What Is No Shot Laser Dentistry, and How Does It Work?

We are very excited to offer pediatric laser dentistry in Levittown to make going to the dentist a more comfortable experience for kids. Although laser dentistry was first approved by the FDA in 1994, it’s become more popular in recent years with the development of advanced lasers that can be used by dental practices of all sizes. In order to provide laser dentistry at My Town’s Little Dentist, all of our dentists have undergone extensive training and received special credentials from the Academy of Laser Dentistry.

There are two different types of lasers used in dentistry: soft tissue lasers and hard tissue lasers. While many dental practices have soft tissue lasers, My Town’s Little Dentist also offers hard tissue lasers which are used for work directly on the teeth, like preparing a tooth for a dental filling. Our practice uses dental lasers for the following pediatric dental treatments:

• Reshaping gum tissue that is uneven or overgrown
• Removing soft tissue ulcers and lesions
• Performing biopsies
• Removing areas of tooth decay prior to a dental filling
• Performing frenectomies to correct tongue tie

These are just some of the ways lasers can be used in dentistry—and as the technology continues to advance, we anticipate that even more procedures will be performed with lasers instead of traditional dental tools.

We use the Biolase Waterlase for hard tissue dental work. These lasers are able to cut through the structure of a tooth with more precision than a dental drill, using water and the minerals in the tooth itself to absorb the laser wavelengths. Soft tissue lasers are absorbed through water and the hemoglobin in the blood.

No Shot Laser Dentistry works differently for each type of laser. A soft tissue laser seals nerve endings and blood vessels as it penetrates the soft tissue, which is why these lasers produce little-to-no pain. When we use a hard tissue laser, it doesn’t generate the heat and vibration of a dental drill, which means it doesn’t create the painful sensations caused by drilling.

Naturally, the most significant benefit for our patients is that pediatric laser dentistry is pain-free. While we always offer local anesthesia for painful procedures, many children are actually more afraid of the shot than they are of the pain from the dental treatment. Laser dentistry is pain-free, so there’s often no need for shots, making dental visits trauma-free. 

Other children are bothered by the sound and sensation of a dental drill. Laser dentistry eliminates that too. Because of the precision offered by laser dentistry and the fact that local anesthesia isn’t needed, procedures performed with a dental laser are also faster.

While those are the primary benefits from our patients’ perspectives, as a parent you’ll also be glad to know that laser dentistry has:

• Minimal or no bleeding during and after the procedure
• A shorter recovery time
• Better precision, causing less damage to surrounding tissues
• Minimal post-operative discomfort and swelling
• A reduced risk of infection and complications

If you’re interested in learning about one of our pediatric laser dentistry procedures, contact us today at 516-226-7337.