Technology
Fotona Laser Dentistry
A Fotona laser treats soft tissue with focused light energy rather than a blade. We use it on gum tissue, not on a tooth that needs a filling or a crown. Because the energy stays in a small area, these procedures often bleed less, frequently need no sutures, and sometimes need little anesthesia.
Fotona lasers treat soft tissue with focused light energy. The beam works on a small, defined area, which is difficult to match with a blade. In practice that means less bleeding during the procedure and, for many cases, nothing to stitch at the end.
A laser appointment is quieter than you might expect. There is no drill noise. The handpiece makes a light tapping sound as it pulses, and there is often a faint smell, which is normal. You wear tinted glasses and so do we, for as long as the laser is switched on.
What you feel depends on the procedure. Many soft tissue procedures need little or no anesthesia, and for those we can usually start straight away. For others we still numb the area first. We will tell you which one yours is when we book it, not on the day.
The traditional route for gum work is a scalpel and sutures. That works, but it bleeds more during treatment, and stitches mean a second visit to have them taken out. It also means the healing you do at home gets managed around the sutures. Taking that step out makes the week after treatment simpler.
We use the laser for gum contouring, where the shape of the gum line is reset around a tooth or a run of teeth. We use it for frenectomies, releasing a tongue tie or a lip tie. We use it on canker sores and cold sores, treating the spot itself. And we use it alongside periodontal treatment, on gum tissue that is inflamed or infected.
A laser is not a replacement for everything in the room. It treats soft tissue. It does not remove decay from a tooth or prepare a tooth for a crown. We use it as one tool among several, the right choice depends on what you actually need, and we will always explain why we are recommending it.
Laser dentistry is well established and has been used in dental practices for soft tissue work for years. The safety record is strong in trained hands, which is why the training matters more than the machine. Healing still takes time, and you still get aftercare to follow.
Benefits
Why it matters for you
- Treats soft tissue only, in a small and defined area
- Often reduces bleeding during treatment
- Many procedures need no sutures, so there is nothing to take out later
- Healing is typically faster than after cutting with an instrument
- Reduced discomfort during and after treatment, compared with traditional instruments
- Little to no anesthesia for many soft tissue procedures
- No drill noise while the laser is working
Where We Use It
Procedures it supports
- Gum contouring and recontouring
- Frenectomies (tongue and lip tie release)
- Treating canker sores and cold sores
- Supporting periodontal (gum) treatment
- Evening out an uneven gum line before cosmetic work
- Treating inflamed gum tissue around a single tooth
Questions
Common questions
Most patients report less discomfort with the laser than with traditional instruments, and many soft tissue procedures need little or no anesthesia. That is not the same as feeling nothing. You may notice warmth or pressure, and the area can be tender for a day or two afterward. We numb anything that calls for it.
Laser dentistry is well established and used in dental practices for soft-tissue work, with a strong safety record in trained hands. Everyone in the room wears protective eyewear while the laser is switched on, including you. If anything about it worries you, ask before we begin.
Often not. Laser treatment of soft tissue tends to bleed less, and many procedures close without sutures. That also takes out the follow-up visit to have them removed. Some cases still need a stitch or two, and we will tell you if yours is one of them.
Healing is typically faster than it is after cutting with an instrument, though it still takes time and it varies by procedure. We go through aftercare for your case before you leave, including what to eat and how to clean the area. Call us if something is not settling the way we said it would.
We treat the spot itself, ideally early, when you first feel one coming. It is a short appointment and it does not involve numbing in most cases. Cold sores and canker sores still run their course, so this is about treating the sore you have rather than preventing the next one.