Laser Technologies
At River Dental in Medicine Hat, we use a Periowave™ diode laser to assist with hygiene services, and Waterlase™ to assist with a range of dental procedures.
Periowave™ Technology
How Periowave Works
Periowave is an effective, minimally invasive, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory treatment.
It uses the powerful photodisinfection reaction to inactivate the harmful bacteria and toxins that are left behind after scaling and root planing.
What is Photodisinfection?
Photodisinfection is based on a simple, two-step procedure:
Irrigate
The specially formulated Periowave photosensitizing solution is topically applied to the gums at the treatment site.
It then preferentially attaches to the harmful bacteria and toxins associated with periodontal disease.
Illuminate
A thin, plastic light diffusing tip is painlessly placed into the treatment site. The treatment site is illuminated with a specifically calibrated laser light, activating the photosensitizing solution and destroying the harmful bacteria and toxins.
Each treatment site requires only 60 seconds of laser activation, making Periowave a quick, painless, and stress-free procedure.
WaterLase Technology
When we use the WaterLase technology instead of a traditional dental drill, we can:
Save time.
Procedures that once took several appointments to complete, such as multiple fillings, can now be finished in just one visit.
Reduce the need for multiple injections
Many procedures, including children’s cavity preparations, do not require shots.
Less anesthesia required.
Children typically experience less post-op discomfort and require less pain medication.
Why Waterlase?
Doctors have used lasers for years to provide better care for their patients – in LASIK vision correction, for removing skin blemishes, and in all kinds of surgery. Now, thanks to your dentist, you can benefit from laser technology for your dental care, with WaterLase. Here are some of the benefits you will experience:
More Comfortable
WaterLase uses laser energy and a gentle spray of water to perform a wide range of dental procedures – without the heat, vibration and pressure associated with the dental drill. With many procedures, it’s possible to use less anesthetic, and in some cases, no anesthetic at all.
More Convenient
Your dentist can, in most cases, get you in and out of the dentist chair faster, since it’s less likely that you’ll need an injection – research shows that the vast majority of patients don’t. It’s nice to avoid that shot, isn’t it? Not using anesthetic can allow your dentist to perform procedures that used to require more than one visit in a single appointment. Also, your dentist may be able to perform procedures that once meant an additional trip to a specialist, saving you even more time.
More Precise
Your dentist can remove decay far more precisely than a dentist using a drill. This saves more of the healthy parts of your tooth. Saving your natural teeth can save you from the discomfort and cost of bridges, dentures and implants.
Improved Cavity Fillings
WaterLase cavity preparations can increase bond strength of tooth-coloured restoration resulting in longer lasting fillings.
Less Bleeding & Swelling
Due to its conservative, gentle cutting action and coagulating capabilities, the WaterLase performs many procedures on the gums with little or no bleeding and less post-op swelling.
Is WaterLase Safe?
WaterLase was developed by BIOLASE Technology, the leader in dental lasers. BIOLASE dental lasers have been used to treat millions of patients.
A WaterLase laser creates special, highly concentrated light energy, and sends it through an optical fiber to its hand piece. Your dentist uses the hand piece to aim the laser energy at precisely the areas to be treated. Some laser systems combine the laser energy with a gentle spray of water.
WaterLase was developed specifically to repair decayed and damaged teeth, and treat gum and other soft tissue in the mouth safely and comfortably. It can be harmful to eyes, however, so anyone in the treatment room when the laser is being used must wear special protective glasses.
How Does WaterLase Work?
Your dentist’s WaterLase laser system combines laser energy and a spray of water in a patented technology called Hydrophotonics™ to perform a wide range of dental procedures on teeth, gum and bone more comfortably.
Can it improve a patient's smile?
We may suggest contouring or shaping a patient’s gums using WaterLaseto improve the appearance of their smile – safely removing excess gum tissue that may give them a “gummy” smile, or make their front teeth appear irregular in size or shape.
Can it remove oral growths?
We may use WaterLase to remove growths or excess tissue in a patient’s mouth including gum tissue over an un-erupted tooth, small “tags” called papilla, and growths called fibromas.
Can it fix a “Tongue Tie” or prevent gum recession?
Connections that restrict the movement of a patient’s tongue or cause their gums to recede can be “released” with WaterLase.
Can it treat periodontal disease?
WaterLase can be used to remove debris and bacteria between a patient’s teeth and gums that can cause bleeding gums, gum recession and even loss of teeth. WaterLase has been shown to reduce bacteria and may even stimulate gum tissue growth.
Can it relieve the pain of cold sores and fever blisters?
WaterLase often provides immediate relief from painful cold sores and fever blisters. We may also use a WateLase laser to perform other procedures not listed here. The dentist can provide you with the information you need to inform patients about these procedures.
Questions about our services? Ready to book an appointment?
Contact River Dental today.