Laser procedures have been used to treat different dental problems related to soft and hard tissue for a long time. All lasers work by releasing light and cutting through gums or teeth structures without damaging any other surrounding tissue of the mouth.

Unlike traditional dental drills, the procedure using soft tissue laser might not need any sutures most of the time. Due to the high energy beam of the laser, bacterial infection and bleeding are minimized since the laser sterilizes and inhibits blood loss in the area being worked on. One of the advantages is that certain procedures do not require anesthesia, and wounds heal faster.

On the other hand, there are certain disadvantages as well with this procedure. The laser cannot fill cavities between teeth, around old fillings, and large cavities that need a crown. In addition, lasers cannot be used to remove defective crowns, silver fillings or prepare teeth for bridges.

Hard tissue laser: Hard tissue laser is used to precisely cut hard structures of the mouth, such as teeth and bone. This laser is used for prepping or shaping composite bonding, removing tooth decay, removing small tooth structures, and repairing some dental worn-down filling.

Soft tissue laser: Soft tissue laser is used to cut and remove soft tissue in the mouth like the gums; this helps create a drain around the gum to improve visibility and dental access for aesthetic purposes. This laser is also used to remove extra gum tissue, distribute tight muscle parts in the mouth, or treat oral cold sores. This laser therapy can also help treat periodontal disease, best known as gum infection, by removing the infected lining of the gum tissue and supporting the regeneration of healthy gum tissue.