Laser Dentistry for Oral Lesions in St. Clair Shores

Before these advanced and highly effective types of lesion treatment were developed, people had to make use of topical productions, medications, chemicals, or home remedies to try to rid themselves of an oral lesion. Some of these options are uncomfortable, while others are simply ineffective. Utilizing laser dentistry as a method of treatment allows for the lesion to be eliminated efficiently, while also promoting a quick recovery. If you’d like to learn more about the causes of mouth lesions and how they can be treated via the use of laser dentistry, continue reading.

Learn About the Different Types of Oral Lesions

Did you know that there were a variety of different types of oral lesions that can appear within the oral cavity? Some of these lesions are harmless, while others are severe. Here are a few of the characteristics of different kinds of mouth lesions.

Canker Sores

Canker sores (or aphthous ulcers) are a common type of lesion and tend to appear at the base of the gums or within any of the soft tissues within the mouth. They are harmless, although they can be rather painful. If your canker sore hasn’t healed within two weeks of its appearance, let your dentist know.

Cold Sores

Cold sores (or fever blisters) are a common viral infection found within the mouth. The infection is caused by the herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2. A cold sore is a fluid-filled blister on or near the lips. They typically heal on their own within two to three weeks. Some patients have frequent and more severe cold sore outbreaks than others.

Hemangiomas

Hemangiomas are non-cancerous lesions that are bright red in appearance. They are rubbery and are made of extra blood vessels. These lesions can develop anywhere, but are most likely to happen on the scalp, face, neck or back. They rarely form within the oral cavity.

HPV

The most common sexually transmitted disease in the United States is the human papillomavirus (HPV). There are over 100 types of this virus known to be in existence, with many subtypes that negatively impact the throat and mouth. Oral lesions caused by HPV can occur anywhere in the mouth and are typically accompanied by earaches, difficulty swallowing, enlarged lymph nodes, sore throats and other symptoms. HPV turns healthy cells into precancerous ones. This makes it necessary to remove lesions caused by HPV.

Benefits of Laser Dentistry for Oral Lesions

Receiving oral lesions treatment via laser therapy offers several advantages. This treatment:

• Offers a more precise form of treatment that preserves more healthy tissue.
• Tends to utilize less anesthesia.
• Reduces trauma to the gums.
• Relieves pain and discomfort throughout the treatment.
• Works faster than alternative treatment methods.
• Assists in promoting a faster recovery.
• Decreases the use of prescription medications.

How Mouth Lesions Are Diagnosed

Before receiving oral lesions treatment, you need to have your condition properly diagnosed. This can be done by your dentist. At your appointment, he or she will perform a thorough visual examination of the soft tissues of your mouth. This includes checking your lips, cheeks, gums, tongue and palate for any kinds of lumps, bumps or other abnormalities. In most cases, clinical photographs will be taken. You may also need to have an x-ray taken so that your dentist can be sure that there are no underlying structural issues that could be leading to your oral lesions.

Cold sores and canker sores are the most common types of oral lesions diagnosed. They are also the easiest to spot. However, if your dentist finds anything unusual, he or she will most likely take a soft tissue biopsy to be sent off to an outside pathology lab. This procedure is typically done at the time that you receive your laser therapy treatment.

What to Expect During the Treatment Process

Before you receive laser therapy, you will be given a local anesthesia in order to numb the area being treated. A dental laser is then used to eliminate the lesion and cauterize the tissues around it. The laser used by your dentist is adjusted to a wavelength that rids your mouth of the problematic tissue while keeping your healthy tissue in place. The majority of patients experience immediate pain relief after receiving their treatment.

A Study on Treating Viral Lesions with Laser Dentistry

While lesions caused by viruses have been treated via topical or systemic medications in the past, laser dentistry therapy has been proven to be effective in treating viral lesions. The following case study was featured in Dentistry Today and gives an example of the kind of success one can experience when treating viral lesions with laser dentistry treatment.

A male patient in his early thirties was experiencing generalized pain in the upper dental arch. The discomfort caused by this pain interfered with the patient being able to speak, eat and sleep. Once he was examined, it was determined that the patient had herpes simplex virus (HSV).

The lesion was treated with the Epic X diode laser from Biolase. The process was painless for the patient. The patient was asked to come back the next day for a possible second session.

Upon arriving at the office on the following day, the patient reported that the pain he had been feeling had subsided entirely and that he was now able to eat, speak and sleep normally. The examination that followed revealed that the lesions were less inflamed, and that the area had undergone a great deal of healing.

Find Out More by Calling Gentle Dental of St. Clair Shores

To learn more about how laser therapy can address the pain and discomfort you are feeling due to an oral lesion, contact our dentists at Gentle Dental of St. Clair Shores. We have multiple offices in the St. Clair Shores area. You can call us or schedule your appointment online.