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Laser Light in the Oral Cavity
| Article
# : |
19932 |
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Section : |
NATURAL SCIENCE
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| Issue
Date : |
4 / 1992 |
2,808 Words |
| Author
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Terry D. Myers
Terry D. Myers D.D.S. is president of the International
Academy of Laser Dentistry and practices in Walled Lake,
Michigan. He is coinventor of a low-powered, pulsed Nd:YAG
dental laser |
The dental assistant in her show-white uniform smiles warmly as she beckons you. Yet you feel apprehension because no matter how pleasant her invitation, you are about to enter the dental chamber.
Although dedicated to ensuring the god health of the mouth and the effectiveness of the teeth, the dentist is shunned because his patients often experience pain and discomfort while receiving treatment.
That, however, is beginning to change with an increasing influx of laser technology into the dentist's office.
Already, there are at least 2,000 dentists worldwide who have acquired lasers, and laser dentistry seems poised on the threshold of pervading the profession.
How will laser dentistry change things for both dentist and patient? The benefits are already considerable, even though the laser's full potential for dentistry has yet to be explored. Dentists using the laser report that it enables relatively bloodless surgery, decreases post-operative discomfort, minimizes swelling and scarring, is more bactericidal, and is generally less invasive than conventional dental instruments and procedures.
The laser has even helped reduce the pain and discomfort associated with many dental procedures. In many instances, it even eliminates the need for the dreaded anesthetic injection to the gums. Although the dental laser is relatively expensive and requires specialized training, its several advantages are making it very attractive to dental practitioners worldwide.
There are several types of dental lasers, some just entering the market and others under development. Dental lasers produce such biological effects as heating, vaporization, coagulation, and cutting. Different types of lasers can be used to bring about desired biological changes. The differences in lasers stem from the inherent characteristics of their respective wavelengths. The questions that must be answered before a particular laser is chosen are: How effectively is its energy either absorbed by or transmitted through various biological substances; how effectively can the laser beam be transmitted through various types of delivery systems; and what is the effectiveness of the beam at specific tissue depths. It is this information that helps determine how any particular type of laser interacts with tissue and what would be the most efficient applications of that
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