We are delighted to be able to use the same advanced laser technology in dentistry that we have all become aware of in other fields in medicine, probably laser eye surgery and tattoo removal being the most well known.
The use of the German engineered Claros Pico® Diode Laser during treatment helps us to work faster, more precisely and more effectively.
Laser therapy can be used to support a range of conventional treatments. It also allows us to offer some additional beneficial treatments such as pain relief therapy, aphthous ulcers, cold sores, wound treatment and gag reflex relief.
However one of the main areas we have found it invaluable is in soft tissue management. Instead of using a scalpel we use a laser. It makes the management of painful wisdom teeth much more effective. It means we can more easily avoid the need for extractions of these troublesome teeth.
We really don’t know how we managed without it before. It is gentle and precise, there is no bleeding and our patients report absolutely minimal discomfort even after quite extensive treatment.
When it comes to cosmetic dentistry and smile makeovers the laser is totally invaluable. We are now able to quickly, gently and precisely contour the gum, framing your teeth so it is symmetrical. If the gum is uneven around a tooth, gum contouring can smooth and balance the way your tooth and gum look. The procedure produces a consistent, even harmonious gum line that is aesthetically pleasing.
We can also improve the appearance of a “gummy” smile. Some people have teeth that look too “short” due to the relationship between their teeth and gums. This procedure is often used to remove excess gum tissue and expose more of the crown of the tooth. In fact, your gum line can be carefully sculpted to create just the right proportion between the gum tissue and tooth surface. The result of this gum tissue reshaping procedure is a beautiful smile. This treatment is not usually provided in isolation but as part of a smile makeover to enhance symmetry. A severe gummy smile sometimes will need more advanced specialist laser treatment to change the shape of the bone underneath as well as the gum.
This patient had laser gum shaping as part of a smile makeover (which included tooth whitening and composite reshaping)
The second photograph is taken just 4 days after the laser treatment took place, and shows just how kind the laser is to the gum.
Please see our smile gallery for further examples of gum re-contouring.
Laser used for gentle gingival re-contouring in one area to get more symmetry.
Patient really shows her lower teeth when she smiles so this very obvious difference in gum shape on her lower front teeth really detracted from her otherwise gorgeous smile.
Photograph taken immediately after laser treatment finished. Shows no bleeding and will heal very quickly.
Photograph taken 7 days after lasering, showing healed healthy gum. Patient had ZERO pain following her laser treatment, not even a little bit sore! Patient was very happy with the result.
Cold sores can be highly embarrassing and confidence crushing not to mention very painful. Sometimes being stress related they can come at the worst possible times, just before an important work or social event, holiday or even a wedding.
We are very pleased to be able to offer a NEW very effective, minimally invasive treatment using our soft tissue Diode Laser.
The laser can prevent the lesion from progressing and significantly cut down the healing time.
The treatment is quick, painless and no anaesthetic is needed. It is best done at the very first stages of the sore developing (when you feel tingling or burning before the blisters break through)
There is a charge of £25 (fully refundable if you do not feel the treatment has had a significant positive effect on your cold sore)
You do not need to be a patient at the practice to benefit from this service. The charge is £35 if you are not a patient of the practice. So if you have friends or family who get cold sores please let them know we can help them.
Please ring us on 01444 233454 as soon as you feel the symptoms of a cold sore coming on and we will do our best to see you that day.
Some of us remember when we had film in our cameras which we took to Boots to be processed and a week or so later we would get a set of printed photographs (usually not meeting our expectations!).
Less than 10 years ago at the practice we were still using “wet film” X-rays which had to be processed using potent chemicals. Things have changed so much.
We now have intra-oral cameras and dental macro cameras in every surgery which give us instant superb quality images we can share with you, sometimes of views, you would struggle to see yourself! We have digital radiographs and can email diagnostic images to other healthcare professionals at the touch of a button.
All our dentists, hygienists and therapists wear loupes and a light (the weird glasses with a miners torch). They are magnifiers that make your teeth look much bigger, and therefore it is easier to drill more accurately because we can see every little detail.
They magnify teeth to usually about 2.5 to 5 times their normal size, a bit like the magnifiers jewellers wear when they’re splitting diamonds, and a very bright light so they can really have a fantastic view when they’re working on your teeth. It also stops dentists trying to put their head in a patient’s mouth to see better!
Jo Wirdnam modelling a pair of flip up 2.5 mag loupes and light with Oakley frames…
We do know we look a bit strange…
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