Our practice has seen an increased number of patients looking for a more comfortable, less stressful alternative to the traditional needle and drill. In a continuing effort to provide you with the best oral health care and advanced treatment options, our office is now performing many traditional dental procedures with the best dental laser system available – the revolutionary Waterlase iPlus™.
Unlike needle and drill dentistry, in most cases the Waterlase iPlus™ can perform many traditional dental procedures with no shots, no drill, and no pain. Waterlase uses a unique combination of laser energy and water to provide gentler, more precise treatment that conserves healthy tooth, and minimizes pain and discomfort. In addition, procedures that once took several appointments to complete, such as multiple fillings, can now be finished in just one visit.
If you’ve been avoiding the dentist for fear of the needle and drill, or just want a dental solution that is more comfortable and faster, stop delaying your dental treatment and schedule an appointment today.
Frequently Asked Patient Questions about Waterlase Dentistry
Why Waterlase Dentistry/Laser Dentistry?
Smile Innovations has chosen to invest in Waterlase to provide you with the highest standard of dental care. Here are some of the benefits you will experience with Waterlase Laser Dentistry.
INCREASED COMFORT
Heat, vibration and pressure are the primary causes of pain associated with the use of the traditional dental drill. Since cutting teeth and gums with the Waterlase® does not generate heat, vibration or pressure, many dental procedures can be performed with fewer shots, less need for anesthesia, less use of the drill and fewer numb lips!
ACCURACY AND PRECISION
Waterlase® removes tooth enamel decay (the hardest substance in the body), bone and gum tissue precisely while leaving surrounding areas unaffected. This conserves and allows us to preserve more of the healthy tooth structure.
REDUCED TRAUMA
High speed drills can cause hairline cracks and fractures in the teeth that eventually lead to future dental problems. Waterlase® reduces damage to healthy portions of the tooth and minimizes trauma.
IMPROVED CAVITY FILLINGS
Waterlase® cavity preparations can increase bond strength of tooth-colored restoration resulting in longer lasting fillings.
LESS BLEEDING AND SWELLING
Due to its conservative, gentle cutting action and coagulating capabilities, the Waterlase® performs many procedures on the gums with little or no bleeding and less post-op swelling.
FEWER DENTAL VISITS
Since you often do not need shots or anesthesia, we can perform cavity preps in all areas of the mouth in just one visit. This technology also gives trained us the ability to perform many procedures that were previously referred to specialists, so we may be able to treat you for certain conditions that would previously have required a referral to a specialist.
Is Waterlase safe?
Lasers have long been the standard of care in medicine for many surgical and cosmetic procedures such as LASIK, wrinkle removal, hair removal and many others. The Waterlase® was approved by the US FDA for hard tissue procedures in 1998 and since has been cleared for numerous additional dental procedures. Thousands of dentists around the world have performed millions of procedures with less need for shots, anesthesia, drills and numb lips. You, the dentist, and the assistant will wear special laser safety glasses when the laser is being used.
How does it work?
Waterlase® uses a patented technology combining laser energy and a spray of water, a process called HydroPhotonics™, to perform a wide range of dental procedures on teeth, gum and bone more comfortably.
What does it do?
Waterlase® was first cleared by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to cut tooth structure in 1998 and since that time has received numerous additional clearances from the FDA for a wide range of procedures on teeth, bone and gum tissue. Ask us for a list of procedures that we perform with Laser Dentistry.