Laser Dentistry

Modern dentistry utilizes lasers to provide our patients with safe, quick, and bloodless procedures. Lasers clot the blood as it cuts, killing germs as it goes. Dr. Dipika Shah, D.D.S., of Holmdel, NJ., uses laser dentistry at her practice.

 

Laser dentistry is used to treat hypersensitivity, tooth decay, gum disease, and teeth whitening. There are two types of laser treatments, depending on the area of the mouth. Hard tissue treatments are used on the teeth, while soft tissue is for the gums.

 

There are three common hard tissue procedures. For cavities, the lasers can locate signs of tooth decay. The lasers also destroy bacteria within the cavity. They are also used for tooth preparations and fillings. Lasers work for teeth sensitivity, sealing tubules on the tooth’s roots.

 

There are also three common soft tissue procedures. If you have a “gummy smile,” where the gums cover a large number of your teeth, the lasers can reshape your gum tissue. It also can reshape your gums and bone in preparation for restorations, essentially acting as a crown lengthening. Laser frenectomies are also performed. The frenulum is the fold of skin located under the tongue, attaching it to the mouth floor. If you have a thick or tight frenulum, you might experience problems speaking. Lastly, lasers can remove soft tissue surrounding ill-fitting dentures.

 

There are many benefits to laser dentistry: it reduces the need for sutures and stitches, it makes anesthesia unnecessary, and it lowers the chance of infection while increasing the speed of healing.

 

Dr. Dipika Shah, D.D.S. is located in Holmdel, NJ. To schedule an appointment, visit our website or call 732-264-8180.

 

Laser Treatment for Canker Sores

When a canker sore emerges, you might find yourself running to the drugstore for Anbesol or any other numbing agent that will temporarily reduce the pain. You may also find yourself Googling every home remedy you can find to control the situation. Here at the dental practice of Dr. Dipika Shah, DDS we offer laser treatment for aphthous ulcers (canker sores), which promote reduced healing times.

Essentially, a canker sore is a small lesion/ulcer inside the mouth. They can appear almost on the inner surface of the cheeks, and lips; the tongue; the soft palate and the base of the gums. They can be rather painful and can be caused by a stress, dietary deficiencies and triggered by citrus fruits. Laser treatment has several remedial effects on canker sores. Laser treatment stops the progression of mouth sores so that they take a significantly shorter time to heal. It also results in rapid pain relief. Additionally, laser treatment can be preventative. Before a canker sore breakout, the lips will invariably start to tingle. Receiving laser treatment at this early stage will help stop the breakout in its tracks.

If you suffer from canker sores on a regular basis, give us a call so we can help. To learn about the services we provide at our practice, visit www.dentistnj.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Dipika Shah, DDS in our Holmdel, NJ office, call 732-264-818.

Cold Sore Treatment with a Diode Laser

Cold sores can be painful, uncomfortable and embarrassing, but at our office Holmdel, NJ, we can help you get rid of the herpetic lesion with a diode laser. Treatment with a diode laser is quick and does not require an anesthetic, allowing you to easily treat cold sore symptoms.

If you are treated with a diode laser during the tingling stage that occurs before a breakout, you can reduce or even eliminate cold sore symptoms before they start. If you are already experiencing a breakout, the diode laser can still effectively treat your cold sore, offering pain relief and accelerated healing.

The diode laser treats cold sores by killing the viral particles of a cold sore, which not only helps heal a the lesion but can also decrease the frequency at which they reoccur in that area. Several treatments can decrease the frequency of cold sores and lessen symptoms during the breakouts that do occur. We have had great results with the diode laser, with many patients and non-patients experiencing great relief.

If you would like to receive treatment, you can schedule an appointment with Dr. Dipika Shah by calling 732-264-8180. For more information about the procedure or our practice, visit www.dentistnj.com. 

Laser Cosmetic Dentistry

Lasers have revolutionized the dental industry, allowing dentists to heal cold sores, treat periodontal disease, reduce trauma during dental procedures and minimize anesthesia use. At our office in Holmdel, NJ, Dr. Dipika Shah uses lasers for a multitude of procedures, from pocket reduction in the gums to frenectomies, the removal of gum overgrowth and impressions for crowns.

We offer a variety of procedures in our office that use the lasers. One such procedure is cosmetic periodontal surgery, which sculpts the gum line so that it is even and best exposes your smile. With the laser, Dr. Shah can reshape your gum tissue best with no anesthesia and minimum sensitivity.

The dentists can also use the laser to manage soft tissue in patients with deep pockets found in periodontal screenings. The laser will kill bacteria and get rid of infected tissue easily and quickly to ensure that periodontal disease is treated and prevented.

Our team is dedicated to ensuring you maintain a smile you can be proud of while receiving the highest level of comfort during dental procedures, and laser dentistry is one of the ways we do this. To schedule an appointment, call 732-264-8180. For more information about Dr. Dipika Shah or our services in Holmdel, NJ, visit www.dentistnj.com.