Laser Treated Teeth
All forms of light are electromagnetic waves of varying lengths. It is this “wave length” which determines the colour of the light. Laser light is an artificial form of light, and all its waves are identical (that is to say, of the same wave length and phase). Laser light does not disperse in the way in which ordinary light sources do. For this reason the energy concentration of laser light is much higher than that of other light forms. It is this concentration that enables laser light to penetrate the skin or mucous membranes and act on oral tissues.
Lasers have been used in medicine and dentistry for more than 20 years. Only recently, however, has the advent of low-level laser therapy (soft lasers) made it possible to use laser light for the treatment of painful condition in the teeth, the mouth and the face as it does not give rise to any heat generation.
Low-level lasers are basically IR diode lasers formed from minute chips of gallium arsemide, not larger than a grain of salt. The semiconductor laser diodes have proved their reliability in everyday products such as office laser printers and home compact disc players.
Benefits to the patient: Low level laser therapy (LLLT) offers new treatment options that were not available to the dentist earlier. It serves as an adjunct to the regular treatment, simplifying some procedures, saving time in some and enhancing the outcome in many others.
LLLT provides immediate relief from severe pain. This function is temporary and the cause of dental pain should be found and proper treatment done for permanent relief. Teeth sensitive to heat and cold due to abrasions or attritions are treated for two minutes and the sensitivity is completely removed.
Similar are the results in hyperaemic teeth. In severe cases, more than one sitting may be needed. Oedema due to infection gets reduced within hours after the application. The normal medication has to continue.
LLLT, when used as an adjunct to root canal therapy, reduces the patient’s discomfort and treatment time. Tooth tenderness is reduced drastically. The patient can start biting with the involved tooth faster as compared to other modes of treatment.
LLLT, when used immediately after tooth-extraction, prevents bleeding as the bleeding stops on the dental chair itself. There is less post-extraction pain and faster healing at the extraction site. This is of importance especially for patients of diabetes and hypertension. LLLT, when used along with the normal treatment of bleeding and swollen gums or mobile teeth, improves the prognosis by better and quicker reduction in inflammation and faster healing (due to increased collagen formation). Results have been highly positive when LLLT has been used in deep cavities, before the filling was done.
Painful mouth ulcers caused by trauma, and herpez, heal within two days (normal 5-11 days) with a marked reduction in pain. Sub-mucous fibrosis is a disease caused by the long-term use of pan or pan masala, wherein fibrosis in cheeks and mouth cannot be opened fully. The normal course of treatment has not been successful. The use of LLLT has been effective to the extent of providing relief from symptoms. It is also effective in the treatment of abscesses, narcotising gingivitis, surgical extraction of the wisdom tooth, maxillary sinusitis, geographical tongue, arthritic mandibular joint, myositis and typical or atypical trigeminal neuralgia.
In neuralgia, where surgical removal of the involved nerve has been a routine practice, LLLT has helped a lot. Initially, there is an increase in pain for two or three sittings. After that the pain disappears. After seeing the immense potential of soft lasers in the dental, orthopaedic, ENT and skin fields, one is forced to think: how does it act so magically? To understanding this we need to understand the basic action of LLLT on the cell.
Laser emission on the cell causes a photodynamic effect whereby there is activation of the mitochondrial function, the oxidation-reduction process and a decrease in the permeability of cytoplasmic membrane. LLLT reduces swelling by the increased activity of micro and macrophages, increased oxygen consumption, activation of tissue respiration and suppression of anaerobic process, thereby facilitating the regeneration of the damaged tissues. LLLT reduces pain by the reduction of bioelectric activity.
LLLT is a completely harmless procedure, having no side-effects. There is no feeling of discomfort to the patient during and after the procedure. The only precaution during its use is that the beam should not be directed towards the eye. LLLT is a new concept in dentistry and is basically meant to provide fast relief. It is well within the reach of everyone as the treatment is not expensive. It saves money, time and and repeated visits to the dentist.
It also reduced the use of antibiotics. Its effectiveness has been beyond my imagination and I have seen it in the relief and smiles of my patients. It is going to be a part and parcel of normal dental practice.
Dr Saggar, MDS,
is a reputed paedodontist and implantologist.
Dental Care and Cure Centre,
132/B/1, Rani Jhansi Road, Civil Lines
Ludhiana, 141001
Tel No- 91-161-2421076 – Clinic,
91-161-2420767 – Res.,
91-9815555700 – Mobile
http://www.viveksaggar.com
