Your dentist cares about keeping your entire mouth looking and feeling healthy, not just your teeth. This includes keeping your lips and gums healthy, too. Cold sores are blisters that erupt on the lips and cause irritation to your mouth. They can be painful, itchy, contagious, and embarrassing. Cold sores are caused by the herpes simplex virus. There is no cure for the virus, but the cold sores themselves can be treated. Your dentist can use laser technology to stop cold sores before they erupt or treat them after they do. Laser treatment rids you of cold sores much faster than traditional treatment of topical ointments or creams. 

Laser Technology

Your dentist, trained in the technology, uses a precision laser to heat the cold sore. With a precise laser, the heat is controlled to only affect the cold sore itself and not the surrounding skin. The heat kills the virus, which will prevent eruption of the cold sore if treated early enough. If the laser is used after eruption, the cold sore will heal much more quickly. Laser treatment often prevents future cold sores from repopulating in the same spot. The treatment itself is often fast and requires no anesthesia.

Virus Cannot Be Cured But Cold Sores Can Be Treated

While the virus in the specific area can be killed, there is no cure for the herpes simplex virus. Cold sores will reappear. However, laser treatment can slow down the reappearance. If you start feeling a cold sore come on, early laser treatment can prevent them from erupting in the first place. The treatment is relatively affordable and can replace the need for ointments and creams.

Do you suffer from reappearing cold sores?

If you get cold sores, then speak with your dentist about advanced laser treatment. To schedule a consultation, call Grinnell Street Dental at (307) 672-7567. Located in Sheridan, WY, we also proudly serve the residents of Gillette, Billings, Miles City, and all surrounding communities.