I would also like my dentist to use a laser instead of a drill to do my filling. Is this possible?

There are also new and different ways to prepare a cavity for a filling. Lasers are a fairly new tool in dentistry. They have been used for several years on soft tissues, like the gums. Some dentists are starting to use lasers in place of drills to remove tooth decay. Lasers work best on decay close to the tooth’s surface. Over the next few years, lasers will likely be refined and more dentists may be using them instead of drills.

Air abrasion is another new way to remove tooth decay. It uses a fine, sand-blasting spray and works best on surface decay. If you are interested in having air abrasion, call your local dental society or a few dentists in your area to find out which dentists are using it.