Gum disease that has advanced beyond the early stages is known as periodontitis, which affects the bones and tissues that keep your teeth in place. A routine cleaning with laser treatment, which includes an examination and x-rays, usually takes about an hour. The only form of cleaning that takes a long time is crude debridement cleaning, which is done over several visits to the dentist. Laser dentistry offers an alternative way to perform a variety of dental procedures, such as cleaning and reshaping teeth. Laser dentistry has been available since 1989 and uses heat to cut, reshape, and clean soft or hard tissues in the mouth.
A deep clean can help protect you against gum disease, and lasers make the process simpler. Lasers don't generate noise or vibrations like conventional dental instruments, such as drills, so laser treatments are often a better option for people who suffer from dental anxiety. Cleaning below the gum line is especially important, as deep cleaning is generally done as a treatment for gum disease. The laser can penetrate through soft and hard tissues, allowing the dentist to clean below the gum line without having to remove the gum tissues to expose the roots of the teeth. Generally speaking, most people only need preventive dental cleaning when they go to the dentist, and should be able to get in and out in about an hour.
However, it's important to remember that dental cleaning involves more than just cleaning and polishing your teeth. Dental professionals recommend having your teeth cleaned every six months to prevent oral problems such as tooth decay and gum disease. Officially known as root brushing and scraping, deep cleanings are a more comprehensive form of dental cleaning. Lasers allow dentists to clean and disinfect tooth roots and gum bags without having to remove the patient's gums. Performing routine cleaning with laser therapy usually requires one office appointment, while deep cleaning will require one or two office appointments.
The length of the cleaning appointment is largely determined by the condition of the teeth and gums and the type of cleaning the patient needs. Dental lasers can be safely used on patients as long as certain precautions are taken, such as wearing protective goggles.
