their healthy tooth structure, which is especially important for developing teeth.

How to Choose a Dentist for Laser Treatment in Ashland

When choosing a dentist for laser treatment, patients should look for someone with proper training and extensive experience with laser procedures. The skills needed for optimal results come from extensive hands-on training and ongoing education, not just owning the equipment.

Important qualifications to look for:

• Proper training: Look for certification from recognized institutions like the Academy of Laser Dentistry or extensive manufacturer training programs
• Experience: Ask how many procedures they've performed and their success rates
• Technology integration: The best providers combine lasers with digital imaging, same-day crowns, and 3D treatment planning
• Continuing education: Regular training ensures dentists stay current with the latest techniques

Dr. Kevin Priest maintains current certification in laser dentistry and regularly attends advanced training courses. The practice's investment in the Fotona laser system demonstrates their commitment to providing the most advanced care available in the Ashland area. The team has successfully completed over 1,500 laser procedures with consistently excellent results.

Experience Laser Dentistry at Priest Dental

Patients interested in experiencing the comfort and benefits of laser dentistry can schedule a consultation at Priest Dental's Ashland office. The team can evaluate each patient's specific situation and explain how laser technology might benefit their treatment.

Contact Priest Dental at (419) 566-3471 to learn more about how laser dentistry can make dental care more comfortable and efficient. The practice is located at 910 Katherine Ave Suite A in Ashland, and the team is committed to providing patients with the highest quality, technologically advanced dental care available.

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