New Frontiers in Laser Assisted Oral Surgery

Dear Colleagues,

In the last 30 years, the evolution of technologies has allowed the daily use of laser device in dentistry. Since the introduction of laser in clinical practice, different wavelengths have been used for oral surgery on the basis of the different characteristics and affinities of each one. 

CO₂ lasers, Neodymium-Doped Yttrium–Aluminium–Garnet (Nd:YAG) and diode lasers have mainly been used for periodontal soft-tissue management. With development of Erbium-Doped Yttrium–Aluminium–Garnet (Er:YAG) and Erbium, Chromium-Doped Yttrium–Scandium–Gallium–Garnet (Er,Cr:YSGG) lasers, which can be applied not only on soft tissues but also on dental hard tissues, the application of lasers dramatically expanded from periodontal soft-tissue management to hard-tissue treatment. Nowadays, various periodontal tissues (such as gingiva, tooth roots and bone tissue), as well as titanium implant surfaces, can be treated with lasers, and a variety of dental laser systems are being employed for the management of periodontal and peri-implant diseases.

Laser irradiation has numerous favorable characteristics, such as ablation or vaporization, hemostasis, bio-stimulation (photo-bio-modulation) and microbial inhibition and destruction, which induce various beneficial therapeutic effects and biological responses. 

Therapeutic effects are seen due to its ability to stimulate cell proliferation, revascularization, cell regeneration, local microcirculation and vascular permeability, leading to edema reduction and analgesic effects.

Therefore, the use of lasers is considered effective and suitable for treating a variety of inflammatory and infectious oral conditions, performing a clear oral surgery without bleeding and no sutures, avoiding the necessity of drugs to reduce post-operative side effects (pain and edema)

Prof. Dr. Marina Consuelo Vitale
Guest Editor

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