The deal is, the future has arrived. I've used lasers throughout my career—some for soft tissue, some for root canals, some for tightening tissue to help with snoring or facial rejuvenation. There's always been the promise of needle-free dentistry, and I've always found that to be untrue… until now.
For the past year, I've been rocking a dental CO2 laser. It's been an absolute game changer. I'm doing most fillings without anesthetic injections or drilling into the tooth. I'll still use a conventional handpiece for finishing, polishing, or adjusting the bite, otherwise the laser feels like science fiction— but it's just really good science.
The laser's pulse rate and wavelength have an analgesic effect. The tooth isn't numb, but the nerve gets confused. Unlike a drill, which creates friction heat, the laser disinfects as it cleans and vaporizes tooth structure with almost no heat transfer. Patients usually just feel cold from the suction and water spray.
Ask about the Solea laser. Google it, find a dentist near you—and if you can't, come find me! It's awesome.
This article is general information, not a diagnosis. Every mouth is different, so the best answer for you comes from an exam and a conversation with your dental team.
