Root canal treatment using laser technology is a new type of procedure to increase the chances of success of a root canal treatment. The root canals of the tooth are always rinsed with chemical substances to kill the bacteria responsible for the infection. An additional treatment with laser beams can support this step.
It is now up to the patient to decide whether to have this additional treatment or to rely on conventional root canal treatment. A root canal treatment is not always successful, so that after a certain period of time the root canal filling may be revised, i.e. repeated, because the inflammation flares up again due to residual bacteria. At this point, at the latest, you are faced with the choice of having the procedure performed again at your own expense, or resorting to a prosthetic restoration.
New methods promise a higher chance of success with less time expenditure and less pain. This also includes root canal treatment with a laser. At first this sounds like a dream and the rescue of the tooth is within reach, but extra services are not covered by the health insurance and are associated with high costs, so that the question arises whether the laser treatment will keep what it promises and whether it is really necessary.
The benefits of the laser
When you hear the term “laser”, it usually has a positive aspect, so many practices that use this therapy like to advertise it. Laser sounds like the future, new technology and development, so people like to inform themselves about it and think about it during a root canal treatment. The word laser is an abbreviation and stands for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation.
Only the laser in dentistry has not much in common with the laser in a science fiction movie, but is used for improved killing of bacteria. The lasers used in dentistry are diode or Nd:YAG lasers (solid-state lasers with a neodymium-doped YAG crystal). Since the chances of success of a conventional root canal treatment, which is covered by health insurance, are on average between 50% and 60% and residual bacteria are often the reason for a revision, the laser promises a better elimination of bacteria.
It penetrates directly into the inflamed area and can penetrate much deeper than conventional rinses, so that bacteria that are otherwise outside the effective range of the rinses can also be reached. The laser light is bundled very tightly and introduced into the focus of the inflammation, destroying the membrane of the bacteria. Especially Gram-negative bacteria react very sensitively to laser light.
The length of the laser fiber is determined in advance and inserted into the canal. It is now pulled out of the canal under motion so that all components are irradiated sufficiently. The process is repeated about 5 times.
Care must be taken not to expose the tissue to too much heat, as this can damage it. The laser can also be used to close the root canal. If a cyst has already formed at the tip of the root, it is also easier to treat with a laser.
Either the laser is used alone to kill the bacteria, or, which is more likely to be the case, it is used as an additive to conventional irrigations. Afterwards, the canal is closed conventionally or with the laser. With the additional laser therapy the chances of success can be increased up to 90%. There is no need to fear pain with laser therapy, because it takes place under anesthesia, just like the conventional root canal treatment.
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