Dr. Shahram Shekib runs a private practice in New York City, New York. He offers a variety of services in such fields as cosmetic dentistry, implant dentistry, and preventative dentistry.
What is New York laser dentistry like?
Laser dentistry is simply the use of a laser to perform various dental procedures. For example, the dentist may use a laser instead of a drill to remove the decayed part of a tooth before installing a filling.
Lasers are also used in tooth whitening. The dentist uses the ZOOM! bleaching process to whiten teeth. ZOOM! is an outpatient procedure that takes about an hour. The dentist will apply a hydrogen peroxide gel to the patient’s teeth and then expose the teeth to a laser that will strengthen the gel’s effects and cause it to penetrate the teeth more deeply. The gel will thus break up more stains and discolorations. The treatment can leave the patient’s teeth as much as eight shades whiter, and the results can last for up to a year.
What is holistic dentistry?
Holistic dentistry considers the health of the whole patient as well as their oral health. Over the years, researchers have found links between dental health and overall health. For example, a person who is in good overall health will usually also have better oral health than a person with a chronic disease like diabetes.
Chronic and systemic diseases like diabetes can increase the chances of a patient developing tooth decay, gum disease, and other conditions affecting their oral health. Patients with diabetes tend to have a reduced resistance to infection and are thus more vulnerable to fungal or bacterial infections. A holistic dentist will advise a patient with a chronic disease on how they can avoid some of the complications associated with the disease.
