Laser: Tissue Interaction and Its Application in Clinical Dentistry

In 1960, Theodore Maiman exposed a human tooth to his prototype Ruby laser. The emission wavelength of the laser at 633 nm (deep red visible light) offered no beneficial interaction with the tooth, with much of the energy transmitting the enamel and dentine with presumable attenuation by the pigmented pulpal tissue. The inconsistencies of laser-tissue interaction continue to pose some difficulty for the dental clinician; however, the development of many laser machines, amounting to a facility to produce laser photonic energy at several wavelengths between the visible and far infrared areas of the electromagnetic spectrum, addresses many of the inconsistencies. The oral cavity is a complex environment, where hard and soft tissues exist in close proximity and all within bacteria laden saliva. All oral tissues are receptive to laser treatment, but the biophysics governing laser-tissue interaction demands a knowledge of all factors involved in delivery of this modality. Through this knowledge, correct and appropriate treatment can be delivered in a predictable manner.