Applications of Laser in Dentistry

Abstract

With the introduction of laser technology into biomedical science, we are witnessing significant advances in medicine, especially in the field of diagnosis and treatment of complex diseases. The importance of using modern technologies-such as laser therapy-leads to high-quality treatment and fewer side effects. This chapter is to review capabilities of low-power lasers and photobiomodulation, as well as the combined effect of nanotechnology/laser in dentistry. More specifically, this chapter describes the applications of low-power laser in tissue engineering and regenerative dentistry, such as bone regeneration, wound healing, anti-inflammatory, pain therapy, nerve regeneration, and stem cells. The role of nanotechnology in the laser-related dental applications is further explained. The new approaches to laser therapy-such as oral cancer treatment, antimicrobial activity, prevention of dental caries, treatment of periodontitis and peri-implantitis-are other features of this chapter. At the end, we discuss the importance of the global perspective and the vision of the World Association for Laser Therapy (WALT), which provides therapeutic protocols for the use of photobiomodulation in dentistry.