A to Z Guide to Dental Laser Treatment

Abstract

Laser therapy is currently applied in various dental fields. Lasers are used not only in oral surgery such as soft tissue incision and coagulation, but also for periodontal therapy, pulp treatment including pulpectomy and infected root canal treatment, tooth preparation, dental caries prevention, and pain relief and acceleration of wound healing for stomatitis, dentin hypersensitivity, and temporomandibular disorder. The laser systems used in dental treatment are mainly divided into two types based on the characteristics of the wavelength: the surface absorption type and the tissue penetration type. The absorption characteristics vary depending on the laser wavelength, and the influence of laser irradiation on body tissues is especially dependent on absorption by water, which accounts for approximately 70% of the body. The Er: YAG and carbon dioxide (CO2) lasers have particularly high water absorption characteristics, and almost all the laser energy is absorbed in the most superfi cial tissue layer and the irradiation does not penetrate into deep tissues. In contrast, lasers with a wavelength in the visible to near-infrared range reach deep tissues, since this energy is unlikely to be absorbed by water. Therefore, Er: YAG and CO2 lasers are superior in terms of vaporization efficiency, whereas visible to near-infrared lasers have stronger coagulation effects. Power density and oscillation mode are also key factors that determine laser characteristics, and the clinical effects of lasers are characterized by a combination of these factors and wavelength.