Dentaltown May 2016 - (Page 52)
periodontics
feature
The Dental Laser's Role
in Managing
Periodontal Disease
by Samuel B. Low, DDS, MS, MEd
Dr. Samuel Low is
professor emeritus at
the University of Florida,
and an associate faculty
and board member of
the Pankey Institute. Low
is also a board member of the Academy of
Laser Dentistry and past president of the
American Academy of Periodontology. He was
selected Dentist of the Year by the Florida
Dental Association and received the Gordon
Christensen Lecturer Recognition Award.
Fig. 1
Introduction
Lasers in the healthcare industry have seen
a dramatic increase in the past few years, from
their commonplace use in ophthalmology,
dermatology and plastic surgery.
Patients have adopted the medical application branding as safe and effective. In
addition, the increased trend of microinvasive
procedures has led to the laser's acceptance.
Many patients desire quick procedures with
the expectation of uneventful healing and
minimal disruption in their lives.1
The utilization of lasers in the dental
profession is increasing because of improved
training and education. Enhanced, dependable
technology with these devices creates a
user-friendly environment with procedural
presets and accompanying graphics, and
the affordability has resulted in increasing
accessibility.2
Along with acceptance, there has been
a broadening of laser dental indications,
including procedures for direct restorative therapy and, indirectly, to enhance
restorative dentistry. While consideration
for lasers in periodontal management has
been suggested for several years, its exact
role has been complicated and confused
until recently.
Periodontal disease
Dental laser wavelength seeking
periodontal tissue target
52
MAY 2016 // dentaltown.com
For decades, the focus on managing
periodontal disease has primarily been from
an antimicrobial direction.
Inclusion into periodontal therapy
from a nonsurgical vein has centered on
mechanical and chemical warfare against the
primary etiology, such as the microbial flora.
And while we wouldn't discount bacterial
pathogens as the primary stimulus, the role
of the host response in the form of a chronic
inflammatory reaction has balanced out the
pathogenesis story.
A new paradigm is evolving to include
anti-infl ammatory and host modulation
systems to manage the periodontal patient.3
Any new device or protocol should incorporate both antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory concepts.
Current systems to manage periodontal
disease have improved significantly, using
the chemical and mechanical approach. We
now have at our disposal the augmentation
materials to engender regeneration through
wound healing.4 However, these systems
have been limited in the past because
of factors such as high cost of use and
patient perception of related outcomes
or potential discomfort.
Dental laser wavelengths and
respective tissue targets
Lasers have the ability to affect tissue
depending on the nature of the target.
By using a coherent light beam, energy is
directed through an electromagnetic wave,
generally through a process noted as ablation
(vaporization). This thermal radiation is
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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Dentaltown May 2016
On Dentaltown.com
HOWARD SPEAKS: Talking Monkeys, Reviews Gone Wild, and Valuable Margins
PROFESSIONAL COURTESY: A 5-Star Future?
Continuing Education Update
Industry News
Special-Needs Patients
3Shape TRIOS 3
The ABCs of Dental Ethics
Townie Meeting Recap
Is It Time to Be Conservative, or Progressive?
Balancing the Scale(r)s
A Dope Does a Startup
The Dental Laser’s Role in Managing Periodontal Disease
Do Good: A WHALE OF AN EFFORT
Do Good: HOW SMILES ON WINGS TOOK FLIGHT
Do Good: SERVING THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED
Do Good: BE A HERO, HONOR A HERO
Do Good: THIS WE’LL DEFEND
Do Good: PAYING IT FORWARD
Do Good: A BEACH IN WESTERN KENYA
Do Good: A GIANT EFFORT: HENRY SCHEIN CARES
Should I Stay or Should I Go Now?
Poll
New Products
Ad Index
You Should Know
Practice Solutions: Tokuyama Dental
Product Profi le: Planmeca
CONTINUING EDUCATION: Mill In or Send Out?
Dentally Incorrect
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