If there’s a sound that most signifies the feeling associated with dental anxiety, it’s the whine of a drill. This tool’s shrill, penetrating sound has been one trigger that many sufferers of dental anxiety describe. Whether you suffer from dental anxiety or not, there’s nothing pleasant about the incessant whine of the dental drill. Thankfully, for dental anxiety sufferers and others alike, the rotary dental drill is becoming a thing of the past. Modern dental practices are instead swapping to laser dentistry, eliminating that shrill whine from their offices forever.
Laser Drills Are Etching Their Mark On Modern Dentistry
When dental work is being called for, it’s not uncommon to feel a little bit of nervousness. However, dental anxiety patients can be brought to tears or feel paralyzed by their fear. Different things can trigger dental anxiety to different degrees from patient to patient. Some symptoms only manifest when they’re physically in the dental office. Others can begin getting tense at the mere mention of a dental visit, let alone scheduling an appointment. Among these patients, the dental drill is a common element of their fear.
The change to laser dentistry has made dental offices a more pleasant place to be for dentists and patients alike. Laser dentistry uses nearly silent beams of coherent light instead of using an abrasive whirling drill bit and pneumatic power. This quiet operation, combined with the other benefits, has made this tool the new standard of dental care. Laser dental drills provide the following benefits:
- Near silent operation that doesn’t trigger dental anxiety
- Tight control of tissue removal and dental sculpting
- Instant cauterization and sterilization of the treatment site
- Eliminated need for sutures
- Reduced or eliminating the need for anesthetics following treatment
One benefit of laser dentistry is its nearly silent nature. Traditional rotary drills produce a sharp whine during operation. Laser dental drills produce a ‘quiet pulsing’ sound during operation. Many patients, even those with dental anxiety, have reported the sound as non-threatening and even soothing. Laser dental drills have been applied to a broad range of dental procedures since they were introduced. Today they’re used to address discolored teeth, tooth decay, gum disease, and more.
Another benefit for patients and dentists alike is the ability to precisely target decayed tissue. The rotary drill was effective but often imprecise. This imprecision resulted in damage to healthy tissue in the process of removing decayed or damaged tissue. Laser dentistry makes it possible to remove this tissue without damaging the healthy tissue nearby. More remaining healthy tissue means a more successful treatment. They’re also great at addressing dental stains, as they can eliminate the stained enamel or accelerate the action of dental whitening agents. Dental whitening is just one of the cosmetic dental procedures they can help with!
Contact Your Dentist For Additional Information
More information about laser dentistry is available by speaking to your dental office. Every day more and more practices are making use of laser dentistry to provide high-quality, precision treatment for their patients. They’ll inform you about the presence of laser dentistry at their practice and how they utilize it. If they haven’t made the leap to laser dentistry yet, you can encourage them to do so.
