Minimising Pain
& Recovery Time

Manifestations of Severe Tooth Caries

Chronic caries (decay) can damage the tooth structure and reach the pulp. To avoid further damage, the tooth must be saved by root canal therapy.

The infected portion of the enamel and dentin is removed along with the pulp during the root canal therapy. The pulp, as the name says, is soft tissue. It comprises both the blood vessels and nerves. The pulp keeps the tooth vital.

Laser – A Recent Advancement in RCT

• During the procedure, the bacterial debris and the infected pulp are removed from the root canal.
• The canal is wiped out completely by the laser in a pulsating method. The pulsation is very minimal and cannot be visualised by regular vision.

How Does the Laser Beam Technique Work?

There are two types of laser modes used in this technique. The first mode involves the use of a laser drill to remove the hard structures of the tooth like dentin and enamel. The second mode involves the use of a laser beam to remove the soft tissues like pulp.

Removing the decayed portion using the laser drill alters the tooth structure. The infected tooth fragments are removed with minimal friction.

The top portion of the canal is removed using the beam to get access to the infected pulp.

The empty canal is then filled with artificial pulp like materials and is sealed. The drilled tooth structure is then restored with fillings. And finally, a crown is inserted to form a complete tooth structure, to chew and for aesthetics.

Advantages of Using Laser Root Canal Therapy:

• Laser therapy reduces the treatment duration and gives precise outcomes. The fine beam can penetrate through the hard and soft tissue without the use of manual instruments
• This technique conserves more tooth structure than the traditional drilling method.
• It is a more sterile method, as it doesn’t require direct hands-on over the tooth.
• The traditional method leaves the soft debris, which causes the risk of bacterial infection in the future. But laser technique removes all the soft debris in a precise manner. So the prognosis of the tooth is 99%.
• The laser beam can be used to treat even the non-accessible areas like the portion between two teeth, the sides of the tooth, and the wisdom tooth.

Disadvantages of Laser Root Canal Therapy

• Laser therapy is a bit costly compared to the common root canal procedure.
• The dentist must be highly skilled in using the laser technique.

Other Dental Treatments Involving Laser Techniques Are

• The laser beam can also be used to remove mild caries and restore the same with fillings. This can reduce the bacterial spread and save the tooth.
• Lasers are used for aesthetic purposes also. For a few patients, the gums extend beyond the normal level and give an unpleasant appearance during smiling. It can be corrected using a laser beam. This beam removes the extra gums covering the tooth structure and gives a natural look to the smile.
• Lasers are also used to remove the tissue for biopsy purposes. The laser cauterization method is the least painful method and is more accurate in removing the required area alone.
• At a particular frequency, lasers are also used to whiten the tooth.