There are two cornerstones to maintaining lifelong oral health. The first is a consistent and thorough dental hygiene routine that includes brushing and flossing. This practice is combined with mouthwash as part of your daily hygiene practices. The second is ensuring that you see your dentist at least twice a year for regular preventative care. One common reason that patients struggle with seeing the dentist is dental phobia. Dental phobia causes these individuals to become nervous and unsettled about receiving dental care. For some, it’s merely uncomfortable; for others, it can be paralyzing. One commonly reported trigger for these symptoms is the whine of a dental drill.
How Dental Lasers Are Easing Dental Phobia Symptoms
Some technologies are so effective that they remain the hallmark of their trades for decades. Your dentist may make innovations and improvements to these technologies, but the underlying principle remains unchanged. The dental drill is one such example. First invented in 1864, these drills underwent several innovations in the coming years. The first drill was powered by clockwork and remained at the leading edge of dentistry until 1875. From 1875-1950, the primary power source for these drills was electrical. Between 1950 and 1960, the pneumatic (air-powered) drill was invented and improved upon. For decades this version, with its distinctive high-pitched whine, would provide care for patients worldwide. While all of these were capable of doing the job, they all came with some drawbacks.
- Noisy – All three were particularly noisy devices, as anyone who’s received dental care with them knows. The pneumatic drill makes a sound not entirely unlike that of an automotive power tool. This made a potentially nerve-wracking experience that much worse.
- Vibrations – All former dental drills relied on grinding to eliminate tissue from the target site. This meant that throughout the procedure, the sensation of pressure and vibration was evident to the patient. While the anesthetic eliminated the pain of the drill, there was no escaping that persistent vibration from the dill.
- Inaccurate – While the precision of these tools increased over the years, there was always a degree of inaccuracy involved. This meant that it was inevitable that some healthy tissue, however minor, was removed along with the decayed tissue.
However, after nearly 50 years of relying on increasingly outdated technology, a revolution has come in dentistry. The arrival of the dental laser eliminated all the concerns facing the older models of the dental drill. It comes with the benefits of a nearly silent, vibration-free operation that results in nearly painless procedures. Further, they’re incredibly accurate devices. Their ability to specifically target decayed tissue means no healthy tissue is eliminated during the procedure. Some dental phobia patients report that the quiet pulsing of the dental laser is soothing to their anxiety.
Learn More Benefits Of Dental Lasers From Your Dentist
Dental lasers are a powerful and versatile new tool that can change how you look at dental care. Schedule a visit today if you’ve been avoiding the dental office for fear of the drill. Your dentist can introduce you to this new tool and all the benefits that come with it. You may find that receiving dental care isn’t the scary experience you once thought it was.
