Laser Dentistry: Lower-Risk Soft-Tissue Care Many People Don't Know a Dentist Can Provide

Most soft-tissue laser procedures need only topical or local anaesthetic, and discomfort during treatment is generally well tolerated. Relief-type procedures such as ulcer irradiation usually need no anaesthetic at all. Individual experience varies by person and procedure.

No. Recurrent aphthous ulcers are a recurrent condition; the laser treats the current episode, helping relieve pain and support healing, but it cannot prevent future ones. If ulcers recur frequently or one has not healed after two weeks, clinical assessment should come first to exclude other causes.

Laser cutting generally means less bleeding, usually no sutures and less post-operative discomfort. Whether laser is suitable depends on the position and thickness of the frenum, decided after assessment.

It can. Melanocytes may re-deposit pigment over time — generally faster in smokers — and how long the result lasts varies between individuals. We assess the cause of the pigmentation first, exclude pathological causes, and explain the expected result and the possibility of recurrence honestly before treatment.

No. The laser is one tool, suited to specific soft-tissue procedures. Decay, root canal therapy, scaling and other foundational treatments continue to be handled by the appropriate methods. We recommend the tool that fits your situation rather than using the laser for its own sake.

No. A dental soft-tissue laser is concentrated non-ionising light — a completely different physical category from the ionising radiation of an X-ray, with no cumulative dose. That is precisely why it can be used repeatedly for conditions such as canker sores and cold sores. Both clinician and patient wear dedicated protective eyewear during treatment, which is the principal safety measure.

Relief-type irradiation is non-invasive and commonly causes only brief warmth. Surgical procedures carry the same basic risks as any minor oral surgery — post-operative discomfort and, rarely, infection or slower healing — each explained during informed consent. The most important safeguard is case selection: where a case is not suitable (see “When laser is not suitable” above) we tell you directly rather than proceeding anyway.

Honestly, no. Relief-type procedures are adjunctive and treat the current symptom. For surgical procedures, comparative research shows laser generally has the advantage in bleeding and post-operative discomfort, with long-term healing comparable to a conventional blade (Protásio et al. 2019 meta-analysis（https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12663-019-01196-y）; 2021 systematic review（https://www.jomos.org/articles/mbcb/full_html/2021/03/mbcb210058/mbcb210058.html）). But for complex or deeply positioned cases, conventional scalpel excision with sutures remains appropriate and can be the preferred choice, handled where needed by a clinician with an oral and maxillofacial surgery background. Which method is used is decided by clinical assessment, not by the equipment.

Relief-type procedures (ulcer, desensitising, cold sore irradiation) are charged per session, generally from HK$1,200. Surgical procedures are quoted by complexity: frenectomy generally HK$6,000–8,000; gum depigmentation generally from HK$6,000 per arch; minor soft-tissue excision generally from HK$3,000, with laboratory fees itemised separately. Actual fees are explained clearly after assessment and before treatment begins.

Dentists who have completed soft-tissue laser training. Cases involving suspicious lesions, biopsy or complex surgery are assessed and followed up by our oral and maxillofacial surgery team.