One of the reasons Valerie Barba, DDS, FAGD is considered a top dentist in NJ is because she is certified in Laser Dentistry. Laser dentistry is the use of dental lasers to treat a number of different dental conditions. Dental lasers use a focused, high-energy beam of light to cut or reshape tissues in the mouth. This innovative approach is minimally invasive and offers many benefits to the patient, such as decreased pain and swelling, shorter healing time, and reduced risk of infection post treatment.

The two types of lasers used in dentistry are hard tissue and soft tissue. Designed to be used on teeth and bone, hard tissue lasers are used for procedures such as detection of tooth decay, teeth whitening, and preparing a tooth for dental fillings. Soft tissue lasers are designed for use on the gums and the inner skin of the mouth. These are used for procedures such as gum contouring, a frenectomy, biopsy, and treatment of canker and cold sores.

At Dr. Barba’s Jersey Shore dental spa, the goal is to help you achieve your best smile and overall well-being in a spa like environment. Laser dentistry creates a more soothing atmosphere and is ideal for patients with any dental phobia or concerns. This technique is highly precise and often eliminates the need for mechanical instruments.

Laser Frenectomy

A frenectomy is a type of oral procedure that cuts or loosens the mouth’s frenum. The frenum is a band of tissue that connects two of the mouth’s soft tissues, such as lips, cheeks and gums. The two types of frenum are the labial frenum, which connects gum tissue to the upper lip, and the lingual frenum which connects the underside of the tongue to the floor of the mouth. When the frenum is too tight, it can restrict the range of motion of the mouth. This can lead to a variety of health problems such as oral issues like tooth decay, or speech difficulties, commonly referred to as tongue-ties or lip-ties.

While a traditional frenectomy uses surgical scissors or a scalpel, a laser frenectomy uses light energy to vaporize tissue as opposed to cutting the tissue. This technique generally reduces the risk of complications and shortens the healing time. This practically pain-free dental procedure is especially important for children, as they are typically the patients getting this treatment.

Laser Gum Contouring

Gum contouring, or gum sculpting, is a dental procedure that removes or adds excess gum tissue. Laser gum contouring is a minimally invasive treatment that instantly reshapes the gum line to improve the look of your smile. For cosmetic reasons, a patient may electively undergo gum contouring to correct a “gummy smile” or to even out the gum line to achieve an aesthetically pleasing smile. There are also times gum contouring is done due to medical reasons, like treating gum irritation and avoiding tooth decay. For example, if a patient is experiencing gum recession, Dr. Barba may recommend the use of laser gum contouring to protect the teeth and prevent further damage by adding gum tissue.

Traditionally, gum contouring was performed with a scalpel and involved a long recovery time. Today, Dr. Valerie Barba, as the best cosmetic dentist in NJ, performs this with the use of a laser. This results in a relatively painless procedure and requires minimal recovery time as compared to traditional gum surgery.

Laser Treatment For Canker Sores

Canker sores are small, grayish, round ulcers with a red border. They can develop on the inside of the lips and cheeks, on the gumline, or even on the tongue. Canker sores can develop for a variety of reasons. They can be the result of a viral infection, a food allergy, or a mouth injury, but other factors like stress, hormonal fluctuations, and vitamin or mineral deficiencies can also make them more likely. Other factors that can contribute to the frequency of canker sores are dentures and braces.

Canker sores are not contagious and clear up on their own, but they are painful and can make chewing or talking uncomfortable. With the use of laser dentistry, Dr. Barba can reduce the duration of a canker sore and help you feel better, faster. The light from the laser is strong enough to kill the virus causing the sore and can seal off the nerve endings. This non-invasive procedure is pain free and immediately stimulates the healing process.

Laser Therapy for Cold Sores

Cold sores, also called fever blisters, are contagious groups of fluid-filled blisters that often erupt around the lips and sometimes under the nose or around the chin. They are caused by the oral form of the herpes simplex virus and usually penetrate the body through the mouth. The virus can spread when a person comes into contact with a cold sore through various ways, such as sharing drinks or merely touching the infected fluid. Cold sore diagnosis is typically made by observing symptoms, such as tingling or pain on the lips, small red bumps that become blisters, sore throat and/or fever and swollen glands. If a diagnosis is unclear, Dr. Barba can perform a biopsy to rule out any other underlying medical conditions, such as oral cancer.

Laser treatment for cold sores is very effective in easing pain and eliminating the discomfort patients experience during an outbreak. The laser treatment works by breaking down the nerve cells of the virus. This creates instant relief and improves the production of collagen, which helps to speed up the healing. The laser does not touch your skin so the procedure is pain-free. Also, this treatment shortens the healing time down to a few days vs. the average 14 day symptom timeframe. For patients who experience sores frequently, laser treatment can help in reducing the number and severity of future outbreaks.