Lasers in the dental field have been around for quite some time, but are only now starting to become less specialized and more commonplace. Laser dentistry has proven to have remarkable results due to increased precision, higher cost effectiveness (for both patient and dentist), and long-lasting results. But most importantly for the patient, the use of lasers for oral health and cosmetic dentistry has dramatically reduced recovery time when compared to most traditional dental procedures.

Since laser dentistry allows for improved accuracy during treatments, it has opened the door for numerous improvements which all directly or indirectly affect the patient's recovery time:

• The utilization of lasers nullifies the need, in most cases, for stitches (sutures). Not only does this reduce the pain of having the sutures implemented, but your mouth does not have to take the time to heal due to requiring them in the first place.

• A lot of the pain that stems from traditional methods of dentistry comes from the jarring, rattling, and vibration from drills (not to mention the soreness from keeping your jaw as wide as it can open for a long period of time). With the use of laser dentistry, your mouth and jaw undergo far less shock from treatment, which in turn allows them to recover much quicker.

• Referring back to the accuracy of laser dentistry, the on-point precision helps reduce (and in most cases cancels out all together) the unnecessary damage to the surrounding tissue or teeth. Lasers permit the dentist to focus on exactly what he or she needs to work on, and the untargeted area (tissue) does not have to suffer the residual consequences.

• Another benefit of the laser is that it can prevent most (if not all) of the bleeding that would normally occur during a dental procedure. Due to its high-energy beam, it will allow the blood to clot which not only helps to preclude excess bleeding but aids in healing and recovery time. Keep in mind that everyone has a different propensity for the recuperation of dental procedures. Your local laser dentist can help shed more light on specific details and provide a better time frame for recovery. To contact a laser dentistry practice near you, visit our Find a Laser Dentist page.