Laser Dentistry

Drodan

I have a huge phobia a needles, I mean huge, just can't deal with them. I've been putting off getting three fillings done because after I got my first one (at the age of 21), well it was hell. I actually felt sorry for the dentist I freaked him out so much, almost put myself into shock.

Anyway I heard that getting fillings with a laser, some place up in the north I think does it, doesn't require injections in some cases. Can anyone confirm or deny this for me? Also I know it'd cost more but roughly how much we talking?

Cheers guys/girls!!

btkm8unsl0w5r4

You dont need an injection for some fillings, but its the same for a drill or laser, if you are a needle phobic I am afraid lasers are the answer, most of the time you will still need an injection. See the stickey at the top of the forum about dental phobia, also some dentists use nitrous oxide (RA) which can help, or sedation (tablets).

Laser works buy heating the tooth structure and vapourising it, a drill cuts it by friction under water irrigation, both develop heat thats why both require anaesthetic.

macy9

Does nowhere use gas in Ireland like in the States? About time we did. Sick of getting injections that don't completely numb the pain.

btkm8unsl0w5r4

You still need injections with Nitrous Oxide. There are a good few practices using it for adults in the south.

ballsymchugh

macy9 wrote: »

Does nowhere use gas in Ireland like in the States? About time we did. Sick of getting injections that don't completely numb the pain.

open to correction here, but IV sedation is more common this side of the Atlantic now. Gas is pretty rare over here. as fitz said, you still need the injections. sedation just makes you more compliant during treatment.
there are a few different types of local anaesthetic that you can get though, if you've a history of not going completely numb, then say before you get anything done.

Big_G

I think gas is less prevalent due to two reasons: lack of instructors and instruction in dental hospitals and the fact that it can lead to sterility or at least a decrease in fertility in dentists and nurses who routinely use it to sedate patients in practice.

Drodan

Cheers for the replies guys. I think I'm just gonna have to bite the bullet and get it done in one go some day. Oddly enough it's not the pain or anything that bothers me, actually found the drill strangely soothing, weird right, it's feeling the needle in my gums. I know the pink gel is suppose to numb it, and maybe it's all in my head, but it feels like I can feel the needle in my gum, slowly moving in and out as the anesthetic dripped onto lower lip. Can the pink gel be used to just lower the sensitivity in the general area and then drill with some pain/discomfort?

cf52

Probably a bit late on to be writing to you, but it might be a good idea if your doc had a look at his/her technique

helimachoptor

zombie thread,locking.