Yes, Laser Dentistry can Help You with Tooth Sensitivity

At Whole Body Dental in Bellevue, Washington, our experienced team takes a whole-body, patient-centered approach to dental care. If you're struggling with sensitive teeth, we’re here to get to the source of the issue and offer real solutions that support your overall wellness.

Gentle laser dentistry is one of the foundations of our practice because it's a flexible solution for everything from cavities to gum disease and teeth sensitivity. Today, we're discussing some of the innovative ways laser energy can help you overcome tooth sensitivity and take control of your oral health.

What causes tooth sensitivity 

Tooth sensitivity often stems from worn enamel, exposed roots, or gum inflammation. Ordinary things like sipping cold water, taking a bite of hot food, or even breathing in cold air can become painful. 

Traditional treatments include desensitizing toothpaste, which unfortunately might not help with more serious sensitivity, or more aggressive approaches like crowns for the sensitive teeth. Laser dentistry, on the other hand, offers a gentler, more targeted approach.

How laser dentistry helps with tooth sensitivity

One of the things we love about laser dentistry is its incredible flexibility. Some of the unique ways it can help with tooth sensitivity include:

Seals exposed nerves

One of the most effective ways laser therapy treats tooth sensitivity is by sealing exposed dentinal tubules. They’re the tiny pathways within your inner tooth, leading to your tooth nerves. If you have exposed nerves, the tubules allow quick access to that nerve when you eat or drink anything hot or cold, triggering intense sensitivity or pain.

Our dentists can apply laser energy to gently heat and reconfigure the dentin, closing off the tubules. This can offer long-lasting relief.

Improves gum health

Laser therapy can target the pockets between your teeth and gums where bacteria collect, reducing the depth of those pockets and making it easier to avoid gum disease and tooth decay.

Laser therapy can also help the gums reattach to your teeth and help prevent gum recession, which is a common cause of tooth sensitivity because it exposes the sensitive root surfaces.

Encourages natural enamel remineralization

Your tooth enamel normally prevents sensitivity, but when it wears down, that layer of protection is too thin to stop discomfort. Common reasons for enamel erosion include teeth grinding, poor oral hygiene, and acids due to chronic acid reflux.

Laser therapy activates minerals like calcium and phosphate in your saliva, encouraging them to bind to and reinforce your tooth enamel. Over time, this reduces tooth sensitivity and protects against further enamel breakdown.

Easier dental appointments

Tooth sensitivity is uncomfortable enough in everyday life, but during dental procedures like getting a filling, it can become downright painful. Fortunately, laser dentistry offers an alternative.

In many cases, we can use an advanced dental laser to remove tooth decay, which normally requires drilling, without pain. Most patients don't even need numbing thanks to the highly precise nature of the laser.  

Put tooth sensitivity behind you

You don’t have to suffer every time you sip coffee or take a bite of ice cream. Call Whole Body Dental at 425-643-1231 today to make your appointment and learn more about how laser dentistry can help with your tooth sensitivity.