BOSTON -- Advances in laser technology are making getting dental implants practically painless for patients.

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Liz Brunner Reports On Implants DENTAL IMPLANTS Steven D. Spitz, DMD Prosthodontist/Laser Implant Specialist 665 Beacon St. Suite 202 Boston, MA 02215 (617)437-1060 www.smileboston.com Dr. Jack Rosenberg President, Advanced Dental Care 173 Cambridge St. Burlington, MA 01803 (781)272-2875

NewsCenter 5's Liz Brunner reported that Linda Lordan has had dental implants for much of her life. This time, her dentist took a less painful approach to the procedure.

"I felt no pain at all. No pain, no discomfort from the beginning to the end," she said.

Lordan's dentists, Dr. Steven Spitz of SmileBoston, and Dr. Jack Rosenberg of Advanced Dental Care, used a laser, not a scalpel. With no cutting and no blood, Novocain is not necessary.

Lordan can go back to work with virtually no soreness right after the procedure.

"We've been able to shorten the time period from the time the implant is placed to the time the restoration is done, and the crown is placed and eliminate a lot of the discomfort that people associate with surgeries because we've eliminated the scalpel and bleeding which causes the discomfort," said Spitz.

While lasers are becoming more popular in treating everything from cavities to receding gums, Spitz said their use for implants is new. There are only two Waterlase MDs, the device used in the laser procedures, in Massachusetts.

"There's a laser energy, and there's water. And when the energy hits the water, the water molecules actually get excited and actually will take away tooth structure," said Spitz.

Spitz said he found that the body is able to heal much faster with the laser.

Rosenberg said the biggest benefit of the lasers may be putting his patients at ease.

"Going to the dentist can be just another thing they have to do and not something they need to dread," he said.

Some laser dental procedures are covered by dental insurance, but patients should check with their carrier before having the procedure done.