2. CONTENTS
 Introduction
 History
 Fundamentals of lasers
 Commonly used lasers in dentistry
 Application of lasers
 Protection
 Conclusion

3. INTRODUCTION
 Laser is an acronym, which stands for Light
Amplification By Stimulated Emission Of
Radiation
 Light shows, disc players
 Device that converts electrical/chemical
energy into light energy

4. HISTORY
 1960-first laser
 1993 Nd:YAG Laser
 1993 Kinetic Cavity Preparation
 1994 CO2 Laser, Argon Laser
 1996 Laser welder
 1997 Nd:YAP Laser
 1998 Er:YAG Laser

5. Fundamentals of lasers
Light
Amplification
by the
Stimulated
Emission
of
Radiation

6. Light
 Form of electromagnetic energy
 Properties of laser
 Monochromatic
 Collimation
 Coherency
 Efficiency

7.  Monochromatic-Characterized by radiation
in which all waves are of same frequency and
wavelength.
 Collimated: all the emitted waves are
parallel and the beam divergence is very low.
This property is important for good
transmission through delivery systems.

8. A laser is a device that creates and amplifies a
narrow, intense beam of coherent light.
COHERENT INCOHERENT
•Radiates light in random directions
Single or just a few frequencies
at random times.
going in one
•A jumble of photons going
precise direction
in all directions.
LASER NEON LIGHT

9.  A- Amplification means that a very bright
intense beam of light can be created. The
laser may be activated by a few photons
which then act to produce many
more, and the initial light generated is
computed to make a very bright compact
beam

10. S – Stimulated : ME-Emissionn
 If an atom in the excited state is struck by a
photon of identical energy as the photon to be
emitted, the emission could be stimulated to
occur earlier than would occur spontaneously.
This stimulated interaction causes two photons
that are identical in frequency and wavelength to
leave the atom.

11. Laser Design
 A laser medium or active medium-
solid, liquid or gas
 Housing tube or optical cavity
 External power source-pumps

12.  Process of supplying energy for amplification-
pumping

13. Laser Light Delivery
 Articulated arms-CO2 laser
 Waveguide delivery system
 Fiber optic delivery system

14. Laser Types
 Based on wavelength
-Soft lasers
-Hard lasers
 Based on the type of active / lasing medium
used
 ArF excimer, KrF excimer, XeCl
excimer, Argon ion, Nd: YAG,Er: YAG, CO2

16. Nd: YAG laser

17. DIAODE LASER
SEMICONDUCTOR LASER
Gallium Arsenide chip
No mirror to clean and align
No gas tube, flashlamps,
laser rod, water cooling
Portable
No special power
No cooling connection
No heat
Quiet
Affordable
More powerful, less traumatic
250microsecond-10sec
0.05 Hz - 200 Hz
* Sulcular debridement Expand Practice
* Root canal treatment

18. Laser interaction with biologic
tissues
 Four different interaction
 Reflection
 Scatter
 Absorption
 Transmission

19. Processes
 Incision
 Excision
 Ablation

21. Advantages
 No anesthesia, no drill
 Less blood loss, Less pain
 Reduce post –operative edema
 Early healing, rapid regeneration, reduce post
sensitivity in restorations
 Less chances of metastasis
 Sterilization of treatment site-no infection

22. Disadvantages
 Lasers can't be used :
- fill cavities located between teeth
- cavities around old fillings and large cavities
(crown)
- remove defective crowns or silver fillings
- prepare teeth for bridges
 Laser - more expensive

23. APPLICATIONS-GENERAL
 Eye surgery NO PAIN
 Cancer treatment
 Removal of tattoos
 Cosmetic surgery
 Hair removal
• Cold Sores
• Nerve Regeneration

24. Future Trends in Dentistry

25. HARD TISSUES
 Prevention of caries
 Detection of incipient caries
 Cavity preparation
 Enamel etching
 Desensitization

26.  Bleaching/ fluorosis
 t/t of fractured tooth
 Pulpotomy
 Removal of old restoration-gold, ceramic
 Root canal therapy
 Temporomandibular Joint Treatment:
reduce pain and inflammation

27. BLEACHING
SMILE

28. Crown lengthening

29. Soft tissues
Frenectomy
 Tongue tie
 Incisional and excisional biopsies
Inflammatory papillary hyperplasia

30.  Aphthous ulcer
 Operculectomy
 Removal of hyperkeratotic lesions
 Removal of malignant lesions
 Soft tissue crown lengthening
 Vestibuloplasty
 Removal of granulation tissue
 Removal of vascular lesions-Hemangioma
 Pyogenic granuloma
 Implants – Stage II – at the time of recovery

31. Laser Gingivectomy
 A Gingivectomy is a periodontal surgery that removes and
reforms diseased gum tissue or other gingival buildup
 Performed in a dentist's office, the surgery is primarily
done one quadrant of the mouth at a time under local
anesthetic.
 CO2 laser with wavelength of 10,600nm

32. GINGIVECTOMY

33. FRENECTOMY

34. Removal of inflammatory
hyperplasia

35. Why Fiberoptic is important?
 1. Light weight
 2. Easy to approach
 3. Easy sterilization
 4. Tactile sensation

36. LASER HAZARD CONTROL
MEASURES
The small flexible fiber optic , hand pieces or tip
must be steam sterilized in sterilizing pouches
Use of protective wear
Use of screen & curtains should be promoted

37. Use of proper clothing
Use of anti-fire explosive
Proper training and courses

38. LASER FILTRATION MASKS
prevents air borne contamination
FOOT PEDAL CONTROL SWITCH WITH PROTECTIVE HOOD
prevents accidental depression by surgical staff.

39.  Lasers - alternative to conventional surgical
systems
 Lasers are a “new and different scalpel”
(optical knife, light scalpel)