Laser Dentistry in Austin, TX
Dr. Jared Poplin and our experienced team of professionals want the very best for our young patients. We combine gentle care with advanced education and extensive training in the safe use of the latest state-of-the-art technology. Laser dentistry is a high-tech way to provide gentle care and treat a broad range of childhood oral health conditions comfortably and efficiently.
What Is a Dental Laser?
Just like lasers used for medical procedures, a dental laser focuses a beam of light directly on the area we’re treating. Using lasers, we can pinpoint and treat the problem without affecting surrounding tissue.
Laser dentistry results in less bleeding, minimal swelling and post-procedure discomfort for your child. We find that, in many cases, we can complete laser treatment without the need for any anesthetic.
Training and State-of-the-Art Technology
At Poplin Pediatric Dentistry, we are dedicated to staying on the cutting edge of emerging dental technology that improves your child’s oral health and ensures their overall well-being.
Would you like to learn more about how our gentle laser dentistry treatments can benefit your child? Please call our Austin dental office. A friendly member of our team will be glad to arrange a convenient consultation with Dr. Poplin.
What Is a Solea Laser?
Solea is the first CO2 dental laser system cleared by the FDA for hard- and soft-tissue procedures. It offers a unique wavelength guided by sophisticated computers to deliver virtually painless dental procedures for both teeth and gums, from simple cavities to more complex surgeries. Aside from causing virtually no pain, Solea is associated with minimal noise and no vibration. Thanks to Solea, the majority of kids who come in for fillings and other restorative care do not need local anesthesia.
How Will This Laser Benefit My Child?
With Solea, we rarely need to numb our patients for routine restorative work, such as fillings and even crowns. Under traditional methods of dentistry, children must be numbed using local anesthesia for these procedures. We have found that many children do not react well to having numbness, which can last for hours after the procedure. Even though they often do well for the procedure and the actually numbing, the lingering numbness and return of sensation can be quite uncomfortable. Furthermore, no kid likes the idea of getting a shot regardless of how gently it will be done. By using Solea, most children don’t feel like they’ve had dental treatment at all.
Benefits of Laser Dentistry
The benefits associated with Solea are many. Some of the most significant advantages of laser
dentistry include…
- The majority of hard- and soft-tissue procedures are completed without local anesthesia (numbing), and soft-tissue procedures occur with virtually no bleeding.
- Laser dentistry is incredibly precise and often can achieve a more conservative restoration.
- Using the Solea laser is far less invasive than any cutting instrument, which makes healing time following a procedure much shorter.
- When patients have local anesthesia, they leave the office still feeling numb. This can cause both adults and children to bite their lip, tongue, or cheek, causing pain and tenderness after dental appointments. With Solea, your child will be able to go right to lunch or back to school without the numbness associated dental work.
Laser frenectomy at Poplin Pediatric Dentistry in Austin, TXDoes It Cost More to Use the Laser?
We do not charge any additional fees for using this technology. We are committed to providing the most comfortable and highest level of care possible to our
patients.
Laser Frenectomy
A frenectomy is the removal of a frenum, a small fold of tissue that is present in the upper lip or underneath the tongue. When the frenum is too tight, we call it tongue tie or lip tie. Tongue and lip ties can cause issues breastfeeding in babies, encourage decay, and cause facial growth and development and orthodontic problems over time. These ties can also cause speech issues.
The Solea laser has made it possible for Dr. Poplin to quickly, safely, and effectively complete the frenectomy under the tongue or upper lip to allow for better range of motion — for healthier babies and happier parents. Immediately after a frenectomy, an infant is often fully able to latch and feed in the most efficient manner.
Laser Gingivectomy
Simply put, a gingivectomy is the removal of gum tissue. For children, the most common reason for a gingivectomy is for esthetic reasons after braces are removed. If oral hygiene is an issue while a child has braces, the gum tissue can become overgrown. A gingivectomy may also be done to remove excess tissue from around teeth that may be trapping food. Traditional procedures for gingivectomy can be difficult for children, but laser treatment has proven to be a very effective alternative, resulting in minimal bleeding, discomfort, and recovery time.
Contact us to learn more about laser dentistry! The team at Poplin Pediatric Dentistry is proud to offer this service at no extra charge for all of our patients — like your child! Please give us a call to set up and appointment.