A range of lasers is now available for use in
dentistry.
A major diagnostic application of low power lasers
is the detection of caries, using fluorescence elicited
from hydroxyapatite or from bacterial by-products.
Laser fluorescence is an effective method for
detecting and quantifying incipient occlusal and
cervical carious lesions, and with further refinement
could be used in the same manner for proximal
lesions. Photoactivated dye techniques have been
developed which use low power lasers to elicit a
photochemical reaction. Photoactivated dye
techniques can be used to disinfect root canals,
periodontal pockets, cavity preparations and sites of
peri-implantitis. Using similar principles, more
powerful lasers can be used for photodynamic
therapy in the treatment of malignancies of the oral
mucosa. Laser-driven photochemical reactions can
also be used for tooth whitening. In combination
with fluoride, laser irradiation can improve the
resistance of tooth structure to demineralization,
and this application is of particular benefit for
susceptible sites in high caries risk patients. Laser
technology for caries removal, cavity preparation
and soft tissue surgery is at a high state of
refinement, having had several decades of
development up to the present time. Used in
conjunction with or as a replacement for traditional
methods, it is expected that specific laser
technologies will become an essential component of
contemporary dental practice over the next decade.
.
