waterlase--dental laser with no anesthetic?

Question

Has anyone had this done on them. Apparently there is a laser that can do fillings without a drill or anesthetic and is pain free. Anyone know about this? Does it work?

Answer 1

There is some degree of discomfort though and not exactly pain free.
The laser charges up the water in the spray and cuts the tooth just like a drill would.
The difference is that it is more accurate and because of the absence of torque, less vibration travels to the root of the tooth and so the patient feels less pain.
Its more expensive though and is only provided by the high-class dental clinics. In Singapore, I believe GPA dental provides this form of cavity preparation.

Answer 2

I can't help myself on this one:
1. a laser is not going to clean out decay better than a drill. And I would like to know how you know when to stop. At least with a drill there is some tactile sense. Disclosing dyes have been shown to be inaccurate;
2. a laser is not as fast as a drill;
3. a laser sometimes needs anaesthetic. If you start without LA, but it becomes painful, will your dentist stop during the porcedure and give you an anaesthetic? Before starting, how can he possibly assess the true depth of the hole and your tolerance to pain? Don't tell me that 2-dimensional X-rays are accurate indicators of decay depth.
4. lasers can't cut around corners, so will remove more healthy tooth structure than a drill;
5. laser treatment is going to cost you much more than a standard drill and fill. The dentist has to recoup his costs of the laser from you somehow.
6. call me a cynic (or suspicious bastard), but I think the use of lasers for hard tissue treatment is ridiculous except in minor cavities, and that there is a lot of over-servicing for "cavities" which don't really exist.
Bring it on!

Answer 3

Most local anesthetics used in dentistry contain epinephrine, which can cause rapid heart rate and an ICKY feeling. It usually isn't a problem unless the anesthetic is injected directly into an artery. Your dentist should be aspirating during the injection to make sure that that doesn't happen. Another reason to feel icky is the stress of the situation. No one likes going to the dentist.

Answer 4

Depending on your age, you might associate lasers with Star Wars or planetarium shows. Today, lasers are used in many areas of daily life, including dentistry.

"Lasers were first described in 1958 by scientists working at Bell Laboratories. Today, the carbon dioxide (CO2) laser is used frequently by oral and maxillofacial surgeons for soft tissue surgery both inside and outside the mouth." says Sidney B. Eisig, professor and director of oral and maxillofacial surgery at the Columbia University College of Dental Medicine in New York.

What's a laser?
A dental laser has a power source and a chamber containing a gas or crystal. The power source is used to excite the gas or crystal molecules, which create packets of energy called photons. Mirrors are used to direct the photons, and some shoot out from the handpiece as a narrow, intense beam of laser light. Lasers created by different gases or crystals have different properties and are used for different purposes.
In more advanced dental lasers, the mirrors have been replaced with a hollow aluminum tube that reflects the photons. These lasers are less bulky, and are popular in the dental field.
Lasers are much more expensive than scalpels, so you may find that only a few dentists in your area have them. However, they are becoming more popular. Procedures done with a laser generally cost the same as traditional procedures done with a scalpel.

Which lasers are used in oral surgery?
The carbon dioxide (CO2) laser is most commonly used in oral surgery.
"The CO2 laser cauterizes tissue as it cuts so that there is little or no bleeding," Dr. Eisig says. "The power of the laser can be adjusted by changing the wattage, or energy, and can be a continuous pulse or intermittent pulse."

Lasers aren't painless, so you'll probably still need an anesthetic. However, for some procedures you may only need a topical anesthetic (a gel or cream), rather than an injected local anesthetic.

How are they used?
Lasers are used in many surgical procedures, including the following:
Biopsy — Lasers often are used to remove tissue that might be cancerous so that it can be examined under a microscope. A laser causes less bleeding than a scalpel because it sears the blood vessels shut as it cuts through tissue. Stitches often aren't necessary for a laser biopsy because the area heals on its own. The laser also will sear nerve endings, reducing pain after the procedure.

Removal of lesions (ablation) — Lasers can remove lesions, such as leukoplakia, by destroying thin layers of surface cells.

Frenectomy — A frenum is a fold of tissue found between the upper two front teeth, under the tongue, and on the sides of the gums. In some people, the frenum is too large and can interfere with speech or tooth eruption. In a frenectomy, this fold of tissue is cut. A laser frenectomy produces less bleeding than the same procedure done with a scalpel.

Uncovering impacted teeth — Impacted teeth are trapped in the jawbone, usually by other teeth or the bone itself. If an impacted tooth needs to be removed, a laser can cut the gum to expose the tooth. Again, the advantage of using a laser instead of a scalpel is the lack of bleeding. In this case, that makes it easier to bond an orthodontic bracket to the teeth because the area needs to be dry for the bracket to adhere.

Gingivectomy — Some people have severe gum overgrowth caused by certain medications. A gingivectomy removes the overgrown tissue. Using a laser to remove the tissue prevents bleeding, and also allows the surgeon to sculpt the gum tissue around the teeth so it looks natural.

Exposing dental implants — Dental implants are screwed into the jaw to replace missing teeth. Usually, the gum tissue is placed over the implant while it heals, and then removed later using a scalpel. Using a laser instead speeds healing and allows crowns, a bridge or denture to be placed on the implants almost right away.

Snoring treatment — Laser-assisted uvulopalatoplasty (LAUP) is used to shorten the uvula (the dangling bulb of tissue that hangs down in the back of your throat), which is sometimes the cause of snoring.

Treatment for cold sores (aphthous ulcers) — In people with painful cold sores, a laser can be used to sear the nerve endings and relieve the pain. This procedure is usually done with a topical anesthetic. Using the laser doesn't make the sores heal faster, but it does relieve pain.

Are lasers safe?
"Clinicians who use the laser in their practice need training and, in some instances, certification," Dr. Eisig says.
The laser itself is activated with a key that is stored separately from the laser. Your dentist then uses a covered foot pedal to turn the laser on and off. This prevents someone from accidentally turning on the laser. Other safety issues include:

Protecting the eyes of the dentist, assistants, and patient from the light of the laser — Clear plastic lenses are fine for CO2 lasers, but other lasers may require special eyewear. The room also must be closed to protect the eyes of people outside the room.
Avoiding alcohol or other flammable liquids used to clean and prepare the area
Ensuring adequate fire safety
Placing a sign on the door saying that a laser is in use
Using special endotracheal (breathing) tubes (in an operating room) that are not affected by the laser — Otherwise, the laser could cut through the tube, ignite the oxygen flowing through it, and cause a fire.

What other risks are involved?
Other risks include:
Damage to adjacent tissue
Bleeding, if the laser nicks a large blood vessel
Damage to teeth
Infection
These risks, except for the risk of damage to nearby tissue, also are found to some extent in surgeries done with scalpels.

All in all, laser surgery is effective and safe, and becoming more popular with both children and adults.

"I am continually amazed at the number of requests I receive for laser surgery," Dr. Eisig says. "Patients think they can be used for everything."
http://www.simplestepsdental.com/SS/ihtSS/r.WSIHW000/st.31850/t.35031/pr.3.html

So far it looks like lasers aren't used for restorations, only as an aid in surgeries.

Answer 5

IF YOU ARE FORTUNATE TO BE TREATED BY A WATERLASE, THEN FANTASTIC! I'VE ONLY HEARD GOOD THINGS ABOUT IT.