Biologic Effects of the Low-level Er:YAG Laser

Abstract

Recently, the Er:YAG laser has received much attention since the laser is capable of effectively ablating both soft and hard periodontal tissues with minimal thermal side-effects. The high level Er:YAG laser has been increasingly used for periodontal therapy and implant/peri-implant therapy with successful clinical outcomes. Recent studies demonstrated that the low level Er:YAG laser promoted cell proliferation in vitro. However, the biologic effects of the Er:YAG laser on the surrounding tissues/cells have not been clarified in detail. In the present paper, the biologic effects of the low level Er:YAG laser in clinical application are discussed, based on scientific evidence from basic and in vivo studies.