Laser dentistry for oral lesions in Chicopee

Laser Dentistry Treatment for Lesions in the Mouth

In the past, you had no choice but to use home remedies to dry the lesions out or take over-the-counter or prescription medications to numb the area and help the sore heal. These treatments took time to work, but lasers can treat the problem immediately and provide rapid and permeant pain relief. Below, you will learn more about oral lesions and how a dentist can resolve them.

Types of Oral Lesions

Oral lesions treatment is highly effective on these lesions:

Canker Sores

Canker sores, or aphthous ulcers, are a common oral lesion. While they are usually small, they can hurt and make speaking and chewing painful. Our dentists use a soft tissue laser to treat canker sores to greatly reduce your pain and speed the healing process. If you treat the canker sore with OTC medications or home remedies, it can take up to two weeks to heal as opposed to the two days a laser can take to heal the lesion. Also, once you undergo laser therapy, you’re less likely to get a canker sore in the same spot again.

Cold Sores

People who have cold sores have blisters which the herpes simplex virus type 1 causes, which is why they are often referred to as fever blisters. The lesions often appear on the lips, but they can also appear in the mouth as well. They are very common, but generally not dangerous. The cold sore can cause pain sometimes and when they are on the lips, they are unsightly. While cold sores often heal on their own in two weeks, laser therapy can make them heal much faster and relieve any discomfort they cause.

Hemangiomas

A hemangioma is a spongy red tumor made up of extra blood vessels. Hemangiomas can appear inside the oral cavity, although they usually show up on the face, neck, scalp or chest in adults. An oral hemangioma is harmless unless it interferes with eating. Laser dentistry for oral lesions can remove hemangiomas quickly and without pain.

HPV

The human papillomavirus is extremely prevalent; it is the most common sexually transmitted infection on the planet. HPV usually goes away by itself, but there are some strains that can lead to cervical, throat, oral and other cancers. It can cause oral lesions which are treatable with laser therapy. The cells in the lesions are precancerous, so it is important to seek treatment if you notice any unusual lesions that don’t go away after several weeks.

What Are the Benefits of Laser Therapy for Different Types of Oral Lesions?

Laser therapy offers many benefits over conventional treatments for lesions, including:

• Instant pain relief
• Fast treatment
• The laser is virtually painless
• Laser treatment is affordable
• Dental insurance may cover treatment
• No prescription medication is necessary
• Sores heal much faster

How Are Oral Lesions Diagnosed?

Before recommending laser therapy, your dentist will diagnose the lesion. Some types of lesions are readily apparent with a visual exam and after he or she asks you about your symptoms. If your dentist notices anything unusual, he or she may take a x-ray or a biopsy to gather more information.

What Is Laser Therapy Like?

Laser therapy with a soft tissue laser is quick and comfortable. You will wear special glasses to protect your eyes. There is almost never a need for local anesthesia as all patients feel is a slight warmth at the site. The procedure only takes about 15 minutes or less, so it’s relatively inexpensive. Pain relief is instant and you can expect rapid healing.

A Case Study on the Effectiveness of Treating Lesions with a Laser

A case study in Dentistry Today highlighted how effective lasers are on viral lesions caused by an outbreak of the herpes simplex virus. A 32-year-old man went to his dentist because he felt pain in his upper dental arch. The pain was debilitating, making it difficult for the patient to sleep, chew or speak without pain.

After examining the patient, the dentist diagnosed the lesions and recommended oral lesions treatment with a soft tissue diode laser from Biolase. The patient agreed to the treatment and reported no pain during the quick procedure, only a slight warmth at the site. The dentist asked the man to return the next day. During the subsequent visit, the patient said his pain was gone and he could sleep, chew and speak normally and without pain. The dentist confirmed the lesions had undergone significant healing.

Contact Baystate Dental of Chicopee in the Chicopee Area

We have several locations where you can have laser dentistry treatment to heal lesions. Please call or schedule an appointment online to learn more and see if we can help you resolve the issue quickly and painlessly.