If you ask most people where they least want to go, to the dentist's office is generally high on the list of answers. Many of us have a memory of being a small child, sitting in a huge dental chair, and a dentist injecting our gums with a large needle. We then remember the sound of the high-pitched drill grinding on our teeth. Just the thought of our past experiences is enough to keep thousands of people from getting regular dental care each year.

 

Thankfully, with the wonderful advances in dental medicine over the past few years, and the help of some very successful relaxation techniques, going to the dentist can now really and truly be a pain free and stress free experience.

 

Lasers in Dental Practice

 

An English dentist invented a dental technique called photo-activated disinfection, PDA. PDA uses a laser-activated disinfectant to attack tooth decay and stop it from spreading, rather than a traditional dental drill. Once the bacteria in the cavity are killed, a sealant is then placed over the area and the patient will have to rub a tooth mousse on the area to help promote tooth re-growth. This is a wonderful advancement for treating cavities in children and fearful patients especially.

 

Another common laser used in dental work today is a water-based laser. Water-based lasers use water combined with air to numb nerves in your teeth as it cuts. This totally eliminates the need for anesthetic, and needles to inject the anesthetic into your gums. A great bonus of using a water-based laser is that it sterilizes the tooth and enhances the bond of a filling or other dental work. Lasers are also much more precise than a traditional dental drill to remove decay and treat specific areas of teeth. This precision lessens the chance of infection, speeds healing times, and is reported to be 100% pain free.

 

The Magic Wand

 

Many dentists are now embracing a new technology often referred to as the magic wand. The wand is a computer controlled device which senses the exact amount of anesthesia to inject, and the exact location it is needed in. The wand has a needle but it also uses a topical anesthetic to numb the spot where the needle goes into the gum. As the needle is inserted it is pain free because the area is already numbed by the topical anesthesia.

 

Thanks to the use of the magic wand and lasers, you can now visit your dentist and not experience any pain in the process. When you are shopping for a dentist who accepts your discount dental plan it is important to ask if they use the wand and lasers in their dental work procedures.

 

 

 

Source: www.articledashboard.com