Laser dentistry – A Better Modality, or a Gimmick?

 

I recently attended a local dental society meeting and as usual, I greeted and talked to many of my colleagues.  One colleague in particular which is a good periodontist started a conversation that made me feel good.  He said that he remembered a question that I had asked him several years ago at another meeting.  The question I asked him was, what was his opinion on the use of lasers to treat periodontal disease?  At that time there were very few, (maybe one) studies from a reputable source about the use of lasers, in the treatment of periodontal pockets in a non-surgical procedure.  I had bought an expensive laser and was very interested in the potential benefits to my patients, and anticipated that they would welcome the opportunity to treat their condition with advanced technology that could avoid the need to do periodontal surgery, promote shorter healing periods and cause less discomfort than the conventional surgical modalities.  He told me, that  he did not believe that lasers could be used as an alternative to surgery and he would need to see more proper studies before  he would consider purchasing such expensive equipment.  This time he said that he now was a believer.  His group had purchased the NdYag laser and “it had changes his practice”. 

I have been using the Er,Cr,YSGG laser for many years now and have seen excellent results with different procedures.  The laser allows me to do procedures such as crown lengthening without the trauma to the tissues of laying a flap and exposing the bone.  The ability to do this as a “closed procedure” means that the patient will experience less discomfort and will heal quicker.

 

Similar results are obtained for other surgical procedures, such as the removal of soft tissue lesions for biopsy, gingivectomies, second stage exposure of dental implants and treatment of localized periodontal pockets in patients with periodontitis.  In the case of patients with periodontitis, this minimally invasive therapy may require more that one visit over several months and excellent oral hygiene to treat the pockets.

In summation, Laser use in dentistry has not become widespread because of the high cost of the equipment (and maintenance) and misconceptions about the technology from lack of adequate studies in the literature, but new studies are being conducted and the advantages of this modality of therapy are already evident.

 

 

West Palm Beach Dentist   Carlos Boudet, DDS, DICOI
1840 Forest Hill Blvd, Suite 204
West Palm Beach, Florida  33406
Phone: (561) 968 6022

 Website: http://www.boudetdds.com

Implant Blog: http://www.palm-beach-implants.com

 

West Palm Beach Dentist Does Porcelain Crowns In One Day

Dr. Carlos Boudet, a West Palm Beach Dentist has been using the latest Cad/Cam technology for several years now to fabricate porcelain crowns in one day.

The Cad/Cam technology that he uses is not new.  It has been available for over a decade, but due to the high cost of the equipment needed to produce these crowns, few dentist are willing to invest in the technology.

Normally crowns have to be made in the laboratory, a process that takes about two weeks and requires the patient to wear a temporary that could loosen or fall out and would require a second visit to remove the temporary, try the new crown and if all goes well, cement it.

Dr. Carlos Boudet also does porcelain crowns in the laboratory for special cases that require it, but for those that want the convenience of not having to take time to schedule a second appointment having their porcelain crowns done in one day is great service.

The equipment that Cosmetic Dentist Carlos Boudet uses is Cerec from Sirona, which was the  first cad cam system to be designed for dentists.  With more than a decade of research and improvements, it is the system with the most experience and best track record in the market.

The way the system works is this:
The dentist prepares the tooth or teeth the same way, but instead of taking an impression with a paste inside a tray, a small camera takes a digital impression and transmits it to the computer, where the dentist designs the crown for the patient.  Once the design is done, it is sent wirelessly to a milling machine that uses diamond bits to carve the crown out of a solid block of porcelain.  Then when the crown is finished and polished, the dentist bonds it in place in the mouth and the whole procedure is done in one visit.

As a general dentist Dr. Boudet provides a variety of services for his patients such as dental implants with many years of experience both placing and restoring dental implants with great success.  Dr. Boudet also provides orthodontic services including Invisalign clear aligners and laser dentistry that increases the comfort and speeds healing in many cases where surgery would be needed.

Dr. Boudet has been providing caring expert dental care for his patients since 1983 in the area of West Palm Beach and adjacent communities such as Palm Beach, Palm Springs, Wellington, Lake Worth, Royal Palm Beach and surrounding areas.

West Palm Beach Dentist
Carlos Boudet, DDS, DICOI
1840 Forest Hill Blvd, Suite 204
West Palm Beach, Florida  33406
Phone: (561) 968 6022

 Website: http://www.boudetdds.com
Implant Blog: http://www.palm-beach-implants.com