Transition and Clinical Progress of Laser Welding in Dentistry through Thirty-four Years

Abstract

Soldering has been the most common method to join metallic pieces for a long time. Problems in soldering are use of an investment material and heat, as well as a flax which has potential risk of corrosion and allergy.
Laser welding can be performed directly on a working model and produces accurate fitting of a dental prosthesis. Laser welding enables saving of working time and cost for laboratory work. Also, this technique is considered essential to increase the use of titanium, which has high biocompatibility in the dental field. Thus, laser welding has many merits in prosthetic dentistry.
Regarding the history of laser welding in the dental field, in 1968, Dr. Gordon et al. of the United States conducted the first experiment on laser welding of dental alloys using a Nd: Glass laser. In Japan, in 1971, the author started basic studies on laser welding using a Nd: YAG laser, and further the author has performed various clinical applications. In 1978, Dr. Van Benthem et al. of Germany started laser welding using a Nd: YAG laser, and he has reported many results.
A dental laser welder was developed in Germany about ten years ago, and since then approximately 350 laser welders have been imported into Japan from Germany, and they are currently used in the dental clinics and laboratories. In this article, the author reports the transition and clinical progress of laser welding in dentistry through 34 years.