Laser Dentistry and Side Effects: My Real Story

My dentist advised me that I needed to consider treating my gums as they were shrinking and there was bone loss near the roots.

There are 2 methods that address this situation: cutting the gums and cleaning the roots of the teeth (which results in a long painful recovery), or laser dentistry. I opted for the laser. It’s a relatively new technology which has been painstakingly tested by its inventors. The marketing digest conveys its benefits which include increased bone growth and minimal pain.

I searched for a dentist offering this new treatment and found one. He was very enthusiastic, reassuring, and informed me that 4 appointments were required. Without hesitation, I made the arrangements and looked forward to improving my dental health.

On the first treatment day, my gums were anesthetized with injections and the laser did its work. A loud sound could be heard every time the laser was activated. There was still some pain as the laser worked but I managed to tolerate most of it during the prolonged visit. Although I thought to myself “it’s not too harsh and there’s only 3 more treatments”, I felt relieved when the appointment was finally completed.

My next session was scheduled for the following week. When I arrived, my gums were again numbed and the laser once more did its job. Sometime during the session, I felt not quite right. It’s difficult to pinpoint the exact time however when the whining noises around me subsided as the 2nd treatment ended and the room became quite silent, I heard a ringing sound in my left ear. I thought it might be a slight side-effect from the treatment. I mentioned it to the dentist, paid the bill and drove home.

The Plain Truth

To my dismay, I couldn’t sleep well that night. In my quiet bedroom, the sound in my left ear was quite loud. It can be described as a ring or a ting, and is incessant and relentless. I phoned the dentist the next day and he informed me that he would cancel the final 2 treatments until the ringing subsided. In the meantime, I made an appointment with a doctor to examine my ear.

After visiting the doctor, she informed me that it was possible the laser touched a nerve and that it would take a very long time to heal. She made an appointment with an ear specialist for me. Over a month later, I once more trekked to another health professional’s office. He inserted a device in my ear and said everything looks fine. Well physically yes, my eardrum is fine, however my brain says something isn’t.

I ventured into the holistic healing realm and tried acupuncture, rolling tuina (a form of acupressure) and various herbs. None of which has solved the problem to this day. 

Conclusion

So while I may have helped my gums to a certain degree, my brain now has to cope with this noise for the rest of my life (or until a cure is discovered). I want anyone who is considering laser dentistry to know my experience and realize that nothing is foolproof no matter what the marketing gurus or health professionals tell you. Whether it was a lack of experience on the part of the dentist or just fate, I’m now saddled with this burden. Consider carefully any type of treatments or medication that you take. Contrary to some advice, it can ultimately be hazardous to your health.