Using Lasers in Dentistry – Part Two
As our population ages, people are keeping their teeth for longer and longer, bringing an increased risk of periodontitis, gum disease, and of course, hypersensitivity. Dental Desensitization Therapy can help.
Additionally, many of the individuals in this older population are on medications that cause differences in saliva that contribute to the development of hypersensitivity. Pain can become an issue when patients eat cold or hot foods, brush their teeth, floss, or eat foods that contain high quantities of sugar.
Dentin hypersensitivity is a dental condition that can often be very painful when left untreated. The majority of patients that are affected by this condition are middle aged, and signs of hypersensitivity can be found in almost a third of all adults. It is not uncommon for a dental professional to see several patients a day that exhibit signs of hypersensitivity. This condition is slightly more common in women and those with a history of periodontitis.
The 5 types of Sensitivity Triggers
There are five different types of external stimuli that can cause pain when dentin is exposed: tactile, chemical, thermal, osmotic and bacterial.
The Basics of Desensitization Therapy:
- This treatment is the most time consuming of the laser dental therapies.
- Desensitization therapy is also the most popular laser treatment.
- It is often used in and around where the gum tissue has receded.
- Lasers crimp the tubules shut so that it blocks the sensitivity.
- This treatment produces permanent relief in the targeted areas.
- If new exposure occurs the treatment can be repeated.
- Desensitization therapy is completely pain free!
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