Laser technology has several applications in dentistry, and it can potentially change the outlook of dentistry. Laser technology means little use of traditional dental instruments like dental drills or scalar. Hence, lower anxiety level among the patients. Thus, the inclusion of laser technology reaps numerous benefits. There are two types of lasers used for the dental procedure: Soft laser and Hard tissue laser. We will discuss the properties and usage of hard tissue lasers.
The Structure of Laser:
The structure comprises of three components:
The Energy Source: The energy source supplies the energy from the input terminal to the system.
Lasing Medium- Gas, crystal, and semiconductor are common lasing mediums used in laser dentistry. The medium determines the wavelength, frequency, and energy of the emitted photons. When energy passes through the active medium, the medium absorbs energy and emits photons.
Resonators: The optical setup, mostly made up of mirrors, reflects the emitted photons in between the lasing medium. This increases the concentration of the photon beam, and then directed out of the nozzle.
The Hard Tissue Laser:
Hard tissue laser has a longer wavelength compared to a soft tissue laser. Erbium and carbon dioxide lasers are commonly used as hard tissue lasers. However, the erbium laser returns a more promising result compared to the carbon dioxide one. These lasers are often accompanied by water spray. The water spray serves two purposes:
- Water increases the energy delivered by the laser beam. Hence, ensuring maximum use and low waste.
- Apart from increasing the applied laser’s effectiveness, water cools the target and nearby tissues as well. Otherwise, increased temperature causes the surrounding tissue’s death. Such a cooling effect prevents thermal trauma due to extreme temperature.
The Purpose of Hard Tissue Laser:
A hard laser’s primary purpose is to cut through hard tissues such as dentine and enamel. The laser cuts through the enamel to remove out the cavities. These lasers also help in dental restorations by treating dental fillings. After treatment, the dental filling adheres to the teeth surface.
Sometimes, orthodontic treatments leave behind a white spot of demineralization. The laser can reverse these spots. Another use of hard lasers is to treat hypersensitivity, and results have shown that laser treatment lasts longer than conventional ones.
The lack of anesthesia is considered one of the most significant advantages laser treatment has to provide. When used on a tissue, the laser causes nerves to lose their ability to conduct and pass down impulses. Hence, with no conduction, the pain detectors cannot transmit signals to the brain or spinal cord.
Conclusion:
Laser technology has genuinely changed dentistry for the better. New advancement means better customer care, as the use of traditional tools can induce anxiety in patients. Plus, laser dentistry saves anesthesia; this makes it more lucrative for dentists to adopt hard lasers in their practice. Furthermore, laser therapy has shown an excellent healing effect on the teeth. You can call us at 281-934-1010 for more information.