When we think of dentistry, we think of traditional dental procedures such as filling cavities, root canals, and getting our wisdom teeth extracted. Heading to your dentist for a routine dental cleaning or a toothache are just a couple of the many conventional treatments dentists can offer. However, there are a few things dentists can do that you may not have considered. Here are a few little-known services that dentists can provide…
Gum Disease Laser Therapy
Traditional methods requiring a scalpel and sutures for periodontal therapy are a thing of the past. Laser treatment is the new normal. With laser treatment, there is reduced or no bleeding, minimized swelling, no charring, and no drill noise or vibration. The stress and anxiety often associated with dental work is therefore eliminated when you experience quick, effective, and essentially pain-free laser procedures. Also, postoperative sensitivity is greatly limited by laser dentistry, and recovery time is much quicker than with traditional methods. In fact, due to the less-invasive nature of the laser technique, the mouth begins to heal immediately after work is completed!
How does laser therapy work? The laser’s high-energy light beam acts as a sterilizer on the area it is working, thereby reducing the risk of bacterial infections and relapses. Plus, you won’t have to worry about injections or numbness from anesthesia. It isn’t generally needed with laser therapy.
Bonding
Need to fix your smile? You may not have considered bonding? Bonding is the application of a tooth-colored composite resin to repair a decayed, chipped, fractured, or discolored tooth. Bonding is done in a single visit, unlike veneers, dentures, and bridges which are manufactured in a laboratory and require a customized mold to achieve a proper fit.
Bonding is a very easy and inexpensive cosmetic dental procedure, which is mostly used to improve the appearance of a discolored or chipped tooth. It can also be used to fill gaps in a patient’s teeth to give a better looking smile. Because the bonding agents match the color of natural teeth, this procedure is also used as an alternative to amalgam fillings.
How does bonding work? Bonding is an easy procedure that is done is just a few steps. First, the doctor will use a shade guide to determine which resin matches the color of the patient’s teeth. Once the color is selected, the tooth is prepared for the procedure by lightly etching the surface and applying a bonding liquid.
Once the liquid sets, a plastic resin is applied and sculpted into the desired shape by the dentist. Once set, the resin is trimmed, smoothed and polished to a natural appearance. Because the bonding resin is a tooth-colored composite material, the filling or restoration will not stand out and be noticeable to the naked eye like amalgam fillings. Almost all patients prefer the composite fillings over the amalgam fillings.
Dental Botox
Botox is not just for wrinkles! Dental Botox can be used to treat a variety of different issues such as jaw muscle spasms, teeth clenching and grinding, and even to relax muscles for healing and recovery from other procedures. Jaw pain and headaches caused by teeth clenching can be the worst, but dental Botox treatments can be a great relief in those situations.
Your dentist is your best bet to a healthier smile! Contact our office to find out more about these little-known services. We’d love to see you soon.