Gentle Precision for Your Smile: Laser Dentistry with Dr. Lavi
Can you imagine dental treatments being more comfortable, more precise, and leading to faster healing? At Dr. Lavi’s practice, located conveniently in both bustling Los Angeles and charming Studio City, CA, this vision of advanced dental care is a reality.Â
Dr. Lavi, one of the best dentists in Southern California, utilizes advanced dental lasers to treat soft tissues with remarkable precision, often minimizing the need for traditional instruments and providing minimally invasive options. and potentially reducing discomfort, bleeding, and recovery times. Call our Studio City office at (818) 980-8472 or our Los Angeles office at (213) 623-2212 today. We welcome patients from nearby Burbank, Hollywood, and Sherman Oaks.
Why Choose Dr. Lavi for Comprehensive Dental Care Near You?
Patients consistently choose Dr. Lavi because of his gentle demeanor, meticulous attention to detail, and commitment to utilizing advanced dental technology, including innovative laser dentistry, which offers many benefits . He takes the time to listen to your concerns, answer your questions thoroughly, and involve you in every decision about your treatment plan, fostering a relationship built on trust and mutual respect.
Experience the difference that comprehensive, compassionate, and technologically advanced dentistry can make for you and your family. Call our Studio City office at (818) 980-8472 or our Los Angeles office at (213) 623-2212 today. We look forward to welcoming you!
What is Laser Dentistry?
Unlike traditional dental tools like drills or scalpels, hard tissue lasers and dental lasers work by emitting specific wavelengths of light that are absorbed by water molecules or pigments within soft tissues (like gums) or hard tissues (like teeth). When the laser energy is absorbed, it can precisely remove, reshape, or vaporize tissue. This allows for incredibly delicate and targeted procedures, often minimizing discomfort, bleeding, and recovery time. Lasers have been used in dentistry since 1994 to treat a number of dental problems.
Debunking Laser Dentistry Myths
Myth 1: Laser Dentistry is Experimental or Not Proven.
Fact: Decades of research and clinical use have demonstrated their safety and effectiveness. Modern dental schools now routinely incorporate laser dentistry into their curriculum, and countless successful treatments have been performed worldwide.
Myth 2: Dental Lasers Can Burn or Damage Surrounding Tissues.
Fact: Dental lasers are incredibly precise instruments. Unlike older or non-medical lasers, dental lasers are designed to be highly controlled and targeted. When operated by a trained and experienced dentist like Dr. Lavi, the risk of damage to adjacent tissues is extremely low. The laser also cauterizes as it cuts, which significantly reduces bleeding.
Myth 3: Laser Dentistry is Only for Cosmetic Procedures.
Fact: While lasers are certainly popular for cosmetic treatments like gum reshaping, their applications are far broader. Lasers are used in general dentistry for cavity preparation, treating gum disease, performing biopsies, treating cold sores, and even root canal therapy.Â
Myth 4: Laser Dentistry is Extremely Expensive and Not Covered by Insurance.
Fact: The cost of laser dentistry procedures can vary, just like traditional treatments, depending on the complexity and scope of the work. Most dental insurance plans consider laser-assisted procedures for covered treatments (like fillings or gum therapy) in the same way they would traditional methods. Our team can help you understand your insurance benefits.
Our Laser Dentistry Assisted Treatments
Dental Fillings
For dental fillings, Dr. Lavi will use the laser to numb the targeted tooth and the surrounding area. He’ll also use it to cut away the necessary amount of enamel, which is usually completed using a drill. The laser can help eliminate any bacteria present in your tooth, which reduces your chance of developing an infection.
Supplemental Procedures
For patients seeking to receive dental crowns or dental implants, Dr. Lavi may recommend certain procedures to better prepare their mouths for the restoration, such as crown lengthening.
A laser can be used to reshape a patient’s bone and gum tissue to expose more of the natural tooth. This will allow Dr. Lavi to better access and remove decay to ensure a more successful crown or implant placement.
Gum Disease Treatment
With laser dentistry treatment, Dr. Lavi can treat your gums and help you avoid the need for future gum surgery. Gum disease treatment can be made easier with a laser, as it can painlessly remove gathered bacteria that could lead to gum disease. It can also eliminate any inflammation caused by gingivitis. Gum disease is one of the most common uses of laser treatment in dentistry.
Benefits of Laser Dentistry
Choosing laser dentistry with Dr. Lavi means unlocking a range of advantages that redefine the dental experience at our Los Angeles and Studio City, CA, practices:
- Enhanced Comfort: Many laser procedures involve minimal or no direct contact, often reducing discomfort and pressure. This can translate to less need for anesthesia in some cases, making your visit more pleasant.
- Reduced Bleeding and Swelling: The laser’s ability to coagulate blood vessels as it works significantly minimizes bleeding during and after soft tissue procedures, also leading to less post-operative swelling.
- Faster Healing and Recovery: With less trauma to surrounding tissues and a sterile treatment field, patients typically experience quicker healing times and can return to their normal activities sooner.
- Lower Risk of Infection: The laser energy naturally sterilizes the treatment area, significantly reducing the chances of bacterial infection after the procedure.
- Increased Precision: The highly focused laser beam allows Dr. Lavi to treat very specific areas, preserving more healthy surrounding tissue compared to conventional instruments. Laser dentistry minimizes anesthesia, bleeding, discomfort, pain, anxiety, bacterial infections, and recovery time.
Dental Laser Safety Commitment
At Dr. Lavi’s practices in Los Angeles and Studio City, CA, your safety is our utmost priority, especially when utilizing advanced technologies like dental lasers. We adhere to the highest standards of safety protocols to provide a secure and effective treatment environment for every patient. Lasers are FDA approved for dental procedures, including those on soft tissue like gums.
Our commitment to dental laser safety includes:
- Experienced and Trained Practitioner: Dr. Lavi possesses specific training and certification in dental laser usage. He deeply understands laser physics, tissue interaction, and proper safety procedures.
- Protective Eyewear: Both the patient and the dental team wear specialized protective eyewear during any laser procedure to shield the eyes from the laser’s concentrated light beam.
- Controlled Environment: All laser procedures are performed in a controlled clinical setting designed to prevent accidental exposure and maintain a safe treatment zone.
- Strict Adherence to Protocols: We rigorously follow all manufacturer guidelines for our laser equipment, along with established dental industry safety protocols and regulations.
- Regular Maintenance and Calibration: Our dental laser equipment undergoes routine maintenance and calibration to ensure it operates at peak performance and accuracy, providing consistent and safe results.
Frequently Asked QuestionsÂ
In many cases, laser dentistry results in less discomfort and less pain than traditional methods. For soft tissue procedures, the laser often seals nerve endings and blood vessels, potentially reducing the need for anesthesia and leading to less post-operative pain.
Recovery times after laser dentistry are generally much faster than traditional surgical methods. Patients often experience minimal swelling and discomfort and can return to normal activities more quickly. Specific recovery times depend on the procedure performed.
Dental lasers are versatile tools. Dr. Lavi commonly uses them for gum contouring, frenectomies, treating cold and canker sores, assisting with gum disease treatment, and biopsies or lesion removal. They are primarily used for soft tissue procedures. Diode lasers are used for a variety of oral surgery procedures, such as gingivectomy and frenectomy.
