Lightscalpel CO2 Laser
Introducing the LightScalpel surgical laser to PPD!
Lasers have been used in the dental community for hard tissue and soft tissue oral procedures such as for restorative treatments, gingivectomies, and also frenectomies for multiple years. There are several types of lasers that can be used for these dental procedures and here at Pearland Pediatric Dentistry, we provide dental treatment with Diode, Erbium and CO2 lasers that are chosen to best suit the type of procedure. We are always excited to implement the newest technology into our office to offer our patients the best care possible and are so excited to welcome the newest system to our laser family, the LightScalpel surgical laser! The LightScalpel is a CO2 beam laser, which has a specific wavelength that targets water molecules in soft tissue enabling precise vaporization while at the same time providing sufficient hemostasis and minimal collateral thermal damage (1).
The LightScalpel surgical laser has been manufactured in the United States since the 1990s and is FDA cleared for laser treatment for incision, excision, vaporization, ablation and coagulation of soft tissue in several specialties of the medical and dental field. The LightScalpel laser is making the most impact in the field of pediatric dentistry with frenectomies, where tethered oral tissues are removed in patients of all ages, to improve nursing, speech, feeding and more (2). The LightScalpel provides quick, safe and effective release of tight frenums in a gentle and comfortable way without bleeding or need for sutures making it ideal for treatment for infants.
Breastfeeding has become more prevalent along with the increase of diagnosis of tethered oral tissues (TOTs), which contribute to the difficulty and discomfort in infants and mothers. TOTs are tissues under the tongue, cheeks or lips that are too tight, preventing full mobility of the mouth and thus causing patients to be unable to achieve proper seal to the mother’s breast and difficulty feeding, which ultimately contribute to failure to thrive for the infant along with pain for the mother. The ability to release TOTs and accessibility to resources, such as lactation consultants and therapists, have shown improvement in oral function and the treatment of frenectomies with the LightScalpel can greatly help nursing infants and their mothers.
At Pearland Pediatric Dentistry, we want to provide the most comprehensive oral and dental treatment for your children and the LightScalpel will be another great tool to help us with TOTs. We believe in an interdisciplinary collaborative approach, and work with several trusted healthcare providers such as orthodontists, oral surgeons, ENT physicians, myofunctional therapists, lactation consultants, physical therapists, chiropractors, etc to ensure we are able to achieve the best result for a child’s treatment regarding TOTs. We work closely with each family and provide individualized recommendations to our patient families based on their unique risk factors. We recommend being seen for routine dental check-ups and cleanings every 6 months to ensure growth and development is being monitored to intervene as needed based on new findings that may be of concern. Visit us for more individualized recommendations at www.pearlandkidsteeth.com or call us at 713-436-4080
