What Is Laser Therapy for Cold Sores?
Our dentist in Riverside is ready to help you find the best treatments for those cold sores on your lips. Laser therapy is a fast and painless treatment designed to stop cold sores and fever blisters in their tracks. It targets the herpes simplex virus, halting the sore’s progression while promoting quicker, more comfortable healing.
Why Consider Laser Cold Sore Therapy?
Are you struggling with cold sores, also known as fever blisters? Approximately 40% of adults in North America experience the discomfort of fluid-filled blisters that form on the lips and around the mouth. These lesions are caused by the herpes simplex virus and typically heal on their own within two weeks.
While many over-the-counter treatments promise to speed up healing and alleviate discomfort, none are as effective as our soft tissue laser treatment.
Cold sores typically appear in the following situations:
- Fluid-filled blisters form on the lips and around the mouth.
- Emotional stress can trigger an outbreak.
- Trauma or irritation to the lip or mouth can cause lesions to appear.
What to Expect from Cold Sore Laser Therapy
Laser therapy for treating cold sores usually requires just one office visit. Continue reading for details on the treatment duration and preparation.
At your visit
Laser treatment for cold sores is quick, lasting only 5-10 minutes. During the procedure, the provider, and patient will wear laser safety glasses. The provider will use a low-power laser, moving it across the affected area to deliver light that halts the progression of the cold sore. This process destroys the virus, helping patients heal faster and with minimal pain. The treatment is not only painless but often provides immediate relief from discomfort afterward.
Although the virus causing cold sores is not curable, laser therapy can significantly reduce the frequency of outbreaks in the treated area.
The procedure is affordable and may be covered by your insurance.
Advice & Tips
Maximizing Treatment Success
The effectiveness of laser therapy largely depends on how early it is administered. When you first experience a tingling or itchy sensation, a cold sore begins to form. Treating it early at Canyon Crest Dental reduces recovery time from two weeks to just days!