Introductory Course Introductory courses are intended to be educational, informational and primarily didactic. This level of education is intended for anyone interested in lasers in dentistry. I. Introduction A. Self-graded pre-test (optional) II. Fundamentals of lasers A. Production of laser light Emission mode 1. Quantum theory Continuous wave 2. Stimulated emission Chopped or gated Electromagnetic spectrum Pulsed Regions and boundaries Ultraviolet (1 – 400 nm) Summary of laser effects on tissue Visible (400 – 750 nm) Reflection, scattering, transmission, Infrared (750+ nm) absorption 2. Laser wavelengths Photothermal effects C. Characteristics of laser light Warming 1. Spatial and temporal Coagulation, tissue shrinkage, coherency hemostasis Monochromaticity Vaporization, ablation Collimation Carbonization Laser requirements, delivery systems and Photoacoustic effect emission modes Disruption Laser cavity Photochemical effects Active medium Stimulation of chemical Pumping mechanism reactions Optical resonator Breaking of molecular bonds Delivery systems Fluorescence fixed lens and mirror Biostimulation articulated arm a. Photodynamic therapy Waveguide Optical fiber Review of types of lasers, delivery systems, special device characteristics, and clinical applications in dentistry Laser types B. Device Argon laser characteristics 2. CO2 laser Wavelength 3. Diode lasers Beam diameter (spot size) 4. Erbium lasers Power 5. Holmium laser Energy density 6. Neodymium lasers Repetition rate (if applicable) 7. Other lasers Exposure duration Total energy C. Clinical applications Intraoral soft tissue surgery Tooth shade lightening Treatment of apththous ulcers Caries removal Sulcular debridement (soft tissue curettage) Cavity preparation Composite curing
Introductory Course Introductory courses are intended to be educational, informational and primarily didactic. This level of education is intended for anyone interested in lasers in dentistry. I. Introduction A. Self-graded pre-test (optional) II. Fundamentals of lasers A. Production of laser light 1. Quantum theory 2. Stimulated emission Electromagnetic spectrum Regions and boundaries Ultraviolet (1 – 400 nm) Visible (400 – 750 nm) Infrared (750+ nm) 2. Laser wavelengths C. Characteristics of laser light 1. Spatial and temporal coherency Monochromaticity Collimation Laser requirements, delivery systems and emission modes Laser cavity Active medium Pumping mechanism Optical resonator Delivery systems fixed lens and mirror articulated arm Waveguide Optical fiber Emission mode Continuous wave Chopped or gated Pulsed Summary of laser effects on tissue Reflection, scattering, transmission, absorption Photothermal effects Warming Coagulation, tissue shrinkage, hemostasis Vaporization, ablation Carbonization Photoacoustic effect Disruption Photochemical effects Stimulation of chemical reactions Breaking of molecular bonds Fluorescence Biostimulation a. Photodynamic therapy Review of types of lasers, delivery systems, special device characteristics, and clinical applications in dentistry Laser types Argon laser 2. CO2 laser 3. Diode lasers 4. Erbium lasers 5. Holmium laser 6. Neodymium lasers 7. Other lasers B. Device characteristics Wavelength Beam diameter (spot size) Power Energy density Repetition rate (if applicable) Exposure duration Total energy C. Clinical applications Intraoral soft tissue surgery Treatment of apththous ulcers Sulcular debridement (soft tissue curettage) Composite curing Tooth shade lightening Caries removal Cavity preparation