Anyone here had laser dental work done?

[usagora]

My mom recently had a small cavity that needed to be filled, and the dentist (we both go to the same dentist) said it was a candidate to use the laser (vs. drill) on. They say there's no need for novocaine using this procedure. Well, my mom just raved and raved about how there was no pain and how quick it was.

So last week I had my regular cleaning and also had a small cavity. I was actually discussing my mom's experience with her filling with him before he discovered the cavity, and he said mine was also a candidate for using the laser.

So I went in for the filling this morning expecting little or no pain (which is also what I read from many dental sites online). Boy was I wrong! I don't know why my experience was the polar opposite of my mom's, but it hurt like hell. No different than getting drilled without novocaine (experienced that once before). Never again. The actual laser hurt a good bit, but the worst pain was the cold air they blow into the filling area when they're prepping it for the filling. Eye-watering pain. I actually don't mind the shots for traditional cavity fillings; I just hate being numb for so long afterwards and not being able to eat until it wears off. But I think I'm going to stick to the traditional novocaine + drill next time or at least make sure I get numbed up for the laser.

 

[PhoenixDown]

I feel like we have made tremendous medical advancements over the years but dentristry is lagging at the end..

 

[AlixSPQR]

Pain isn't experienced the same from person to person. Also, the tooth pulp, where the nerves are, shrinks with age, that might contribute. I've never had local anesthesia since my early teens, but that's just me, I wouldn't presume this is recommended for everyone. You do you.

 

[usagora]

Pain isn't experienced the same from person to person. Also, the tooth pulp, where the nerves are, shrinks with age, that might contribute. I've never had local anesthesia since my early teens, but that's just me, I wouldn't presume this is recommended for everyone. You do you.

Well, yeah, I wasn't telling you or anyone else what to do. I was just sharing my experience and what *I* plan to do, which was surprising after not just my mom's experience, but everything else I had read online. I also understand, obviously, that not everyone will have the exact same experience, because there are many variables, but I was still surprised that my experience was SO far on the opposite end of the spectrum.

 

[AlixSPQR]

Well, yeah, I wasn't telling you or anyone else what to do. I was just sharing my experience and what *I* plan to do, which was surprising after not just my mom's experience, but everything else I had read online. I also understand, obviously, that not everyone will have the exact same experience, because there are many variables, but I was still surprised that my experience was SO far on the opposite end of the spectrum.

Please don't be offended, I didn't mean to be rude. Maybe you have an especially tender spot in precisely that tooth? Who knows. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

[usagora]

Please don't be offended, I didn't mean to be rude. Maybe you have an especially tender spot in precisely that tooth? Who knows. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Not sure where you got the idea I was offended. You said "you do you" at the end, which is usually what people say in response to someone trying to force their opinion on them, which I wasn't doing in my OP. So I was clarifying that I'm speaking only for myself.

I'm really looking for responses from others who've had lasers used for filling procedures to see if I'm in the minority here or of it's a mixed bag. Thus why I titled the thread the way I did.

 

[KaliYoni]

I'm really looking for responses from others who've had lasers used for filling procedures to see if I'm in the minority here or of it's a mixed bag.

OK, I'll bite (ha ha). A few years ago I had a laser filling...and I had completely forgotten about it until I saw this thread. So it must not have hurt much.

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ETA: if I'm recalling correctly, no Novocaine was used...just the cold air you mentioned and maybe some sort of ultra-salty tasting solution.

 

[usagora]

OK, I'll bite (ha ha). A few years ago I had a laser filling...and I had completely forgotten about it until I saw this thread. So it must not have hurt much.

And I'm assuming that was with no novocaine?

 

[AlixSPQR]

Not sure where you got the idea I was offended. You said "you do you" at the end, which is usually what people say in response to someone trying to force their opinion on them, which I wasn't doing in my OP. So I was clarifying that I'm speaking only for myself.

I'm really looking for responses from others who've had lasers used for filling procedures to see if I'm in the minority here or of it's a mixed bag. Thus why I titled the thread the way I did.

Laser dentistry should be less hurtful since it is less invasive. You should be in the minority.

 

[OriginalAppleGuy]

TIL there is exists laser filling capabilities. Will look to talk this over with my dentist friends.

 

[Huntn]

My mom recently had a small cavity that needed to be filled, and the dentist (we both go to the same dentist) said it was a candidate to use the laser (vs. drill) on. They say there's no need for novocaine using this procedure. Well, my mom just raved and raved about how there was no pain and how quick it was.

So last week I had my regular cleaning and also had a small cavity. I was actually discussing my mom's experience with her filling with him before he discovered the cavity, and he said mine was also a candidate for using the laser.

So I went in for the filling this morning expecting little or no pain (which is also what I read from many dental sites online). Boy was I wrong! I don't know why my experience was the polar opposite of my mom's, but it hurt like hell. No different than getting drilled without novocaine (experienced that once before). Never again. The actual laser hurt a good bit, but the worst pain was the cold air they blow into the filling area when they're prepping it for the filling. Eye-watering pain. I actually don't mind the shots for traditional cavity fillings; I just hate being numb for so long afterwards and not being able to eat until it wears off. But I think I'm going to stick to the traditional novocaine + drill next time or at least make sure I get numbed up for the laser.

This is not intended as a critical statement, but it amazes me that anyone would think that, without anesthesia, something laser hot*, hot enough to eat away tooth enamel, could be applied to tooth enamel and the patient not feel pain. And I can definitely relate to the torture of blowing cold air into an exposed tooth.

*it’s possible that hot is not the right description, so how about intense enough to remove tissue. And when watching industrial lasers it certainly seems that abundant heat would be generated, even if a lesser degree when it comes to dental lasers.

My question is if the dentist slips do you loses some gum tissue? 😛 Are there precautions taken to protect the tissue around the target tooth?

 

[Huntn]

I feel like we have made tremendous medical advancements over the years but dentristry is lagging at the end..

It’s the sound of that drill…

 

[usagora]

This is not intended as a critical statement, but it amazes me that anyone would think that, without anesthesia, something laser hot*, hot enough to eat away tooth enamel, could be applied to tooth enamel and the patient not feel pain.

Well, that was exactly my mom's experience as well as others' I read about. And those that reported pain said it was minimal. It simply wasn't the case for me--quite the opposite, as I indicated.

My question is if the dentist slips do you loses some gum tissue? 😛 Are there precautions taken to protect the tissue around the target tooth?

I didn't have a mirror to see it, but he definitely put some sort of uncomfortable fixture in my mouth before starting the laser, so I assume that was the purpose of it.

It’s the sound of that drill…

The drill has never bothered me, nor have the novocaine shots. I was more keen on not having hours of numbness after the filling, but apparently that's not going to be possible for me, so I'll just have to deal with it in the future.

 

[Ruggy]

Oh, I don't know. I think there have been massive improvements.
The drills used be slow and made your head buzz from the vibration, anaesthetics are much better, X-rays are amazing now, implants didn't exist, they rarely, if ever use amalgam, straightening is much easier and at my last visit they made a crown with a 3D printer in 45 minutes.

 

[maflynn]

This is not intended as a critical statement, but it amazes me that anyone would think that, without anesthesia,

Agreed, laser = hot. If you're burning a part of your body away, why wouldn't it hurt?

I've seen YT and stories about people wanting to remove their tattoos, and how much MORE painful the laser removal is compared to getting the tattoo. Same thing with using a laser on your teeth.

I would never consider getting a filling w/o any Novocain, the slight discomfort of the needle (which can be mitigated by a topical numbing agent) is the small price to pay for pain free dental work

 

[StellarVixen]

I feel like we have made tremendous medical advancements over the years but dentristry is lagging at the end..

Yep, and I am glad things like laser are finally popping up, which I just learned such thing exists from this thread. Would try and find the dentist using those if I had cavity to fill.

Even if it hurts, I would still prefer it over the sound and vibrations of the drill (but you should be always allowed to ask for anaesthesia anyway).

 

[dukebound85]

I feel like we have made tremendous medical advancements over the years but dentristry is lagging at the end..

much in line with dental insurance coverage and limits in general

 

[Huntn]

Oh, I don't know. I think there have been massive improvements.
The drills used be slow and made your head buzz from the vibration, anaesthetics are much better, X-rays are amazing now, implants didn't exist, they rarely, if ever use amalgam, straightening is much easier and at my last visit they made a crown with a 3D printer in 45 minutes.

I think this is a movement in the dental industry, when they send off crowns to be made, according to my dentist, they are pricey. I may not have my figures right, but here is my impression based on a discussion with the dentist's receptionist that does the billing: With Insurance I'm charged $470 or for a crown, the insurance company matches that, the lab that makes the crown charges $600. If accurate, quite the dent in the profits. No wonder dentists are moving to make their own crowns, although the equipment is not cheap to do so.

 

[Huntn]

Agreed, laser = hot. If you're burning a part of your body away, why wouldn't it hurt?

I've seen YT and stories about people wanting to remove their tattoos, and how much MORE painful the laser removal is compared to getting the tattoo. Same thing with using a laser on your teeth.

I would never consider getting a filling w/o any Novocain, the slight discomfort of the needle (which can be mitigated by a topical numbing agent) is the small price to pay for pain free dental work

For @usagora with the heat the laser creates, is it flushed with water just like a traditional drill?

 

[maflynn]

For @usagora with the heat the laser creates, is it flushed with water just like a traditional drill?

Do drills hurt? Yes, I've yet to see any reason why a tool used to burn away or remove parts of a tooth could possibly be painless.

Based on what @usagora had said we already have that answer

 

[usagora]

For @usagora with the heat the laser creates, is it flushed with water just like a traditional drill?

I believe they just used water. I don't remember for sure if they used air too during the actual lasering. The dentist said I might feel a really cold sensation and to let him know if it became too much, buy I honestly didn't feel that. All I felt was pain just like being drilled without novocaine.

 

[satcomer]

All I know as kid in 70s when that truck hit my bike and I did a superman into the gradrall post! I was out of at age of 7 and out for almost 6 months and realized I broke my jaw! the worst part of it I missed the Summer and dentists had rebuke my jaw for reconstruction twice! to this day I absolutly dislike dentists because of that time! You know know they put some plastic not my jaw to look normal! They told me later I died and they had to bring me back and told the nurse about the on top of the dresser and found it there and all remember was going light tunnel and young women only said to me its not time and pushed back through the tunnel!

 

[Pezimak]

Sounds interesting, I have SVT so I have to avoid anything that gets the heart going apart from exercise. And I do wonder about the Adrenalin in those dentist shots. Wonder if my dentist offers laser treatment?