Exciting Developments In Dentistry
One of the more exciting developments in dentistry is that of minimally invasive, laser technology. Dr. Robert Shackelford at Dentistry of Johns Creek offers the Waterlase MD, a revolutionary device that uses a combination of YSGG laser energy and water, a process called HydroPhotonics, to perform many traditional dental procedures with no anesthesia.
The laser dentistry technology at Dentistry of Johns Creek enables Dr. Shackelford to provide a number of adjunctive services to ensure the health of the hard and soft tissues of our patient’s mouths. These painless, minimally invasive procedures allow him to achieve more precise and more enduring results than were ever before possible.
For years, the only way to remove cavities was with a dental drill. Since the dental drill uses mechanical energy to cut into the tooth, the tooth must be anesthetized with an injection. Using the Waterlase MD, laser energy cuts into the tooth, eliminating the need for anesthetic and injections in many cases. This type of dental laser is called a Hard Tissue Laser since it is designed for use on teeth and bone.
No longer do the patients at Dentistry of Johns Creek have to suffer through the painful prick of needles. Dr. Robert Shackelfor offers only the most advanced state-of-the-art technology allowing him to make the dental experience more comfortable and stress-free for his patients. He can perform a variety of treatments quietly and quickly, usually without the need for anesthesia. Dr. Shackelford welcomes the opportunity to show patients just how relaxing, pleasant, and a surprisingly easy trip to the dentist can be.
Waterlase MD
The Waterlase MD allows for precise cavity preps with no pain, needles or drills (in most cases). Plus, minimal amounts of tissue are removed, helping to preserve as much tooth surface as possible. The composite restoration is placed and you’ll be on your way with no discomfort or numb lip.
How Does the Waterlase MD Laser Work?
This hard tissue laser uses a small burst of laser energy combined with water to remove tooth structure in small increments. The laser energy creates tiny, micro-explosions which nibble away at the tooth to remove the decay. This process is called ablation and is painless because of the extremely short duration of each laser burst. Your tooth contains small amounts of water which the laser energy reacts with. For this reason, the Waterlas MD can only be used on teeth and not previously filled teeth or to remove old fillings.
One of the many complaints Dr. Shackelford hears is that people hate the sound of the drill. With laser dentistry, the drilling noise is eliminated because the only noise it makes is popping sound.
Laser dentistry is now available at Dentistry of Johns Creek. The office is ideally located for those living in Cumming, Alpharetta, Duluth, Suwanee and Johns Creek.