A 4 year old female patient complains of decayed teeth. Intra-oral examination reveals occlusal caries with 55. The laser which can be used in this patient?
Lasers are used primarily for either soft tissue applications or hard tissue surface modification. They generally are not used for tooth preparations because they are inefficient and awkward for removing large amounts of enamel or dentin, and that process with a laser can generate intolerable amounts of heat. Therefore lasers may never replace a high-speed dental handpiece. However, at least one commercial Ho:YAG laser instrument has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use with hard tissues in primary teeth.
Sturdevant’s Art and Science of Operative Dentistry, Mosby, 4th Edition, Page No: 327
CO2
HeNe
Excimer
Ho:YAG