Dr. Chiranjeevi Tummala uses a dental laser at our Meyerland office for treatments that would otherwise need a drill, a blade or stitches. For a lot of patients the appeal is simple: less noise, less vibration and, for some procedures, no need for numbing at all.
It is not a gimmick and it is not right for everything. Below is what a laser actually does, what we use it for here in southwest Houston, and how to tell whether it applies to your situation. Call 713-723-7200 or request an appointment if you would rather just ask.
If you are still weighing it up, what laser dentistry actually covers and the health benefits of treating with a laser go into more detail. For anyone who dreads the drill, how laser dentistry is changing dental visits is the one to read.
For gum disease specifically, what the laser treatment visit involves walks through the appointment from the first measurement to the follow-up.
For a plain look at what changes when your dentist uses a laser, and what does not, start with our most recent post.
What Is Laser Dentistry?
Laser dentistry uses a focused beam of light energy to remove or reshape tooth and gum tissue. In the chair, that means less noise and vibration than a drill, and on the gums, less bleeding than a blade. Dental lasers have been part of mainstream dentistry for more than twenty years, and Dr. Tummala uses one at our Meyerland office in Houston for fillings, gum disease treatment and crown lengthening.
What Conditions Can Laser Dentistry Address?
A dental laser can treat both gum tissue and teeth. These are the treatments Dr. Tummala uses it for at our Meyerland office.
Removes infected tissue from inside gum pockets and helps reduce bacteria, alongside a thorough deep cleaning.
Removes a small amount of gum tissue so a short or broken tooth can hold a crown securely.
Removes decay with less noise and vibration than a drill. Small cavities sometimes need little or no numbing.
Sends pressure waves through the canal to reach side branches a file cannot, helping clean and disinfect it.
Treating the exposed root surface may reduce sensitivity to hot and cold for some patients.
Trims and evens out a gum line that covers more of the teeth than you would like, with little bleeding.
Releases an unusually tight band of tissue under the tongue with less bleeding than a blade.
Not sure which applies to you?
Dr. Tummala will look at the tooth or gum that is bothering you and tell you whether a laser is the right tool.
Laser Fillings in Houston: How They Compare to the Drill
Cavity fillings are where most people first meet a dental laser. A laser can remove the decayed part of a tooth and prepare it for a filling, using focused light energy and a fine water spray in place of a spinning drill. Once the tooth is ready, the filling itself is the same tooth-colored material we use for any of our fillings and restorations.
What a laser filling visit is like
You hear a soft tapping sound rather than the whine of a drill, and there is far less vibration. Many patients find that easier to sit through, especially if the sound of the drill is what keeps them away from the dentist. For small cavities, some patients need little or no numbing. Dr. Tummala will tell you before she starts whether a shot is a good idea for your tooth.
When a laser is not the right tool
A laser is not the answer for every filling. Large cavities, old metal fillings that need replacing and teeth that need a crown are usually faster and more predictable with conventional instruments. Dr. Tummala looks at the tooth and the x-ray first, then tells you plainly which approach fits.
Laser fillings for patients in Meyerland and southwest Houston
Our office is on N Braeswood Blvd in Meyerland, close to Bellaire, Westbury and West University Place. If you have a cavity, a tooth that is sensitive to sweets or cold, or you have been putting off a filling because of the drill, call 713-723-7200 or request an appointment and ask whether a laser filling is an option for you.
The Benefits of Laser Dentistry
For many soft tissue procedures, a dental laser changes how the appointment feels and how quickly you recover. Compared with a drill or a blade, patients commonly notice:
- Less bleeding. The laser seals small blood vessels as it works.
- Less swelling and discomfort after many gum procedures.
- Fewer stitches. Many soft tissue cases need none.
- Less noise and vibration than a drill, which matters to anxious patients.
- Help with bacteria. The laser helps reduce bacteria in the area it treats.
- Precision. It removes tissue in small, controlled amounts, which spares healthy tissue around it.
Numbing is still used when the procedure calls for it. A laser makes many treatments easier, but it does not make anesthesia optional across the board.
Does Laser Dentistry Hurt?
Most patients find laser treatment more comfortable than the traditional version of the same procedure. There is less heat, pressure and vibration, and on soft tissue the laser seals small blood vessels as it works, so there is usually less bleeding and swelling afterward.
Everyone is different, though. Some procedures still call for numbing, and Dr. Tummala will not skip it if you need it. If you feel nervous about dental visits in general, ask about nitrous oxide or oral sedation.
What Does Laser Dentistry Cost?
There is no single price, because laser dentistry covers very different treatments. A small laser filling, laser gum disease treatment and laser crown lengthening are each priced on their own. What shapes the cost:
- Which treatment you need
- How many teeth, or how much of the gum line, are involved
- Whether other work, such as a crown, comes before or after
- What your dental plan covers, if you have one
After your exam, Dr. Tummala will explain your options. Ask us for the cost of your treatment plan before you decide, and we will go through it with you.
Is Laser Dentistry Right for Me?
Dental lasers have been used in dentistry for more than two decades, and they are cleared by the FDA for a range of hard and soft tissue procedures. That does not make them the right tool for every case.
Whether a laser suits your case depends on the tooth, the tissue and what is wrong with it. Lasers behave differently around existing metal restorations, and some situations are simply handled better with conventional instruments. That is what the examination is for, and Dr. Tummala will go through the options with you before anything is booked.
Laser Dentistry at Our Meyerland Office
Meyerland Family Dentistry is at 4455 N Braeswood Blvd, Suite 201, Houston, TX 77096. Patients come to us for laser treatment from Meyerland, Bellaire, Westbury, Willow Meadows and West University Place, and from further out in 77035 and 77025.
The laser is an instrument, not a treatment plan. What matters is the examination that comes first: which tooth, how deep the problem goes, what your gums measure and what your medical history says. Dr. Tummala will tell you whether a laser is the better tool for your case or whether something conventional does the job faster, and she will say so plainly either way.
The treatments we use it for most are gum disease treatment, crown lengthening and root canal disinfection, and she also uses it for laser tongue tie release. If you want the background first, the benefits of laser dentistry, how lasers have changed dental treatment and what laser dentistry looks like here in Houston are all worth a read.
Ask Whether a Laser Is an Option for Your Treatment
The quickest way to find out is to bring us the tooth or the gum that is bothering you. Dr. Tummala will look, explain what she sees, and tell you which instruments are on the table for it.
Call 713-723-7200 or request an appointment at our Meyerland office.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is laser dentistry safe?
Dental lasers have been used in practices for decades and are well established. During treatment you and the team will wear protective eyewear, because the light is focused and bright. The important part is not the laser itself but who is holding it. A laser is a precision instrument and it does what the person using it directs it to do, which is why training and experience matter more than the equipment.
Does laser treatment mean no needles?
Not always, and it would be unfair to suggest otherwise. Some laser procedures are comfortable enough that little or no anesthetic is needed. Others still require numbing, particularly anything working deep in the tooth or below the gumline. What is generally true is less vibration, less noise and no drill sound, which is what most anxious patients are actually reacting to. Dr. Tummala will tell you honestly what your specific treatment will involve before you agree to it.
Can a laser be used for every filling?
No. Lasers work well for many small and medium cavities, but large cavities, replacing old metal fillings and teeth that need crowns usually call for conventional instruments. Dr. Tummala will tell you which applies to your tooth after an exam and an x-ray.
Do laser fillings last as long as regular fillings?
The laser only prepares the tooth. The filling itself is the same tooth-colored material used for any other filling, so it lasts as long as a conventional tooth-colored filling would. How long that is depends on the size of the filling, where it sits in your mouth and how well you look after it.
Is laser treatment an option for everyone?
No. It suits many situations but not all of them, and there are cases where traditional instruments do the job better or faster. Existing dental work can also affect what is possible, since lasers behave differently around metal restorations. The honest answer is that it depends on the tooth, the problem and your medical history, which is what the examination is for.
Will my insurance cover laser dentistry?
It varies by plan, and the thing to understand is that most plans base coverage on the procedure rather than the instrument used to do it. So a treatment may well be covered at the usual rate whether it is done with a laser or conventionally, though some plans treat them differently. We are happy to help you check what your plan says before you commit to anything.
What if my plan does not cover it?
You still have options. We work with CareCredit and Cherry, two patient financing companies that let treatment be paid in installments, and you can apply with either before your visit. What you are offered depends on the plan you qualify for, so we would rather talk it through than publish figures. Our financial policy page explains how payment is handled.