Dr. Wilkinson uses the BIOLASE Waterlase MD laser to prepare teeth for cosmetic fillings and to perform hard and soft tissue surgeries. Less anesthetic and sometimes no anesthetic is required for many of these procedures, and healing time is greatly reduced.
Due to the way the laser acts on soft tissues, healing is more rapid than when surgical blades are employed. The laser can be used for soft tissue biopsies, removal of excess gingival (gum) tissue for esthetic or periodontal purposes, lengthening of broken down teeth for crowns, removal of muscle attachments (frenectomies) that are causing gingival recession, and treatment of painful apthous ulcers and cold sores.
The laser can be used to removed decay, reshape teeth, prepare them for bonded restorations, and to remove old bonded porcelain restorations, without the use of a drill.
We use the laser as the last preparation step in root canal therapy to provide high level disinfection inside the tooth before sealing. The laser can be used as a final step in nonsurgical periodontal cleaning or pockets in Class I, II, and III periodontal pockets to cleanse and detoxify the root and prepare the soft tissues for maximum healing.