If you're one of thousands who hates going to the dentist, we've got some good news.

New cutting-edge technology is making the experience more convenient. Forget painful dental surgeries and bad tasting molds, we found a Wichita Falls dentist who is making some of the most dreaded procedures seem like a breeze, all thanks to two new machines.

For patients needing a crown, Maplewood Laser Dental Clinic in Wichita Falls has a machine that makes a digital impression using a series of photos. That means no tray, no mold to make you gag, and no string around the tooth pushed under the gums.

"Compared to the old tray impression method, the laser scan reduces the risk of any distortions, ' said Richard Guess, D.D.S., Maplewood Laser Dental Clinic. "So it's inaccuracies we've eliminated by using digital technology that are transferred to the patient. It's less time in the chair when we put a crown on because there are no adjustments. It's ready to go."

The pictures are e-mailed to a lab where the crown is made, making the whole process less messy for workers and faster for patients.

"It's important to keep up with the times and the new ways of thinking about old problems," Guess said.

They also recently starting using a carbon dioxide laser. The main use for this state of the art equipment is to treat gum disease with the laser. Patients no longer need painful surgery or a long recovery. It also gives Dr. Guess new capabilities, such as biopsies, treating cold sores, removing burst blood vessels and getting rid of cold sensitivity.

Guess said, "It's exciting for us but when we're happy is when we're saving a patient time, causing them less pain and taking care of things we wouldn't have been able to treat before." Guess said the laser also eliminates any bleeding or scarring and some procedures can even be done without anesthesia. He said at his office, patients still have the option to use older methods, but the cost is no different.

If you'd like more information on this new technology, just go to the "Links"  section and click on Maplewood Laser Dental Clinic.