Laser Dentistry: Is it True There Will Be No Bleeding and No Need for Hemostatic Agents?
Anon. asks:
I am thinking about buying a laser for my office. I have two operatories and I am doing progressively more aesthetic dentistry. I have seen the laser used for surgical recontouring of gingival tissue and for troughing and hemostasis for final impressions for crowns. Is it true that the laser will create absolute hemostasis and then once you use it to create a trough around the finish line, there will be no bleeding and no need to apply hemostatic agents? How is the laser different from the electrosurge?
2 Comments on Laser Dentistry: Is it True There Will Be No Bleeding and No Need for Hemostatic Agents?
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Kenneth S. Magid, D.D.S.
1/13/2009
The answer is not as simple as a yes or no. For soft tissue procedures a diode, Nd:YAG, or CO2 laser can be used for soft tissue modification without bleeding. To a certain extent an erbium laser without water can also accomplish soft tissue cutting without bleeding but much more limited than the other wavelengths. The erbium laser is much more versatile in cutting bone and tooth structure.
The laser is different from an electrosurge in that it creates a far smaller zone of thermal damage. Clinically that means that these lasers will not result in uncontrolled gingival recession as the electrosurge will.
If you are going to purchase a laser it is imperative that you avail yourself of an appropriate laser education.
Hope this help.
Ken Magid
Director of Laser Dentistry
NYU College of Dentistry
docjoe
1/20/2009
In my experience with the waterlase, there is no bleeding with relatively healthy tissues and minor soft tissue modification. I have removed fibromas with virtually no bleeding and even and occasional mucoceole with very minimal bleeding.
