---
title: "What Is Laser dentistry? Dental Glossary | Town Center Dental"
description: "Laser dentistry uses focused light energy to treat teeth or gum tissue. Dentists use different lasers for soft tissue work and for some hard tissue tasks."
url: https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/laser-dentistry
publisher: Town Center Dental
phone: +1-636-273-5866
quote: https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/request-appointment
---

Technology and Imaging

# Laser dentistry

Laser dentistry uses focused light energy to treat teeth or gum tissue. Dentists use different lasers for soft tissue work and for some hard tissue tasks.

A dental laser delivers a narrow beam of light. LASER stands for Light Amplification by the Stimulated Emission of Radiation. Lasers have been studied in dentistry since the 1960s.

A review lists hard tissue uses such as caries prevention, bleaching, cavity preparation, and diagnosis. Soft tissue uses include wound care, removing excess gum tissue, and uncovering a tooth that is partly through the gum. Some uses, like [gingivectomy](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/gingivectomy) and [frenectomy](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/frenectomy), work on gum tissue.

Different lasers fit different jobs, and none replaces every traditional tool. Costs and a small risk of heat damage to the tooth are noted for some types. This entry is general and does not say that Town Center Dental uses lasers.

## Related terms

-   [Gingivectomy](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/gingivectomy)
-   [Frenectomy](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/frenectomy)
-   [Gum contouring](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/gum-contouring)
-   [Teeth whitening](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/teeth-whitening)

## Sources

1.  [NIH PMC: Laser in dentistry: An innovative tool in modern dental practice](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3700144/)
2.  [NIH PMC: Laser in dentistry: An innovative tool in modern dental practice](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3700144/)

## Ready when you are

[Request an appointment](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/request-appointment)[Call (636) 273-5866](tel:+1-636-273-5866)