How Dental Lasers Can Help With Severe Dental Anxiety

Waco Dental

Dental Laser Treatment

Feelings of nervousness and unease while visiting the dentist are often quite normal – but consistent feelings of worry and fear for each visit, dental anxiety can become a huge detriment to your oral health. When severe enough, it can cause delays in dental visits, leading to worsening conditions and more expensive procedures. For people with severe dental anxiety, finding methods to reduce or manage symptoms matters, and for dentists, some practices have begun offering laser treatments as a way to combat these fears head-on while still providing treatment.

Laser Dentistry: What It Can and Can’t Do

Laser dentistry specializes in performing everyday procedures using lasers. These lasers are designed to deliver intense waves of energy in the form of light to perform surgical procedures. While used in specific circumstances, laser dentistry can often be used for patients with poor oral health problems combined with severe dental anxiety or dental phobia to create a more pain-free experience. Through the use of lasers, many dental procedures can be performed more efficiently, including:

  • Root Canal Procedures: For performing root canal therapy, the use of lasers helps reduce any sensations often brought on by traditional scalpels and rotary instruments and can reduce any pain sensations that arise from the procedure.
  • Tooth Decay Removal: As a form of maintenance, many restorative procedures that require the removal of tooth decay can be eliminated and can be used to help prepare the tooth for fillings, crowns, and other procedures.
  • Gum Treatment: For gum reshaping procedures and treating early signs of periodontal disease, the laser provides a more precise way to guide instruments and shape the gums and helps reduce the risk of future infections.
  • Soft Tissue and Enamel Treatment: For other areas of treatment, dental lasers can gently cut through other soft tissues and enamel to help prepare the mouth for future treatments, making lasers a highly versatile tool.

Most of all, lasers provide a gentler touch to dental procedures that don’t create loud noises that can contribute to an intense experience. Due to its silent nature, laser dental work can ultimately create a more comfortable and reassuring experience for those with severe dental anxiety. Many sources cite that lasers can provide a more accurate and effective method for cavity preparation than compared to traditional methods, especially for children and young teenagers with cavities.

Laser Dentists and Reducing Dental Anxiety

Laser dentistry functions differently from traditional methods, and for those specializing in laser dentistry, they’re able to provide a unique treatment option that can be combined with other methods, such as sedation, to help keep worries down and create a more positive experience. To learn more about laser dental treatments and how they can potentially help you, the best way to do so is by finding a qualified laser dentist to learn more about their techniques, products, and other treatment options available to you. The best laser dentist will work with you to make your experience as comfortable as possible and will be there for you through all of your dental needs.

Dr. Alan Martin

Dr. Alan Martin, D.D.S.
Waco Dental is dedicated to servicing the surrounding community with outstanding dental care. Dr. Alan Martin brings over 15 years of experience after his graduation from the Baylor College of Dentistry. At our practice, he has performed over 500 implant procedures and provided countless restoration, cosmetic, and preventative care for his patients.

Dr. Alan Martin

Dr. Alan Martin, D.D.S.
Waco Dental is dedicated to servicing the surrounding community with outstanding dental care. Dr. Alan Martin brings over 15 years of experience after his graduation from the Baylor College of Dentistry. At our practice, he has performed over 500 implant procedures and provided countless restoration, cosmetic, and preventative care for his patients.