Laser Dentistry

Laser Dentistry is 21st Century Technology

laser dentistry charlotte nc

 

“Laser dentistry” seems pretty straightforward – a dentist using a laser to fix problems, right?  However, not all dental lasers are equally capable, and different lasers work better for different procedures.  That’s why Dr. Payet has invested in the most advanced, multi-purpose, digital lasers available: the Periolase MVP-7 Nd:YAG and the Fotona Lightwalker Dual-Wavelength Nd:YAG/Er:YAG lasers.  These advanced lasers allow Dr. Charles Payet to painlessly and easily perform many dental procedures without a drill or blade.

Laser Dentistry Procedures

As technology improves, the number of dental applications has grown by leaps and bounds.  They generally fall into 2 categories: Soft-Tissue or Hard-Tissue procedures.  Soft-tissue procedures have to do with the gum tissue or the lining of your cheeks, lips, and tongue.  Hard-tissue procedures involve contouring or removing enamel, dentin, or bone.  With 2 lasers that use different wavelengths,  Dr. Payet chooses the right laser for the right procedure; he isn’t limited like most dentists.

 

Soft-Tissue Procedures

One of the first uses for laser dentistry, was in the field of periodontics, or gum surgery.  Small, precise laser beams are superb at killing bacteria, gently sculpting gum tissue for improved smile esthetics, and effectively removing areas of infection or excess gums.  Unlike when a scalpel is used in conventional gum surgeries, the body essentially skips several steps in the healing process, leaping forward for a faster and better recovery.

Dr. Payet was one of the first Charlotte dentists to invest in the Periolase MVP-7 laser, using it to treat patients with moderate-to-severe periodontal disease.  The LANAPTM protocol is the only original FDA-approved laser treatment for laser gum therapy, proven in rigorous studies to regenerate healthy bone and gum attachment.  It’s truly the best gum surgery alternative available, as many of Dr. Payet’s patients will attest.  Even for patients with severe periodontal disease, the recovery is fast and easy.  Nearly all of Dr. Charles Payet’s LANAP patients only need Tylenol or ibuprofen, and they’re back to their normal activities the next day.

Hard-tissue Procedures

Laser dentistry Fotona Lightwalker

When a laser is used to make changes to the teeth or bone, they’re called “Hard-tissue procedures.”  For these, Dr. Payet chose the Fotona Lightwalker dual-wavelength laser.  It’s patented QSP mode allows incredibly fast and precise removal of cavities, composite resins, and even old porcelain crowns and veneers.  It contours and removes excess bone during oral surgery procedures, too.   Patients simply love that there’s often no numbing needed and no drill noise.  If you’re in need of any of the following, laser dentistry with Charlotte’s expert laser dentist Dr. Payet is what you’re looking for.

  • Remove bonded porcelain crowns, veneers, and even bridges.
  • Easily, quickly, & painlessly remove old tooth-colored fillings.
  • Clean out cavities and shape teeth for tooth-colored fillings.
  • Delicately re-contour the gum lines around your teeth to make them more beautiful & proportional.
  • Remove excess gum tissue and bone during cosmetic gum surgery or after braces.
  • Safely remove excess bone over dental implants, or disinfect failing implant surfaces to stimulate bone growth.
  • Laser root canal therapy with PIPS.

Benefits of Dental Lasers

Dr. Payet loves providing laser dentistry, for all the same reasons that patients love it.

  • Less need for injections or drills.
  • They’re quieter, so anxious patients can relax.
  • Extreme precision, so procedures are more conservative and faster.
  • Fast, pain-free recovery.

How Lasers Work in Dentistry

Modern dental lasers use digitally controlled pulses of energy to interact with targeted molecules.  The Fotona Lightwalker Er:YAG, which Dr. Payet uses for many Hard-Tissue Procedures, acts by causing microscopic bursts in water molecules in enamel, dentin, gum, and bone.  This gently and very precisely removes small areas of tissue, but it has no effect on nearby tissues.  Laser energy from the Periolase MVP-7 ND:YAG and the Lightwalker Nd:YAG are absorbed by dark pigments.  The bacteria involved in many oral infections are usually dark in color, so they absorb the energy and are vaporized, leaving healthy tissue untouched.  Using a Nd:YAG at very low energies also gently warms tissues, which stimulates rapid healing.

Laser Dentistry FAQs:

Q: Is laser dentistry painful?

A: The precise way that dental lasers work, makes them virtually pain free.  That’s one of the many reasons that both Dr. Payet and his patients prefer laser dentistry.

Q: Is laser dentistry more expensive than conventional methods?

A: At Smiles by Payet Dentistry, there’s no difference in fees, whether Dr. Payet uses a laser or drill.  Patients love the many benefits of laser dentistry, and because it is simply superior dental care, Dr. Payet ensures everyone who can, benefits from it.  He invested in this advanced technology to provide the best dental care possible.  He enjoys the improved patient experience as much as you do.

Q: Can dental lasers do everything?

A:  While laser dentistry is truly amazing, lasers can’t remove old silver fillings or crowns with metal inside.   Even though the Fotona Lightwalker is fast enough to shape a tooth for a veneer or crown, it can’t create the smooth surface required.  A drill is still superior for those procedures.

 

Request an Appointment Online

or

Call Us at 704-364-7069 to learn more.