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 Imagine
a visit to a dentist with no dread of impending
pain. A visit to the Thukral Dental Clinic run
by the husband & wife team of Dr Naresh and
Dr Gulshan Thukral will assure you of just that.
The Thukrals have a laser that drives away pain
for the patient.
The laser technology is in itself not new for medical
purposes. What is new is the unique combination
of the Erbium YAG with the CO2 in one device. Explains
Dr Thukral, "The earlier CO2 laser was effective
for soft tissue applications only, but not for hard
tissues as bone and teeth. After many trials the
company Sharplan combined the two lasers into one
and we have a new tool."
The combination laser is useful in hard tissue
procedures like cavity and crown preparation,
caries removal, enamel etching, and curettage,
besides soft tissue procedures like gingevectomy,
implants, guided tissue regeneration, and periodontal
procedures to name a few. The laser machine, according
to Dr Thukral, is the first of its kind in India.
In fact the technology is only two years old and
is presently being used in a few countries like
Germany, Australia, and for the last six months
in the UK.
Dr Thukral was first exposed to the research on
laser work while attending a dental conference
in England two years ago. At the conference one
of the speakers presented a paper on the use of
lasers for periodontal work. Says Thukral, "I
was very attracted to this new technology and
surfed the net for more information. Last year
Sharplan invited me for a seminar on ' The use
of lasers for dental surgery' and after the seminar
I made up my mind to get one machine for my clinic.
Subsequently I went to Germany and Toronto for
advanced training," he adds.
For patients this new technique is a great boon.
The Thukrals have succeeded in providing a total
dental treatment with no pain, no drill, and no
blood. Infact so unbelievably comfortable is the
process that a patient once hesitatingly asked
Dr Thukral if, he had, indeed completed the entire
job.
The benefits of Laser Technology in Dentistry
are profound says Thukral. A laser is a concentrated
beam of light of a single wavelength, which can
penetrate hard tissue without drilling or incision.
Hence the entire process is painless, short and
hygienic, and above all comfortable for both doctor
and patient. More importantly, Laser eliminates
the fear of contracting AIDS.
The fear of the drill and administration of anesthesia
can now be allayed which, in Dr.Thukral's opinion,
is a great relief, especially when treating young
patients. "When I would do a full mouth
gum surgery it would require a number of sittings,
and at each time there would have to be the anesthesia
shots. Followed by the painkillers, till the mouth
is healed. With the laser the healing period is
painless and no medication required. When I tell
a patient he can have a root canalling done in
one sitting there is total disbelief. Straight
away the number of visits are reduced,"
points out Dr Thukral.
 Dr
Thukral finds laser technology even more useful
for cosmetic dentistry, in which he specialises.
Here too, the innumerable visits are considerably
reduced. Not surprisingly, the response has been
excellent.
So does this new technology burn a hole in the
patient's pocket? "There is no denying
that this treatment is very expensive, and may
not suit all people. But the comfort rendered
by the pain free procedure plus the time saved
make a lot of people willing to pay a little extra"
asserts Dr.Thukral and goes on to add that
the initial fear of the unknown and untried has
been set aside as the laser machine is fully computerised
and is completely safe.
In a nutshell, Laser technology will radically
alter patient's perception and views and is, undoubtedly,
here to stay.
Address: Dr Thukrals Dental Clinic,
# 2 San Mahu Complex,
Pune - 411 001
Phone: 612 2789
By Rahul Surkund
Photos-By HariKrishna
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