Laser Dentistry

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Laser technology is an integral part of our everyday life, widely used in products and services affecting our daily activities. The first working laser entered the scene in 1960 and is now widely used by medical professionals to perform a number of treatments and procedures in internal surgery, dermatology, ophthalmology, and in dentistry with laser gum surgery. Dr. Jason Cataldo provides laser gum surgery in Raleigh and Durham, NC.

Laser is a common term today, but it is actually an acronym for “Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation.” Differing from sunlight which contains a continuum of wavelengths to produce what we see as a visible light spectrum, lasers are one ultra-focused beam of light. The difference can be visible to the naked eye when shown through a prism. The continuum inside sunlight breaks into a rainbow, whereas laser light stays one color.

Lasers used in medical equipment are comprised of several components: a source of electricity, mirrors guiding the beam of light, a semiconductor emitting a specific wavelength, and fiber optics to transport the light energy. Harnessing the light producing material and manipulating its wavelengths allows medical professionals to perform a variety of tasks in diagnostics and surgical procedures.

Laser usage in dentistry enables dental professionals to perform a variety of tasks more efficiently than ever before, including laser gum surgery. The Food and Drug Administration granted initial marketing clearance for soft tissue surgery in 1991, beginning the integral role lasers would play in common dental procedures. Lasers are most commonly used in disease diagnosis and laser gum surgery.

Laser gum surgery is broken down into two distinct types: soft tissue procedures treating the lips, gums, and tongue and hard tissue procedures treating bone, dentin, and enamel.

A major player in the world of lasers used in dentistry is the Laser Assisted New Attachment Procedure, commonly referred to as LANAP®. This new procedure has completely revolutionized gum disease treatment with the advances in laser gum surgery.

More traditional methods require invasive procedures, where LANAP® allows Dr. Cataldo to vaporize bacteria and infected tissue associated with periodontal disease using the PerioLase® MVP-7TM. With this type of laser gum surgery, gum disease can be treated in a single visit, with a minimally invasive and highly effective procedure.

To learn more about laser gum surgery and laser dentistry in Raleigh and Durham, NC, call Dr. Cataldo for your appointment today!

The PerioLase MVP-7 is a 6-watt free-running variable pulsed Nd:YAG dental laser featuring digital technology and 7 pulse durations—the most available on the market—giving it the power and versatility to perform a wide range of laser procedures.

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