Laser dentistry
For gum work and sore spots, when a laser suits the job better than a blade.
A dental laser is a narrow beam of light that trims, shapes and disinfects gum tissue in place of a scalpel. Dr. Malik uses it for gum work, where it usually means less bleeding, fewer stitches and a quicker recovery than a blade.
What we use it for.
- Gum has grown over a tooth, or covers the edge where a filling or crown has to finish.
- An uneven gum line, where one or two teeth look shorter than the rest.
- Infected tissue in deep gum pockets, cleaned out alongside scaling and root planing.
- A cold sore or mouth ulcer that keeps returning in the same spot.
- A tight lip or tongue tie that needs releasing.
- A tooth that stays sensitive to cold after a cleaning.
From your side of the chair.
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Whether it fits
At the exam Dr. Malik tells you whether a laser suits the job, or whether a blade does it better. Not every case is a laser case, and he says which yours is.
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Safety glasses on
You wear tinted glasses while the laser is running, as does everyone else in the room. It is a routine precaution, not a sign that anything unusual is happening.
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Numbing the area
Most gum work still needs freezing. Smaller jobs sometimes need only a numbing gel on the gum. We check the area is numb before starting, and we stop if you need a break.
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During the treatment
There is no drill and no vibration. You may hear a faint ticking from the laser and notice warmth or a slight burnt smell, and there is usually very little bleeding.
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Healing afterwards
Because the laser seals as it works, stitches are often not needed. The area is tender for a day or two; soft food and warm salt-water rinses help while the gum settles.
What it costs, and who pays.
The laser is a tool, not a treatment of its own, so it is billed as the procedure it is used for. Most laser work happens inside a visit you are already having; reshaping a gum line is usually one visit with a check a few weeks later. Plans that cover gum treatment generally cover it whether it is done with a laser or a blade, while cosmetic reshaping is usually not covered.
Ask for a written estimateLaser dentistry, answered.
Does laser dentistry hurt?
Most gum work with the laser is still done with the area frozen, so you feel warmth and pressure rather than sharp pain. Small jobs sometimes need only a numbing gel. Tell us if you feel anything and we stop.
Can a laser be used instead of the drill for a filling?
Not here. The laser at 5105 Hurontario is used for gums and soft tissue. Decay is still removed with a handpiece and the tooth filled the usual way.
Is laser dentistry safe?
Yes, used by a dentist for the jobs it suits. The beam works on a shallow layer of tissue at a time, and everyone in the room wears protective glasses while it is on.
How long does the gum take to heal after laser treatment?
Usually a week or two for the tenderness and the shape of the gum to settle, though most people are eating normally within a few days. Deeper gum work takes longer, and we look at the area at a follow-up.
