How can lasers be used in dental surgery?

In 1960, Theodore Maiman developed the first functional laser device, which emitted a deep red beam using a ruby crystal. Over the next few years, researchers studied possible applications of this visible laser energy. Nowadays, dental lasers are also used in dental surgery, where they can be used in multiple procedures and bring numerous benefits.

 

Laser effects in medicine

 

• Optical effect, i.e. fluorescence spectroscopy for cancer screening, optical coherence tomography (OCT) for high resolution imaging.
• Photomechanical (photoacoustic) effect, i.e. for laser lithotripsy, tattoo removal and certain pigmented lesions.
• Photochemical effect, i.e. photodynamic therapy (PDT), stimulation of the chemical reaction.
• Photothermal effect, treatment of vascular lesions, laser hair removal.
• Photobiostimulative and photobiomodulative effect, i.e. low level laser therapy (LLLT), laser acupuncture, collagen remodeling for elderly skin, anti-inflammatory treatments, blue light therapy for acne treatments, accelerated wound healing.

 

Laser effects in dental surgery

 

In dentistry, lasers also find multiple uses. Most of these are applied in dental and oral surgery. These include:

 

1. Treatment of complications following extraction of the mandibular third molar (wisdom molar)

Laser therapy applied to the wound after surgical removal of the affected lower third molar has analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects. The use of laser after extraction decreases postoperative pain, edema (swelling) and trismus.

 

2. Endodontic surgery

Due to the multiple beneficial effects on the tissues, but also to the increased tissue removal capacity, it has been shown that the laser is the best option for endodontic dental surgery. The results say that the use of laser in this maneuver offers the best clinical and therapeutic results.

 

3. Frenectomy

The frenulum are folds of fibrous tissue that start at the lips and cheeks and are inserted at the alveolar process (close to the teeth). The most obvious frenum is that of the upper lip, inserted sagittally, often leading to the existence of a diastema. Removing them with the laser is an easy operation for the patient, with a quick and predictable healing and almost no bleeding.

 

4. Ankiloglosia

Anterior tongue insertion. It is a condition generally determined early in children. It causes difficulty in pronouncing words, and falls within the scope of dental surgery as incision or laser removal of the lingual frenum is recommended. Like other frenectomies, healing is quick and painless.

 

Laser technology - Conclusion

Laser technology is widely used in dental and oral surgery for diagnosis and treatment. A common use of lasers in dental surgery is to use the device essentially like a light scalpel, using the laser to make controlled, thin cuts, just as you would with a scalpel blade.

This technique allows the surgeon to perform almost any intraoral procedure that would normally be done with a scalpel, such as incisional or excisional biopsy, lesion removal or flap access incision.

During immediate postoperative healing, the patient should expect erythema, edema and serous discharge. It is therefore incumbent on the surgeon to understand the physics of laser surgery to ensure that these risks are minimized.