Until 2020, dental implants used to be done without the use of any new surgical techniques, but today dental implants are in great development and progress with hundreds of modern researches that doctors do annually. Many dentists believe that laser Dental Implants is the future of dentistry, as the laser provides the best result, better and faster healing, absolute sterilization and less bleeding.
The laser dental implant itself takes 15 to 30 minutes under local anesthesia. The dental implant specialist cuts the mucous membrane using a laser, which provides the best result and a better and faster recovery, then implants the teeth using a special device in the designated areas. The dental implant itself consists of a cylindrical rod made of titanium, then the implant is covered with the mouth membrane from the top and closed with sutures.
After the laser dental implant procedure, the patient will have to wait 3 to 6 months for permanent dental implants, and in this time the dentist installs a temporary crown for dental implants. During this period, the implants fuse with the jawbone and are used to implant the permanent teeth. The mucous membrane above the implant is vaporized using a laser, and the crown is subsequently placed.
What is laser dental implants?
A laser is a high-tech innovation that produces a tiny beam of focused light. This beam of light brings energy into the mouth through tiny fibers, to help remove areas of infection and gum disease around the teeth with great precision and efficiency.
The laser beam sterilizes the affected area and closes the blood vessels after making incisions to place the dental implants in the specified locations, which reduces the chances of infection or bleeding. Patients are also more comfortable during and after laser treatment because they do not experience some of the problems encountered by patients with traditional dental implants. The need for local anesthesia is minimized but it is usually used to ensure that you feel absolutely nothing during the treatment.
Different wavelengths of dental lasers have been discovered so far, and not all of them are used in dental implants . Lasers work primarily through the stimulated emission of light. The light reaches the biological tissues and gets absorbed or diffused into the surrounding tissues. The laser used primarily in the field of dental implants is the stationary solid-state laser. There are two types of lasers used in dentistry: diode lasers, which are based on semiconductors, and gas lasers, such as carbon dioxide lasers.
Some of these applications are used for the treatment of soft tissue or gums which have excellent coagulation properties and some for the hard tissue application. When compared to traditional methods, lasers are gentle and precise, less invasive and less painful. Various studies have documented the ability of the laser wavelength used in dental implants. In addition, the properties of the laser are important because of the different interactions it can produce on the implanted surfaces. Therefore, proper knowledge of laser properties and mode of action is also important for beneficial use. The aim of this article is to find out how laser dental implants are performed and the extent to which lasers are useful in this field.
The cost of laser dental implant surgery
The use of lasers in dental implants makes the implant more comfortable for the patient and has the best effect. The cost of dental implants depends on the implant system and the experience of the implantologist. Dentists use different dental implants, allowing the laser procedure to be offered to patients with different physical capabilities. Contraindications to the transplant procedure are severe metabolic disorders and some chronic diseases in the stage prior to obtaining the transplant.
Previously, lack of bone in the implantation area was one of the most important contraindications that might hinder the entire operation. But now, thanks to new methods of bone mineral transplantation using stem cells, this is no longer a barrier to getting the operation. After the dental implant procedure within 3 days, there may be slight swelling in the operation area and discomfort, so hypothermia and intense physical exertion should be avoided.
In the case of relying on laser dental implants at the Turkish Way Center, the cost of the operation may be close to the cost of traditional dental implants, which starts from approximately $ 2000. However, since this technology is considered very modern and sophisticated, you will find a slight increase in the costs of the operation, but it is not considered significant in light of the increase in the prices of global cosmetic operations in general.
Characteristics of the use of laser in dental implants
If the idea of using a sharp scalpel and a large drill biting through bone makes you a little uncomfortable, you may be feeling anxious before the procedure. Conventional dental implant treatments use these harsh tools in dental implants, but laser dental implants rely on a precisely directed beam of light that causes little or no bleeding and hardly feels pain.
This method should reduce your anxiety levels, but there are several other reasons why laser dental implants are the best option for replacing missing teeth. Laser dental implants are widely considered the future of tooth replacement for many reasons, including:
- It offers the dentist greater control over the tools traditionally used in dental surgery
- Pain and discomfort are minimized, with little pain relief required after the procedure
- Reducing bleeding and swelling, which leads to fewer post-operative visits
- You don’t need a dental drill that causes a sensation of heat and vibration
- Reducing the time needed to perform multiple or full mouth dental implants
- The use of laser in dental implants is less painful with no significant bleeding
- After laser dental implant treatment, a photocoagulation cover is produced that protects the wound from entering microorganisms as a biological dressing
- In the second stage of laser dental implants, when there is a need to reopen the implant to install the abutment, there is no need to use a scalpel made of stainless steel, as its particles can remain on the surface of the implant, which may cause the appearance of metal gaps between the implant and the teeth or contribute to the occurrence of infection and inflammation
Anesthesia in laser dental implants
With traditional dental implants in the past, patients required general anesthesia or at least a strong local anesthetic. That’s because preparing the area for tooth replacement means cutting and drilling. With laser dental implants, all of this inconvenience, anxiety, and pain are removed from the process.
Unlike traditional oral surgery tools, the laser does its job using a high-tech fiber-optic delivery system that prepares your gums for dental implants with gentle pulses of focused light. Most of the time, mild local or oral anesthesia is all you need to keep you completely comfortable and painless during and after the procedure.
Laser dental implants mean little to no bleeding or swelling, so you can return to your normal life within hours rather than long days of recovery. It is an advanced technology without cutting or excavating large amounts of bone in the teeth, because all you need is to codify the implant using a precisely directed laser.
When should we rely on laser dental implants?
It’s no secret that dental implants are the most advanced way to completely restore lost teeth. According to international statistics issued by the International Dental Association, the efficiency of structures and most importantly their longevity after dental implant treatment is higher than the traditional methods of prosthetics used in other prosthodontics. There are many factors that drive us to get laser dental implants:
- The most important indication for the use of laser dental implants is the presence of a single defect involved in a healthy tooth, as well as the presence of healthy adjacent teeth. This means that the basic premise of single dental implants is the availability of healthy adjacent teeth and the desire to keep them healthy so that they are not grinded down for crowns, bridges, and other structures.
- Another indication is the inclusion of limited defects in the teeth. If a person loses 2 or 3 teeth, then he can restore the teeth with laser dental implants. In this case, there are many versions that provide freedom to the dentist and some options for the patient so that the teeth are properly compensated.
- Terminal dental defects, that is, when there are no teeth in the last row of teeth. This type of defect causes and continues to cause difficulties for other types of prostheses because for a conventional prosthesis there is only one point of support in the shape of the previous tooth. In the case of laser dental implants, this problem is solved, as the implant is almost not dependent on the presence of other teeth in the mouth.
- The complete absence of teeth, especially at a slight elevation of the gums, is an indication for either the use of laser dental implants or removable dentures. But if the person is not ready to remove the dentures from the mouth at night, he can use laser dental implants as an alternative method of treatment.
- Intolerance to dentures as a result of increased sensitivity to the main components of dentures. Everything is clear here. If a person cannot wear dentures, the only alternative is laser dental implants.
What to do if there are contraindications for dental implants?
The first thing you need to do is rule out any contraindications to laser dental implants before you decide that you need this procedure. But even if there are some contraindications, the dentist can often suggest ways to get rid of them, as not all contraindications to obtaining dental implants are final and cannot be eliminated. Another important aspect is the patient’s desire and chances of getting laser dental implants.
The costs of performing laser dental implants are high, and therefore, a full set of dental implants can result in a significant cost, and therefore it will be necessary to identify any contraindications before the procedure to avoid any future failure. But if the patient has the desire and capabilities, modern medicine can do what was previously impossible, which is to restore the full row of teeth and give the patient the opportunity to live healthy with a beautiful smile.
Advantages of the laser dental implant method
The use of lasers in dentistry has evolved in the last ten years with the advent of the cost-effective and reliable soft tissue diode laser. Lasers have many clinical applications in the improvement of the preoperative, surgical and postoperative stages and the fixation of prosthetic implants in modern dental implants. Part of the laser in dental implants has been explored by a group of scientists, and they concluded that soft tissue lasers can be useful in dental implants.
Light is emitted via a laser primarily through stimulated emission. It may be transmitted, dispersed, or absorbed upon reaching surrounding tissues. This light, along with its antibacterial capabilities, can be absorbed by the implants and surrounding tissues. The advantage of utilizing lasers in dental implants includes cessation of bleeding, decreased swelling, minimal soft tissue damage, decreased infection, and decreased postoperative pain.
There are many benefits that result from laser dental implants, such as:
- The speed of recovery due to the lack of complications resulting from the operation.
- Reducing the risk of infection due to the ability of the laser to kill the bacteria that cause it.
- Decreased sensitivity leading to rejection of dental implants.
- Less time in the dental chair due to the speed of laser surgical opening.
- Lasers reduce or prevent bleeding after dental implants.
- Feeling comfortable during and after dental implants.
In the hands of a specially trained dental professional at Turkish Wizard, the laser is very safe. In fact, the primary safety factor used during laser treatment is proper eye wear and distancing from any soft or hard tissues outside the target areas. Dental lasers are of very low energy, and are essential for treating sensitive tissues in the mouth.
In addition, the heat and light controlled by the laser destroys many bacteria and viruses in the mouth and within the periodontal pockets. These advantages reduce the chances of infection or the development of bacterial growth inside the mouth after dental implants, and therefore the recovery period after laser dental implants is shorter and faster.
Types of lasers used in dental implants
Diode laser
Diode laser is the most common type of laser used in dental implants, with varying wavelengths of 810 or 980 nm, which are the most widely used wavelengths. These laser lengths target pigments in soft tissues, such as hemoglobin and melanin. Higher wavelengths are better absorbed in water, making 980nm binary more beneficial and safer around implants than traditional surgical use.
The 980 nm wavelength of the diode laser is considered safer for bone titanium implants even at higher power settings, and the 810 nm diode laser may damage the surface of the implants. Therefore, the 980 nm diode laser is the only one useful in dental implants, but with some depth, speed, and sufficient effectiveness in surgical cutting work. The first advantage is its small size and relatively low costs, and therefore it does not significantly increase the value of the total dental implant process.
neodymium laser
This type of fiber optic laser operates at a wavelength of 1064 nanometers and is poorly absorbed in water but rapidly absorbed into tissue dyes. This type is effective in coagulating blood and reducing bleeding during work but due to the higher depth of penetration it has the potential for damage.
These types of lasers have positive effects in the treatment of bone incisions in the part that will receive the dental implant. The neodymium laser has high energy which may cause the surface of the implant to melt. This type of laser is often used in conjunction with a diode laser to achieve a combination of dental implant placement and safe incision work for its ability to prevent possible infection.
carbon dioxide laser
The carbon dioxide laser operates in continuous wave mode, also in short pulses with a wavelength of 10,600 nanometers. This wavelength is easily absorbed by water and collagen, thus suitable for soft tissue vaporization and safe cutting. Carbon dioxide laser has good properties in killing strong germs and preventing infection and inflammation after dental implants.
This laser has a small depth of penetration thus minimizing excessive thermal damage to tissue and bone. The CO2 laser energy is not absorbed to an indefinable level by the surfaces of the dental implants and thus reduces the potential for damage to the metal implant surface.
Methods of using lasers in dental implants
The application of laser in dental implants can be carried out in several stages. It is possible for the laser to enter many stages of dental implants these days, unlike what was going on in the past years. Laser dental implants have not been studied for many years, because they were of no use due to their obvious damage to implants and gums. The development of laser technologies has proven that the process of laser dental implants can benefit these days in all steps of the process, although these applications are used only in a very narrow range among a group of centers under study. It is possible to benefit from laser techniques during dental implants in these stages:
- Before dental implants
- during the same process
- Post dental implants
Before laser dental implants
This is the first step of the dental implant process, which includes cleansing the surgical site and preparing the site where the tooth will be implanted. The laser has an antibacterial effect and can cause sterilization of the implantation site. Erbium laser and diode laser can perform decontamination and can remove granulation tissue from the extraction site. The carbon dioxide laser is a non-contact laser. Therefore, the spot size increases. The carbon dioxide laser is also applied in the removal of soft tissue marks and the disinfection of bony surfaces.
During the laser dental implant process
Dental lasers offer practical advantages during soft tissue resection and stopping bleeding, and thus can also be used to make soft tissue incisions in the gums for placement of dental implants. Compared to the traditional surgical blade, laser dental implants offer no increased bleeding during the procedure and quick wound hemostasis. The different lasers that can be employed for this purpose are diode lasers, and carbon dioxide lasers that exist in the wavelength and penetration depth specified for the surgical incision.
The wavelength of the water-cooled mechanism reduces thermal effects and keeps the optical view clear. Erbium lasers can be used effectively in osteotomy, and thus are effective in producing a suitable bony incision for implant placement. Using drills causes pain and discomfort to patients, so lasers can be of benefit. The main advantage of using erbium lasers is during initial piercing preparation as the wavelength of the water-cooled mechanism may reduce thermal effects and keep the clinician’s visual acuity clear in making the incision.
After laser dental implants
After surgery, precise reshaping of hard and soft tissues can be performed with a laser to help place optimal components for dental implants and abutments. Moreover, the advent of low-level laser therapy that provides increased vitality and biological stimulation can promote faster bone formation and improve the strength of the bone-implant interface and how osseointegration works. The laser also helps reduce bleeding that leads to postoperative sensitivity, delay in taking impressions, and heat due to thermal shock. Using a laser to expose implants has advantages such as sterilization, depolarization of nerves, analgesia, and stopping bleeding.
Laser dental implant problems
It is clear from the available data that dental lasers can be useful in the practice of dental implants. The challenge for this process is the same as for any other field of dentistry. The most important aspect of these challenges of laser dental implants is knowing when, where and how often to use lasers in any given situation. Not every laser wavelength will necessarily be useful in all cases of dental implants. As the use of some waves may be harmful and distort the soft tissues in the gums, and may also harm the structure of the jaw bones in which dental implants are placed.
After doctors know the characteristics of the wavelengths available to them, applying this technique to the specific case will certainly be good and beneficial for the patient. The surfaces of dental implants and the geometry of the angles of the jaw may also affect the success of the laser beam in attempting to insert the implant into the patient’s jaw. A comprehensive knowledge of these characteristics is needed before proceeding to use the laser in the dental implant process.
The use of lasers in dental implants and endodontic treatments has generated controversy, either because of the inherent thermal action of high-powered lasers and the potential for additional thermal damage, or the risks associated with intraoperative invisible work techniques. A large number of investigations into several methods using different laser wavelengths and target sites allowed the refinement of the criteria and the obtaining of a balanced approach to the presumed success. However, we cannot count the problems that result from the laser dental implant process, due to the diversity of practices related to this technique and the lack of strong evidence of its success and final effectiveness.