Waterlase (Dental Laser)

“An emerging standard of clinical care and patient comfort.”

“The Waterlase MD has revolutionized my practice.

This highly adaptable, all-tissue laser efficiently cuts through the enamel, dentine, bone, and soft tissue, making it suitable for use in most clinical situations. The Waterlase has been a real practice builder for me; the lack of contact and vibration enhances patient comfort, and a reduction in pain and post-surgery swelling vastly improves the overall patient experience.”

Dr Mark Cronshaw – BSc (Hons) BDS LDS RCS (Eng) MFHom (Dent)

Laser dentistry is the most exciting area of dentistry today, and the invention of Waterlase could very well be the greatest innovation in dentistry yet! Our practice is the first practice on the Isle of Wight to offer the Waterlase dental laser allowing us to perform many preventive and restorative procedures without having to use either a drill or an injection!

The Waterlase laser is a very gentle, accurate and precise tool that uses a combination of laser technology and water spray. The Waterlase emits a laser beam that energizes a spray of air and water. The water droplets absorb the laser energy and become laser-energized water particles that, when directed at the tooth, have the same precision as a high-speed drill. Therefore, it is able to cut through all types of tissue, including bone and gum, so that dental procedures can be performed more easily and comfortably.

Patient Comfort

For many people, fear and anxiety can be a barrier to seeking dental treatment. The majority of those who are apprehensive about visits to the dentist, and there are many, list the drilling as the main reason for their apprehension. Waterlase dentistry makes no contact with your tooth and does not transmit heat or vibration, so it may ease the pain and anxiety of patients who fear the vibration and high-pitched whine of traditional drills. In contrast, all you hear are quiet, little “pops” reminiscent of popcorn popping.

Waterlase offers a precision that far surpasses that of a drill without generating heat or using pressure. Conventional drills can often overheat teeth during procedures, inducing discomfort and irreversibly damaging the soft tissue or pulp underneath. Because of the pinpoint accuracy of the laser, it can be more conservatively used, thereby requiring less invasive tissue removal to perform the various procedures. Patients experience little or no discomfort, less bleeding during treatments and a shorter recovery time.

With our Waterlase, the need for anaesthetic injections is reduced and, in some instances, eliminated, as well as the associated side effects. This enables us to combine procedures and thereby complete more procedures in less time and fewer visits for our patients.

Sterilisation and Healing

The Waterlase is both a hard and soft tissue laser. The only thing you can’t do with this water-and-laser beam technology is to cut through silver fillings. Aside from the ability to do more procedures without the drill, there are many wholly unique and remarkable advantages to both clinicians and patients of laser use. The laser, for instance, has the ability to disinfect the interior of a root canal ten times more effectively than any other device.

When used in surgery, the benefits of the laser are immense, as there is substantially reduced trauma to the tissues. The laser sterilises the affected area as well as seals off blood vessels, which minimizes the chance of infection or bleeding and means patients are much more comfortable both during and after treatment.

Lasers of this type actually promote healing, and as a result, procedures which historically are at the very least unpleasant can be completed quickly and efficiently with a reduced healing time. Among the many applications of Waterlase is the ability to remove many hard-to-extract teeth without the need to make incisions or place stitches. Patients with advancing gum and bone disease (periodontal disease) find the laser can stop the further progress of the condition, and there can be an amazing degree of regeneration of previously lost supporting tissue, allowing them to retain their natural teeth.

If you’ve been avoiding the dentist for fear of the needle and drill or just want a dental solution that is faster and more comfortable, stop delaying your dental treatment and schedule an appointment today.