Here’s an interesting fact: When you visit the dentist to get your teeth cleaned, they might ask you if you want them to also brighten your gums. What does that mean? Well, it means that they will literally burn away your gum tissue with a laser in hopes of getting rid of the melanocytes (which produce the color in your gums). This procedure has been deemed ineffective by numerous dentists and journals, and most dentists won’t even do it anymore. Instead, look into safe and effective methods like bleach trays or LED light therapy.
The Two Methods For Brightening Your Gums:
In the past, dentists would try to remove gum pigmentation by burning away an entire layer of gum tissue with a laser. This procedure was painful and did not work.
Brightening your gums does not have to be this intense. Nowadays, dentists will use lasers or chemical bleaching to bleach teeth, but these treatments are much less invasive than the old-fashioned method of burning away your gum tissue with a laser. If you are interested in having your gums brightened, talk to your dentist about the best methods for you and which one they recommend.
Low-Level Laser Therapy:
First, let’s start with what laser therapy actually is. Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) is a form of light-based medical treatment that uses lasers to stimulate cells at the cellular level and promote healing. The two types of lasers used for this are infrared and near-infrared lasers. Infrared (IR) lasers have wavelengths that range from 900 nanometers to 1 millimeter, while near-infrared (NIR) have wavelengths between 800 nm and 1200 nm.
Dental Bleaching:
A new procedure called gum brightening has emerged as an alternative to gum bleaching. first blush uses lasers to target the melanocytes in the gum tissue, making them less dense and therefore less visible.
This technique has been shown to be both safer and more effective than traditional methods of gum bleaching, which can be painful and can sometimes cause long-term damage to your gums.
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What Will Bleach Do?
It can cost anywhere from $250 to $1000. The higher the price, the better the laser will work at removing your gum pigmentation. However, keep in mind that there are no guarantees when it comes to laser teeth whitening and it’s not something you should take lightly. There are plenty of things that can go wrong with the procedure, including burning away too much gum tissue or exposing live nerves. If you’ve considered all of these risks and still want to go through with it, read this guide on how to prepare for dental laser teeth whitening before making an appointment.
How Long Does It Take?
At-home toothpaste, whitening strips, and mouthwashes are not the only ways to brighten your smile. There are also in-office procedures that can help you get that white smile back — safely! Laser gum bleaching, also known as laser gum treatment, is a technique used by dentists to reduce or eliminate gingival pigmentation. This procedure removes the top layers of your gums. Typically, it takes only one or two visits with your dentist to lighten up those pearly whites.
How Much Does It Cost?
Gum bleaching is how dentists would try to remove gum pigmentation in the past — the keyword there being tried. Using painful lasers, dentists would literally burn away an entire layer of the gum tissue in the hopes of getting rid of the melanocytes (which produce melanin). That’s right, they weren’t even trying to achieve a more uniform shade, they were just trying to get rid of the natural color that your body produces.
The pain and recovery time involved with this process wasn’t worth it for most people. And since any discoloration will return after about 6 months, I’m not sure why anyone would want to do this anyway.
What Are The Side Effects?
The side effects of gum bleaching are not just limited to immediate pain and discomfort. The laser burns away your gum tissue, which can lead to chronic dryness, irritation, and sensitivity. And as if that weren’t bad enough, this also increases the risk of developing gum disease. So although it’s tempting to try and make your teeth whiter with lasers, you might want to think twice before setting your gums on fire.
How Safe Is It?
The process of gum bleaching can be done at home or by your dentist. The dentist will use lasers to target the melanocytes that are causing the dark pigmentation in your gums. These lasers will then coagulate, or cook, the tissue and hopefully destroy these cells. There are no real side effects from this procedure, but it does not get rid of all of the pigment in your gums. This means that if you want to do it for cosmetic reasons, you would need to do it again and again in order to see any results.
