Laser dentistry for oral lesions in Holyoke

Oral Lesions Treatment with Laser Therapy

At our Baystate Dental of Holyoke locations, we use soft tissue lasers by Biolase® to treat several types of oral lesions quickly and easily. Dental lasers are safe as the Food and Drug Administration regulates them. You can expect instant pain relief and rapid healing when compared to the prescription medicines and home remedies people depended on in the past.

What Types of Oral Lesions Are Suitable for Laser Therapy?

At our office locations in the Holyoke area, we treat the following types of oral lesions:

Cold Sores

Cold sores, or fever blisters, are small blisters which develop on the lips and sometimes in the mouth. Type 1 of the herpes simplex virus causes them. You’ll probably feel a slight tingling or burning as the cold sore develops. A blister will appear and then it will burst and a crust will form. You may feel itching, burning or discomfort. Cold sore usually resolve by themselves, but you can often get immediate relief with laser dentistry treatment.

Canker Sores

An aphthous ulcer, more commonly known as a canker sore, can appear in the mouth or on the insides of the lips. Unlike cold sores, they are not contagious. However, canker sores usually hurt. A painless laser treatment, which takes about 15 minutes, generally provides instant pain relief. You may feel warmth during treatment, but there is no pain and no need for local anesthesia. The sore will heal in about a day.

HPV

The human papillomavirus is the most common sexually transmitted disease today. It has over 100 known strains, about 40 of which may cause certain cancers. With HPV, lesions can develop on the skin and mucous membranes, including the oral cavity. Oral lesions can be accompanied by a sore throat, enlarged lymph nodes, earaches and other symptoms. HPV lesions can be precancerous and should be removed.

Hemangiomas

A hemangioma is a type of tumor which is benign. It consists of a cluster of blood vessels that can form anywhere on the body, but rarely in the mouth, and can appear as a flat red spot and turn into a rubbery bump. Most hemangiomas shrink on their own. Treatment usually isn’t necessary unless the hemangioma interferes with bodily functions.

What Are Some Benefits of Oral Lesions Treatment with Lasers?

With laser therapy for lesions, patients enjoy:

• Immediate relief from discomfort
• A quick, painless procedure
• Rapid healing
• No need for messy topical creams
• No need for expensive medications from the pharmacy
• Treatment is affordable

Diagnosing Lesions in the Oral Cavity

While you may frequently get cold sores or canker sores, one of our dentists must diagnose the lesion before providing laser treatment. He or she will perform an exam and ask you about your symptoms. The dentist may want to take an x-ray to ensure there are no problems hidden by the lesion. If anything appears suspicious, your dentist may take a tissue sample for a biopsy.

How Does Laser Dentistry Treatment for Lesions Work?

You won’t need any needles to numb the area. All you need is protective glasses, which are similar to wearing sunglasses when looking at the sun. The laser does not touch the skin, so you can’t feel pain, just warmth. Treatment often lasts only 15 minutes and you’ll most feel instant pain relief and experience rapid healing.

Immediate Cold Sore Relief: A Case Study

A case study in Dentistry Today shows how effective laser therapy can be for oral lesions when compared to traditional treatments. A 32-year-old man went to his dentist because he felt a burning pain in his upper arch. His discomfort was so great that speaking, chewing and sleeping became almost impossible. After an exam, the dentist determined the man was experiencing a cold sore outbreak.

The dentist decided to treat the sore with a Biolase Epic X diode laser. The man reported treatment was painless; he only felt a slight warmth. The dentist asked his patient to come back the next day for an evaluation and to see if more treatment was needed.

The patient arrived for his appointment, reporting his pain was gone. He had no trouble chewing, speaking and sleeping now. The dentist’s exam revealed the lesion was healing rapidly, and the inflammation went down.

Schedule Your Appointment for Oral Lesions Treatment Today

At Baystate Dental of Holyoke, we have several convenient locations where we provide laser dentistry for oral lesions. If you’re experiencing discomfort or other issues with lesions in your mouth or on your lips, please contact us to book an appointment. You can also schedule an appointment online with one of our Holyoke area offices.