Lasers have revolutionized the medical world, especially dentistry. Conventional dental instruments, such as drills and tools, have been replaced by lasers; and they have changed how some dental procedures are carried out.
The word laser is an acronym for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. Lasers are technically advanced instruments that use high-intensity light beams, to amend or take out the hard and soft tissues from the oral cavities. These days laser-assisted root canal treatment is preferred over traditional methods because they allow dentists and endodontists easy access to the pulp chambers of infected or damaged teeth. They can remove infected tissues from the root canal, and effectively sterilize the area, with much ease. The root canals can even be shaped with the help of lasers.
Root canal treatment is a dental procedure used for treating infected and abscessed teeth. The treatment is effective in saving diseased teeth and does away with the need for dental bridges or dental implants. Root canal procedure does not usually require hospitalization; patients are administered local anesthesia to numb the region for treatment. The method involves the removal of nerves and blood supply to the infected tooth. The damaged tissue is then removed from the tooth cavity and canal, and the area is cleaned and sterilized, so further infection does not set in. Even though the whole method appears to be dreadfully painful, it is not the case.
Laser-assisted tools used in dentistry, produce non-thermal photoacoustic shock waves. Specifically, two laser wavelengths are used, namely, erbium YAG laser (erbium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet laser) and Nd: YAG (neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet; Nd: Y3Al5O12) or Diode.
Erbium YAG laser produces shockwaves in the cleaning solutions, while Nd: YAG offers a better bactericidal reaction. These two technologies applied together help clean the root and accessory canals, and eliminate the smear layer, consisting of debris made up of microbes and infection. Proper removal of debris is essential, to prevent complications and future diseases.
When parallels are drawn between the advantages of laser and traditional root canal preparation, it is observed that sterilization of root canals using a laser to be more effective. However, this is not the only advantage of laser-assisted root canal treatment. The are several other reasons for preferring laser-assisted root canal treatment over traditional methods using drills.
Laser-assisted dental tools are capable of taking out infected tissues and bacteria, from diseased and infected teeth, with greater accuracy. According to studies, the use of a laser to neutralize and remove harmful microorganisms lodged in the root canal system has a greater success rate, making it a safer treatment.
Laser equipment does not make frightening drilling noises associated with conventional dental tools. They are less scary and help put the patient at ease.
Laser-assisted root canal treatment is less invasive, and more accurate, thereby drastically reducing the post-treatment pain and discomfort. Bleeding during treatment is lesser than when conventional methods are used, and the healing is much faster.
Laser activated irrigation in endodontics shows better results as opposed to traditional irrigation techniques adopted for root canal therapies.