Laser Dentistry

Dr. Cashion and Dr. Cody began their dental careers studying Micro-Dentistry. The idea is to make the smallest hole necessary, leaving as much healthy tooth as possible. This is where laser dentistry in Sugar Land, Texas, fits right in.

We are always looking for ways to make dentistry easier for our patients. We are acutely aware that dentistry is the #2 fear behind public speaking. With safe, effective lasers, we have moved into the future, making dentistry comfortable and easy.

WaterLase® Laser Gum Treatment

When looking at the new possibilities in modern dentistry, Dr. Cashion and Dr. Cody looked for the best laser with the best track record and decided on the WaterLase for many reasons. They are proud to be one of the only offices in the Sugar Land area that offers WaterLase laser treatment. The Waterlase is the ONLY laser in the world that is FDA-approved for safety and effectiveness for gums, bone, and teeth.

Laser Gum Treatment

The only FDA-approved laser, the WaterLase laser has been a miracle in gum treatment. Use of the laser in the pocket will eliminate much of the diseased tissue and allow better shrinkage of the swollen gums and faster healing. It is quick and painless. We have never seen anything work so well.

There is no need for needles, as we have found a newly developed cream that numbs the gums and teeth instantly! The laser sprays out a computer-controlled spray of air and water as it activates the water droplets to comfortably remove hard deposits (calculus) and sterilize infected pockets. This is very important because bacterial contamination is the main reason gum disease starts up again.

Progression of Gum Disease and Bone Disease

The biggest problem with gum disease is there are usually no obvious symptoms like pain around the teeth. So, many people are unaware they have a problem.

This picture shows healthy gums and bone versus infected. As you can see, the biggest problem is you lose bone around the teeth.

Some signs and symptoms include:

• Loose teeth
• Bad breath
• Bleeding gums when brushing or flossing
• Tender, swollen, or red gums
• Hard deposits on teeth (especially lower front teeth)

Gum Disease and Heart Disease

Recent studies have shown that gum disease is connected to heart disease. A study published in 2004 found that gum disease plays a role in the initiation and development of heart disease. Researchers have found that people with periodontal disease are almost twice as likely to suffer from heart disease as those without periodontal disease. With this fact in mind, we knew we had to find the best ways to help eliminate gum disease for your health. Our search led us to a combination of miraculous non-surgical treatments with the laser being an essential part.

Laser Scanner for Ultra-Small Cavities

A painless laser scanner can detect decay earlier than ever before. It simply shines a harmless laser beam into the tooth and sends back a reading of hardness. We can find problems years before they show up on any X-ray.

Decay on Biting Surface

Back teeth have naturally occurring pits and grooves on biting surfaces. These grooves are so narrow that a toothbrush bristle cannot reach to bottom of the groove. So, even when your kids brush well, they miss the small pits and fissures.

Decay is caused by bacteria that live in these pits and grooves. When sugar is consumed, acid and toxins are produced that breakdown the tooth. The bad thing is that cavities spread internally, leaving the outside of the tooth looking normal. Research shows that 80% of all cavities start in the pits and grooves of teeth.

How Does the Laser Scanner Work?

The laser cavity scanner is a two-way handpiece sending laser light energy into the tooth and then laser light energy is reflected back with a reading of hardness of the tooth. Decay reflects differently than good, healthy tooth. With a better than 90% success rate, our dentists are able to diagnose decay early when it is the easiest to repair.

Think about this – if we can find decay early, when it is a small hole and repair it using the WaterLase or Air Abrasion (pain-free and drill-free cavity removal), we have probably saved that tooth from a crown and root canal later.

The ability of the laser scanner has changed dentistry forever. We can now repair teeth with tiny, white fillings. Where was this when we were kids?

If you would like to learn more, contact CandC Dental today.