Laser Endodontics
Leading the way to a new standard of endodontic care (ROOT CANAL CARE).
Endodonticts is one of several specialties of dentistry recognized by the American Dental Association. It is the profession dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of infected teeth and bone. An endodontists, unlike a general dentist, specializes in working with the tooth pulp and tissues around the root of the tooth.
Endodontics and its objectives are not new, but at Laser Endodontics of Northern Virginia, Dr. Mary Ann Choby is proud to be on the cutting edge of a "paradigm shift" in endodontics. What is changing is that lasers are making endodontists much more effective at achieving a successful outcome.
The laser works by using energy to stimulate areas and to reduce bacterial counts to levels approaching sterilization. It works well on all tissue types without the heat, vibration or noise of a drill. Our Waterlase MD laser system offers patients greater comfort, promotes faster healing and decreases postoperative pain. In some cases, referral to other specialists can be avoided.
Lasers make your care faster, easier & more precise.
By their very nature, lasers can be used to reduce discomfort during and after root canal treatment. They also let Dr. Choby work more quickly and with unprecedented accuracy. Lasers disinfect areas better, approaching sterilization, and are more effective than the standard of NaOC I. Lasers even reduce bleeding and promote healing.
With lasers, Dr. Choby can remove the layer of tiny debris that commonly remains following "traditional" root canal therapy… and that may lead to the need for endodontic retreatment.
Some other uses are:
- Root desensitization – For teeth that are especially sensitive, Dr. Choby can use a laser to reduce root sensitivity.
- Swelling & infection – Rather than send you to an oral surgeon to drain swelling under general anesthesia, lasers let Dr. Choby reduce swelling and pain with less anesthesia.
- Gingivectomy – Dr. Choby uses lasers to remove excessive gum tissue in order to best see and treat an infected tooth.
- Crown extensions – Dr. Choby can "extend the tooth crown" by using the laser to remove gum and bone tissue to expose more of the tooth.
- Faster, easier apical surgery – Lasers are used to remove infected root end and can be done with greater control, smoother incisions, less bleeding, less tissue damage and less postoperative inflammation and pain.
Our Waterlase MD laser system
The Waterlase laser is extremely versitile and can be used for a wide range of dental procedures. In some cases, it requires less anesthesia. It is gentle and results in less pain and there is more rapid healing. It can be used for root canals, extractions, tissue preparation around teeth for crowns, painful mouth ulcers and infected gums.
It is especially useful for root canal treatments. The wasterlaser laser provides more sterilization than conventional means. Studies have shown that lasers clean deeper into the tooth thereby reducing any residual bacteria remaining in the canals that we are unable to remove with contemporary files and solutions. Because the laser is more efficient, patients in our office have less postoperative pain and swelling after treatment and are less likely to have teeth retreated later.
We use the waterlase laser for extraction of infected teeth that can not be saved through root canal treatment. Teeth can be removed with less trauma and therefore less postoperative pain and swelling using lasers.
The laser is also to prepare gums around a tooth that requires a crown. The laser energy treats gum precisely so it seals blood vessels, reducing or completely eliminating bleeding during those procedures. There is less postoperative pain and healing is quicker.