In implantology and accompanying dental surgery the laser has many advantages in comparison to conventional methods. Presenting three patient cases the use of lasers is demonstrated in the preimplantologic indication (improvement of soft-tissue situation) and the postimplantologic indication (implant exposure, periimplantitis therapy)...

Ankyloglossia (tongue-tie) is a relatively common condition in newborns. Affected infants have difficulty latching onto the breast nipple and thus have inadequate milk transfer, and subsequent maternal nipple pain, resulting in untimely weaning. An abnormal maxillary labial frenum may prevent proper latching onto the breast nipple, also preventing the infant to obtain adequate breast milk. The author will illustrate using case reports how the frenectomy procedure can be performed utilizing an Erbium laser...

The aim of this study is to examine if two different modes (CW-Chopped) with different power settings and irradiation time can rise the temperature of the periodontal tissues above 47 ¡C under root canal irradiation with diode laser of 980 nm and also see if the temperature rising has any correlation to the root length...

The study aim was to compare the results of a KTP laser therapy used in adjunct to scaling and root planning (SRP), and of SRP alone, in a small group of patients with early to moderate periodontitis...

Many studies have shown the inability of conventional periodontal treatments when used alone to completely eliminate pathogens existing in periodontal pockets. These studies have pointed out that adjunctive treatments such as laser or antimicrobial therapies may be effective in the complete elimination of such agents. The objective of the present study is to investigate the effects of SRP assisted by the two clinical treatment methods of laser or chlorine hexedine applications in comparison with SRP alone...

Caries diagnosis has become a major challenge in dentistry due to recent modifications in lesion characteristics and patient behaviour. Novel methods have been developed in order to aid visual and radiographic examinations for caries detection. This review focuses on the performance of laser-induced fluorescence devices (DIAGNOdent and the DIAGNOdent pen) that have been studied in the past decade. Both devices are based on the measurement of back-scattered fluorescence from bacterial metabolites present in the caries lesion. Occlusal and proximal surfaces can be assessed and lesion severity can be quantified using these methods. Based on the literature, both devices can be considered auxiliary methods for caries diagnosis, i.e., as a ”second opinionÓ in the treatment decision-making process.

The array of available clinical applications for laser assisted dentistry is growing rapidly, with the greater number of applications being for oral surgery. Er:YAG laser wavelength is considered to be extremely safe, and is the dominant wavelength in dentistry today . Er:YAG is one of the most suitable wavelengths for bone applications. The presentation will demonstrate the use of the Er:YAG laser in the world of implantology, and the advantages vs. conventional treatment methods. The purpose in this paper is to put some order into the chaotic information surrounding the subject and to provide some answers to the most common and frequent questions we often meet: How far we can go with this technology? Is it just a marketing tool or proven therapy? Where is the line between reality and fantasy? Does the new technology completely replace the conventional methods and if not, at which point do we lay the laser s hand piece down and re-employ the ”oldÓ tools and conventional ways? The article will exhibit, beyond any doubts, that Er:YAG laser is very valuable tools and shows promise and safe as an effective new technical modality for implant therapy.

The first laser in the world designed specially for general clinical dentistry debuted in Germany in 1989. Over the past twenty years many different laser wavelengths and units have been marketed worldwide. The author s long-time involvement in the dental laser industry gives him a unique perspective. In this two part series the author will first discuss the historical development of laser dentistry. The second part of the series will focus on the worldwide dental laser marketplace and the important research that helped obtain the first U.S. Food and Drug clearances for various laser wavelengths...

Already the eleventh master course ”Lasers in Dentistry” started on 14 September 2009 in Aachen, Germany. This postgraduate Master of Science programme has been offered since 2004 at the RWTH Aachen University...

The 1st Meeting of the South America Division (SAD) of the World Federation for Lasers in Dentistry (WFLD) was held jointly with the 5th Congress of the Brazilian Society for Lasers in Dentistry (ABLO). The “Shedding Light on Dentistry 2009Ó Congress occurred in S‹o Paulo, Brazil, from October 22-24, 2009. The meeting was supported by Brazilian governmental research foundations, such as FAPESP, CNPq and CAPES; and two exhibitors (MMO and Oral-B)...

The third edition of the International Conference on Lasers in Medicine Timisoara, Romania, ”New Highlights in Clinical PracticeÓ took place in Timisoara (Romania) from 24th to 26th September 2009 under the presidency of Prof Carmen Todea (Secretary of WFLD-ED), Prof Norbert Gutknecht (President of WFLD), and Prof Jean Paul Rocca (President of WFLD-ED)...

he inaugural conference of the Australian Association for Laser Dentistry took place on the 24th to 26th of July 2009 near Brisbane at the Gold Coast. The AALD has been formed to provide an education platform and a forum for laser users in general to meet, discuss and provide direction to regulators and professional associations regarding laser use, tapping into the wealth of knowledge the members have already at their disposal. The AALD in its short life has successfully lobbied the ADAQ, the Dental Board of Queensland, and Radiation Health Queensland to bring about a change in the Radiation Safety Act to allow hygienists and therapists to use class four lasers for procedures limited to the scope of their training under the direction of a dentist. With the moves to national registration from 1 July 2010, this could provide a template which can be adopted at the national level...