Laser Dentistry Uses and Benefits Explained

Are you interested in keeping up with the latest updates in dental technology? You must always stay abreast with the latest advances in dentistry to ensure you are taking advantage of the best dental treatments currently available. Dentists are also staying ahead, looking for new and better approaches to dental care. It is why they have incorporated using lasers for dental treatments. Therefore if you are interested in dental treatments using the latest techniques in dentistry, you must try to find professionals using lasers for dental treatments. Laser technology has been around for a few years. However, recent advances and modernization have made lasers more prevalent among people.

Laser Dentistry Explained

Laser dentistry entails the use of lasers when treating different dental conditions. Lasers became commercially available for use in the dental practice of procedures involving soft tissue in 1989. Laser dentistry offers more comfortable treatment for various dental procedures involving hard and soft tissue than non-laser tools like dental drills.

Light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation is the complete form of the term LASER. The instrument creates light energy in narrow and attentive beams. When the laser lights hit tissue, they react, allowing it to remove or change the tissue shape.

Laser dentistry helps treat various dental issues, including hypersensitivity, tooth decay, gum disease, and cosmetic treatments like teeth whitening.

Lasers are making dental treatments more cost-effective and comfortable. Laser dentistry is approved by the FDA for use against several dental conditions. Unfortunately, the American Dental Association is yet to provide its approval, although they have expressed hope of the potential in the field.

Uses Of Laser Dentistry

Here are the uses of laser dentistry:

  • The primary use of laser dentistry is to treat hard and soft tissue procedures. The teeth are considered the hard tissue, while your gums and cheeks are the soft tissue.
  • Laser dentistry uses dental lasers or cavity detection to find early evidence of tooth decay. They also prepare teeth for dental fillings by eliminating the use of traditional drills and local anesthesia. Lasers kill bacteria in the cavity to help in the long-term health of the tooth. Dental lasers also help treat tooth sensitivity to temperatures because the lasers seal the tubules on the tooth’s root.
  • When providing soft tissue procedures, our dentist in Chino uses dental lasers to treat a gummy smile and reshape gum tissue covering much of the tooth. Dental lasers also help with Crown lengthening and treating tongue frenulum attachment besides removing soft tissue folds.
  • Other procedures that benefit from laser dentistry include removing benign tumors, taking obstructive sleep apnea, cold sores, nerve regeneration, and TMJ disorders.
  • Laser treatments described above can vary in price according to the procedure performed and the dental laser used. However, laser treatments cost fewer dollars than traditional non-laser treatments, and fewer sessions are required with our dentist in 91710 to receive any dental procedures. Furthermore, dental insurance companies determine reimbursement costs based on the treatments received and not the tools used when providing them.

Therefore when you choose laser dentistry over traditional dental treatment, you will likely receive compensation similar to non-laser dental treatments.

Benefits of Using Laser Dentistry

Below are the advantages of laser dentistry:

  • The likelihood of needing sutures decreases with the use of soft tissue lasers, which also minimizes bleeding in the treated soft tissues and promotes blood clotting. Anesthesia is unnecessary with some procedures. As lasers sanitize the treatment area, the chances of bacterial infections are lower. Your wounds heal quickly, allowing tissue regeneration, and the methods do not cause much damage to the surrounding tissues.
  • Some lasers are absorbed by the body through water and hemoglobin, a protein found in red blood cells. For example, lasers used for treating periodontal disease kill the bacteria and activate tissue regrowth.
  • Soft tissue lasers seal nerve endings and blood vessels while penetrating the tissue. It is why many patients experience no pain after laser treatment. In addition, dental lasers promote faster healing of the tissue.

Not every dental professional has the qualification and training needed to provide laser treatments. Therefore you must look for laser treatments from our Chino dentist mentioned in this article without relying on online reviews that don’t offer unbiased opinions.

If you think you can benefit from laser dentistry and are looking for laser dentistry in Chino, CA, Ramona Dentistry of Chino provides laser dental treatments. Contact our dental clinic today for any treatments you need.

What Are Dental Inlays & Onlays: Procedure & Benefits

If you have dental cavities or damaged teeth, the dentist may recommend a dental crown or a filling to cover the teeth. However, most people are unaware of other options like dental inlays and Onlays.

Teeth fillings repair minor cavities, while the crowns are designed to cover considerable fracture or damage. However, the crown is sometimes too much, and the filling is too small to repair the tooth. In that case, the dentist near you may recommend dental inlays and Onlays. They are the correct size but not as intrusive as the dental crowns.

What are Inlays and Onlays?

A tooth Inlay is used to cover an area in the tooth that is large for a filling. They are fixed between the cusps of the teeth and shaped to fit perfectly within the affected area. Onlays are partial crowns and are used to fill one or more cusps. They are primarily used to correct the larger surface area of the teeth.

How Are the Inlays and Onlays Fixed?

Inlays and Onlays are indirect dental restorations, and they are made at the lab and fixed on the teeth. Our dentist in 91710 will numb the gums, remove the decayed part and clean the teeth to remove debris. The dentist will use dental putty to mold the teeth to create the Inlay or Onlays. A temporary restoration covers the teeth until the next dental appointment. Our dentist removes the temporary Inlay and Onlays during your second appointment and checks the fit. She will then use a resin adhesive to fix the restorations and the teeth polished.

How Are Inlays and Onlays Different From Crowns?

Although the Onlays are partial crowns, they differ from the restorations. For instance, the Onlays do not require reshaping the enamel and therefore preserve your tooth structure. Dental crowns encase the entire tooth while the Onlays over the grooves and cusps of the teeth.

Does the Inlays & Onlays Procedure Hurt?

No, because the anesthesia is used to numb the gums. However, you may feel a pinch when the dentist is injecting the anesthesia. There may also be pressure when the dentist removes the decay, but not pain. Dental sedation can, at times, be used if you suffer from dental phobia or anxiety.

What are the Benefits of Dental Inlays and Onlays?

Dental Inlays and Onlays are two dental treatments that can help restore the function of the teeth. They come with benefits like:

  • They are a conservative treatment. These restorations are conservative and help preserve your teeth’ integrity compared to the dental crowns.
  • The Inlays and Onlays offer added strength and durability. The dental fillings are often made from composite material, which is not as strong. The inlays and Onlays are primarily made of porcelain (although it comes in different materials), durable and strong. Additionally, they are stain-resistant and do not discolor as quickly as the composite fillings.
  • They offer a natural appearance. Because the Inlays and Onlays are made of porcelain, the teeth have a seamless look.
  • Improve oral hygiene: Dental Inlays and Onlays will also help improve your oral hygiene by preventing plaque buildup.
  • The Inlays and Onlays are cost-effective and are covered by most insurance plans.
  • Less expansion. The amalgam fillings tend to expand and contract with temperature variations. Porcelain Inlays and Onlays are stable and do not change shape.

What are the Post-Procedure Care after Inlays and Onlays?

The 48 hours following the inlay and Onlays procedure are critical. It is advisable to avoid hard, sticky, and extreme temperatures. Eat soft and less chewy foods for the first couple of days after the restorations are fixed.

How Long Do the Dental Inlay and Onlays Last?

Dental inlays and Onlays can last between 10 and 30 years, depending on the material and how well you care for the restorations. Visit a dentist near you to examine the quality of the inlays and Onlays.

Schedule an Appointment

Visit or schedule a consultation with Ramona Dentistry of Chino for more information about dental Inlays & Onlays in Chino, CA, and what you can expect during the procedure.

What is Sleep Apnea: Symptoms, Risks & Treatment

What is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea is a severe sleep disorder that causes your breathing to repeatedly start and stop when you sleep. For example, if you snore loudly or feel tired and exhausted after getting a whole night’s rest, you might likely have sleep apnea.

Sleep apnea can affect you in three variations. They are obstructive sleep apnea, the most common and occurs when your throat muscles relax. Central sleep apnea occurs when your brain doesn’t send signals to the muscles controlling your breathing. The third variety, complex sleep apnea, occurs when you have both obstructive and central sleep apnea.

If you think you or a family member has sleep apnea, you must schedule an appointment with your doctor or the dentist in 91710. Early treatment can ease the symptoms and help prevent complications like heart problems.

Symptoms of Sleep Apnea

Obstructive and central sleep apnea have overlapping symptoms making it challenging to determine which variety affects you. The familiar signs of obstructive and central sleep apnea include loud snoring, episodes causing you to stop bleeding during sleep and reported by a bed partner, gasping for air when sleeping, waking up with a dry mouth, challenges staying asleep, morning headaches, daytime sleepiness, challenges paying attention, and irritability.

Loud snoring is not something you should take lightly because it is a severe problem. However, not everyone who has sleep apnea snores. Therefore you must discuss your symptoms with the dentist and inquire about any sleep-related issues that leave you tired, sleepy, and irritable.

Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when your throat muscles relax to narrow your airway when breathing. Central sleep apnea is a condition where you make no effort to breathe for short periods. Both varieties cause you to wake five or 30 times every hour throughout the night.

Risks of Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea affects anyone, including children. However, certain factors can increase your chances of developing this sleep-related disorder.

Obstructive sleep apnea is common among people with excess weight, thicker neck circumference, narrowed airway, gender, age, family history, alcohol use, nasal congestion, smoking, and medical solutions. Men are more prone to have obstructive sleep apnea than women. However, women can also develop this condition if they are overweight and are past menopause.

In central sleep apnea, the risks include age, gender, heart disorders, drug use, and strokes. Men are affected by central sleep apnea more than women.

Diagnosing Sleep Apnea

If you visit the dentist in Chino, CA, reporting your symptoms, the dentist will likely evaluate your symptoms and sleep history. You might require help from her bed partner or a family member to discuss your symptoms with your dentist.

You will likely receive a referral to a sleep disorder Center where a sleep medicine specialist helps you determine whether you need further evaluation. Sleep apnea evaluations often involve overnight monitoring at a sleep center to evaluate your breathing and body functions when sleeping. For example, the polysomnography test, considered the gold standard for assessing sleep apnea, requires hooking you up to equipment monitoring your heart, lungs, and oxygen levels when sleeping.

If you are affected by sleep apnea, the sleep medicine specialist refers you back to your dentist or doctor for further treatment.

Treatment for Sleep Apnea

If you are affected by a mild case of sleep apnea, you might find relief for making lifestyle changes like losing weight or quitting smoking. However, if your situation is complex, sleep apnea treatment in Chino, CA, might recommend oral appliances designed by dentists to help keep your throat open when sleeping. The gold standard for treating sleep apnea is the CPAP device which many people don’t tolerate. However, there is no reason for you to express disappointment because the oral appliance created by dentists is easier to use, keeps your lower jaw in a forward position, and is practical to relieve snoring and obstructive sleep apnea.

Your dentist can provide different devices as a remedy for your condition. However, you might need to try other devices before finding one suitable for you. After you get the right fit, you must follow up with your dentist immediately for at least a year and after regularly to ensure the device fits well and to reassess your signs and symptoms of sleep apnea.

Sleep apnea when left untreated, can expose you to life-threatening health complications that require different medical professionals. Therefore if you think you are affected by sleep apnea, please do not hesitate to visit Ramona Dentistry of Chino requesting treatment for the problem from the experienced professionals at the facility.

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