laser international No. 4, 2013

Cover / Editorial / Content / Laser therapy in dentistry / Er - Cr:YSGG laser and radial firing tips in highly compromised endodontic scenarios / Er:YAG laser in the bonding and debonding steps of orthodontic treatment / The efficacy of combined low intensity laser therapy and medication on xerostomia / Acombined device for optimal soft tissue applications in laser dentistry / Lasers in aesthetic dentistry / Gain power at your laser clinics! / The right to be pain free / Manufacturer News / Biolase could become the next Intuitive Surgical / Dentures produced using 3-D printing versus casting and milling / Meetings / News / Imprint

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issn 2193-4665

Vol. 5 • Issue 4/2013

laser

international magazine of

laser dentistry

4

2013

| research
Er,Cr:YSGG laser and radial firing tips in
highly compromised endodontic scenarios

| case report
The efficacy of combined low intensity
laser therapy and medication on xerostomia

| industry report
Lasers in aesthetic dentistry

[2] =>

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[3] =>

editorial

DGL and its role
in evidence-based
dentistry

Prof. Dr Norbert Gutknecht
Editor-in-Chief

Dear colleagues,
In order to fulfill its claim to be a scientific-oriented, science-based dental society, the German Society for Laser Dentistry has chosen the motto “Evidence-based Dentistry” for this year’s
annual congress. It is undisputable that laser application has not met the qualitative demands
of evidence-based dentistry for many years. Instead, laser dentistry has developed from therapeutically useful and successful applications. In spite of this, already since it was founded, DGL
has always aimed at supporting scientific-based laser applications in dentistry. This objective,
the associated efforts and gradual successes have finally led to DGL being fully integrated within
the German Society of Dental, Oral and Craniomandibular Sciences (DGZMK) which is the scientific umbrella organization of all dental societies.
DGZMK can thus be trend-setting for all societies of laser dentistry which want to gain support and recognition by the established dental societies of their countries.
Last year, DGL supported in an exemplary way the scientific work of colleagues who have been
busy revising investigations in evidence-based dentistry which were conducted in 2006. Therefore, this year’s congress features scientifically established national and international speakers,
who will provide both DGL members and visitors of the congress with the state-of-the-art of evidence-based laser applications in dentistry.
With this in mind, I wish the German Society for Laser Dentistry all the best for their upcoming annual congress.
Kind regards,

Prof. Dr Norbert Gutknecht

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I content

page 16

page 22

I editorial

I health

03

36

DGL and its role in evidence-based dentistry
| Prof. Dr Norbert Gutknecht

page 24

The right to be pain free
| Dr Michael Sultan

I research

I interview

06

40

Biolase could become the next Intuitive Surgical

42

Dentures produced using 3-D printing versus casting and
milling

Laser therapy in dentistry
| Dr Kirpa Johar

10

Er,Cr:YSGG laser and radial firing tips in highly
compromised endodontic scenarios
| Miguel Rodrigues Martins et al.

16

Er:YAG laser in the bonding and debonding steps
of orthodontic treatment

I meetings
46

| Prof. Carlo Fornaini

47

| Prof. Carlo Fornaini

Jean-Paul Rocca new President of IPTA
International events 2013 & 2014

I case report

I news

22

38

Manufacturer News

48

News

The efficacy of combined low intensity laser therapy and
medication on xerostomia
| Dr Sawanya Taboran et al.

I about the publisher

I industry report
24

A combined device for optimal soft tissue applications in
laser dentistry

50

| imprint

| Hans J. Koort et al.

30

Lasers in aesthetic dentistry
| Dr Ilay Maden et al.

I economy
34

Gain power at your laser clinics!

Cover image courtesy of Fotona,
www.fotona.com

| Dr Anna Maria Yiannikos

page 36

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page 40

page 46

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I research

Laser therapy
in dentistry
Author_Dr Kirpa Johar, India

[PICTURE: ©PIXEL EMBARGO]

_Introduction
The Therapeutic laser is a new tool which can be a
boon to the dental practice. Laser Therapy is also
known as Photo-Biomodulation. It is based on the
concept that certain low level doses of specific coherent wavelengths can turn on or turn off certain cellular components or functions. Administering laser
therapy to patients helps in healing, reducing pain,
swelling and controlling oral infections.

x the number of seconds of irradiation. High power
surgical lasers can be defocused and arranged to give
energy densities of the same values as the former.
Thus, a therapeutic laser could be defined as a laser
using energy densities below the threshold where irreversible changes in cells occur.

_Mechanism of action

The wavelengths used for Laser Therapy have poor
absorption in water and thus penetrate soft and hard
tissues from 3 mm up to 15 mm. Therapeutic lasers
generally operate in the visible and the infrared spectrum, 600–900 nm wavelength. The energy used is indicated in Joule (J), which is the number of milliwatts

The principle of using laser therapy is to supply direct biostimulative light energy to the body’s cells.
Cellular photoreceptors can absorb low-level laser
light and pass it on to mitochondria, which promptly
produce the cell’s fuel, ATP. The most beneficial effect
of laser therapy is wound healing. Studies have shown
the evidence of accumulated collagen fibrils and electron dense vesicles intracytoplasmatically within the

Fig. 1

Fig. 2a

Fig. 2b

Fig. 2c

Fig. 1_Bio stimulation headpiece
used for Intra-Oral therapy.
Fig. 2_Preoperative (a), laserassisted biostimulation (b), after
three days (c), after one week (d).

06 I laser
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[7] =>

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[8] =>

I research
laser stimulated fibroblasts as compared with untreated areas. Increased microcirculation can be observed with the increased redness around the wound
area.
The analgesic effects can be understood with some
evidence suggesting that laser therapy may have significant neuropharmalogic effects on the synthesis,
release and metabolism of a range of neurochemicals,
including serotonin and acetylcholine at the central
level and histamine and prostaglandin at the peripheral level.

_Common indications for laser therapy
in dentistry
Alveolitis
Laser phototherapy (LPT) directly after extraction
helps to prevent alveolitis. If it is already established,
4–5 J before and after the alveolus is debrided and
plugged with medication is recommended. Irradiate
the alveolus and its surrounding area directly. If the
alveolitis is very painful, then 15–20J can be used.
Anaesthetics
Some patients are difficult to anaesthetize. By administering 2–3 J over the apex, circulation is increased and the anaesthetic is more quickly absorbed.
This also means that the duration is reduced. The duration of numbness in the lip after anaesthesia can
therefore be reduced by LPT. This can be advantageous
in paediatrics.

Pulpal analgesia
In selected patients, using the 660-nm laser probe
can achieve adequate pulpal analgesia. Successful
analgesia may allow a dentist to use a high speed drill
to prepare a class II restoration without the need for
any local anaesthesia.
Treatment consists of placing the laser probe on the
occlusal surface of a primary molar for one to two minutes. In permanent teeth, placing the probe for one
minute next to gingival tissue over the roots of the
treated tooth also contributes to successful analgesia.
Trauma
Trauma to a primary anterior tooth may compromise the tooth’s vitality and result in requiring either
a pulpotomy or extraction in a four- to six-week
period.
A tooth or teeth which have been significantly displaced may respond positively if treatment is begun
within a few hours of trauma. Treatment consists of
placing the laser over the injured tooth for a period of
one minute on the facial root area and one minute on
the lingual or palatal root area. An additional treatment in 24 to 36 hours may improve the chance of
successfully healing the tooth.

Bleeding
A laser is useful in the treatment of postoperative
bleeding. Although the mechanism is unclear, literature shows that LPT brings about initial vasoconstriction that is followed by vasodilatation.

Healing of soft tissue trauma
Patients who fall and receive facial lacerations and
swelling benefit from placing the laser/light-emitting
diode (LED) unit over the area for approximately three
minutes and placing the 660-nm or 808-nm probe
over the most injured area for one to two minutes,
helping to heal the lesions more quickly and with less
post trauma discomfort. Additional treatment 24 to
36 hours later may be needed to reduce the discomfort and improve healing.

Fig. 2d

Fig. 3a

Fig. 3b

Fig. 3c

Fig. 3_Laser-assited
haemostasis (a), after first session of
laser therapy (b), after one week (c),
immediately after extraction (d).

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research

Fig. 4_Extraoral biostimulation (TMJ)
– with high power laser therapy (a),
extraoral biostimulation (TMJ) – with
a biostimulation hand piece (b).

Fig. 4a

Fig. 4b

Post extraction and bone healing therapy
It is useful to irradiate the area before and after an
extraction. Irradiating before the extraction with 1 J
at the injection site and 2 J right below the apices induces a transient but useful effect. After extraction,
an additional 2 J/cm2 on the alveolar and gingival tissues is needed to control the swelling and inflammation. Less postoperative pain and better healing can be
expected.

matory effect slows or stops the deterioration of periodontal tissues and reduces the swelling to facilitate the
hygiene in conjunction with scaling, root planning,
curettage or surgical treatment. As a result, there is an
accelerated healing and less post operative discomfort.

Apthous ulcer
Laser therapy for the treatment of apthae can be
recommended for its pain relieving effect and the
shortened healing time. The treatment dosage is the
same for herpes and apthae; 2 J/cm2 applied near contact. This is repeated the following day.
Mucositis
Patients undergoing radiation therapy or chemotherapy develop mucositis. Mucositis is painful and
may force the oncologist to reduce the dosage or number of sessions. Red laser light has been shown to reduce the severity of mucositis and can be used prophylactically before radiation.
Trigeminal neuralgia
Laser phototherapy has been documented to have
a pain relieving effect on trigeminal neuralgia. Studies
have shown that patients treated with low level therapy are more likely to be relieved of pain by the end of
the first year.
Tempromandibular joint dysfunction
Problems in the tempromandibular joint region are
quite suitable for laser therapy. For arthritic cases, the
treatment is concentrated to the joint area, in myogenic cases the muscular insertions and trigger points
are treated. Laser therapy should always be used in
combination with conventional treatment but will improve the outcome of the treatment. Tempromandibular joint-pain biostimulation of the TMJ and
masseter muscles is effective for pain relief, especially
in situations of acute locking.
Periodontitis
The use of laser therapy helps to control the symptoms and conditions of periodontitis. The anti-inflam-

_Laser therapy
in medically compromised patients
Pacemaker
As pacemakers are electronic and cased in metal
they are not influenced by light. Hence, low level laser
therapy on patients with pacemakers should not be
considered a total contraindication.
Cancer
Laser phototherapy can provide palliative treatment to cancer patients. LPT is a viable option for pain
control and general stimulation in these patients.
Epilepsy
Pulsed visible light, particularly at pulse frequencies in the 5–10 Hz range can cause epileptic attacks,
one should obviously be careful with instruments that
use flashing visible light. However, it is rare for therapeutic lasers to have pulsing visible light.

_Conclusion
LPT has been found to accelerate wound healing
and reduce pain, by stimulating oxidative phosphorylation in mitochondria and modulating inflammatory
responses. The enhanced cell metabolic functions seen
after laser therapy are the result of activation of photoreceptors within the electron transport chain of mitochondria. Because of the many advantages laser
therapy provides, it is gaining momentum as an irreplaceable treatment modality in modern dental practice._

_contact

laser

Dr Kirpa Johar
Director Laser Dentistry Research And Review
Bangalore, India
www.ldrr.org

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I research

Er,Cr:YSGG laser and radial
firing tips in highly compromised endodontic scenarios
Authors_Miguel Rodrigues Martins, Manuel Fontes Carvalho, Irene Pina-Vaz, José Capelas,
Miguel André Martins, Portugal & Norbert Gutknecht, Germany

_Introduction
As bacterial contamination is considered the primal
etiologic factor for the development of pulpal and periapical lesions, to obtain the root canal system free of
irritants has been showing to be the primordial endodontic therapy goal.1-3
The idea that an absence of cultivable microbes at the
time of obturation will favor healing is consistent with
the notion that microorganisms are the primary cause
of persistent apical periodontitis.4 Accordingly, other investigators have suggested that the presence of microbes at the time of root filling will adversely affect the
outcomes.5-7 The bactericidal effects of conventional irrigation strategies during and after root canal preparation with solutions such sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl)
have been studied by numerous investigators, the ideal
concentration and temperature of NaOCl in root canal
therapy remains as controversy and topic of debate
within endodontists.8-11
In fact, it is known that the bactericidal effectiveness of NaOCl is limited to a depth of 100 µm. However, heavy E. faecalis infection was found 800 µm
deep into the canal lumen and other bacterial propagation into the dentinal tubules may reach up to
1.100 µm in depth.12,13

During canal enlargement proceedings, a smear
layer is mechanically produced, covering the instrumented walls of the main root canal. Together with the
possibility that the smear layer itself may be infected, it
can also protect the bacteria harbored in the dentinal
tubules by reducing root dentin permeability from 25%
to 49 %.14 Hence, it is generally accepted that the complete removal of the smear layer would be consistent
with the elimination of irritants from the root canal system.15
Whether adequate microbial control can be obtained in one appointment is an ongoing source of controversy. Although there are multiple scientific arguments to prefer multiple appointments in root canal
therapy of infected teeth with apical periodontitis, clinical research to date has been equivocal.16,17 Although
calcium hydroxide paste is one of the most commonly
used intracanal medications for multiple appointment
root canal therapy, it’s effectiveness against several microorganisms commonly associated with persistent
apical periodontitis remains questionable.18,19
Though, newer treatment strategies designed to
eliminate microorganisms from the root canal system
should be considered in order to penetrate the dentinal
tubules and destroy the microorganisms beyond the
host defense mechanisms. Alternative possibilities such

Figs. 1 & 2_Initial clinical aspect and
X-ray of the tooth 1.6 with an active
fistula.
Figs. 3 & 4_Initial panoramic view.

Fig. 1

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Fig. 2

Fig. 3

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research

Fig. 4

Fig. 5

Fig. 6

Fig. 7

Fig. 8

Fig. 9

as ozone treatment, ultrasonic and laser-assisted treatments are being suggested as suitable methods to
achieve endodontic disinfection, possibly overcoming
the limitations of commonly used chemical solutions as
well as any hazardous effects.20-23
The goals for the adjunctive application of erbium
lasers in root canal therapy are: the ability of infrared
light to interact with water and efficiently remove the
smear layer and debris from the root canal walls, together with the ability of light to propagate into the
dentinal tubules further than any chemical solution,
providing deep disinfection.24
The goal of Er,Cr:YSGG laser-assisted endodontic
treatment (LAET) is to provide successful long-term
outcomes, namely in cases of persistent infections or
per-operative obstacles (e.g. isthmus, recurrent canals,
internal resorptions, root canal perforations, or wide
apical constrictions) which are often associated to either lower or compromised clinical expectations.

_Chronic apical periodontitis
and apical cysts
Following the formation of a periapical inflammatory lesion secondary to pulpal necrosis, chronic apical
periodontitis (granuloma) is considered the next step in
the progression of these inflammatory events showing
the replacement of adjacent tissue by inflammatory
cells, typically containing fibrous tissue and cholesterol
crystals.25
Over time, due to inflammatory stimulation and proliferation of the epithelial rests of Malassez, an inflammatory cyst can develop around the root apex and

through the bone. If the lumen of the cyst is continuous
with the infection source at the pulpal entry, it may not
be a self-sustained (“pocket” cyst); this will heal following infection source elimination. On the other hand, if
the cyst is completely encased by epithelium and removed from the source of infection, it may be a self-sustained (“true” cyst) and become refractory to treatment
except by surgical excision.26

Figs. 5–7_Initial CT scan.
Figs. 8 & 9_Initial CT scan with
three-dimensional reconstruction
showing bone fenestration and sinus
tract.

Cysts mostly appear as round or pear-shaped,
unilocular, radiolucent lesions in the periapical region.
They are usually classified when they become bigger
than 1 cm in diameter, being bordered by a thin rim of
cortical bone. Cysts may displace adjacent teeth or
cause mild root resorption.27
The differentiation between radicular cysts and
granulomas is difficult or impossible by traditional radiographic techniques, even if several radiographic features have been proposed to make this distinction. These
may include the lesion size and the presence of a radiopaque rim lining the cystic lesion. While the probability of a lesion being a cyst may increase with its size, a
reliable diagnosis still remains based on histology.28, 29
Although being very prevalent, the location of periapical lesions in the oral cavity was found quite similar
in different populations. The majority is found in the anterior maxilla (46,5–47,3 %) followed by the posterior
maxilla (20,7–28,7 %), posterior mandible (15,3–
18,3%), and anterior mandible (8,7–14,3%).30,31
The stages in development and healing of chronic
apical periodontitis, granulomas and cysts are, depending on several circumstances, reflected by changes in
the radiographic appearance of periapical areas. Gener-

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Fig. 10

Fig. 12

Fig. 11

Fig. 10_Intermediate panoramic
view, after gutta-percha removal.
Fig. 11_Final X-ray.
Fig. 12_Ten months follow-up.
Figs. 13 & 14_Two years follow-up.

Fig. 13

ally, the prognosis for complete healing of endodontically treated teeth with diagnosis of apical periodontitis is approximately 10 %–15 % lower than teeth without apical periodontitis.32,33 Thus, if with ideal conditions
for root canal therapy the success rate can reach over
90 %, for teeth with periapical radiolucencies, the success rate can decrease to 80 %.34 So, it may be considered that the real challenge for endodontists is to
achieve the disinfection of the complete root canal system in teeth associated with chronic apical periodontitis.

_The role of Er,Cr:YSGG laser
in endodontics
The rapid development of laser technology as well as
a better understanding of laser interaction with biological tissues has broadened the spectrum of possible laser
applications in endodontics. The development of new
delivery systems, including thin and flexible fibers as
well as newly designed endodontic tips, has enabled the
use of this technology in almost all range of endodontic procedures.
According to the wavelength and tip configuration,
they are applied to disinfect strongly curved root canals
and those susceptible to small enlargement. Due to either absorption or transmission properties in dentin,
laser energy was found to be still effective in deep dentine layers adjacent to the canal lumen as well as in
periapical regions.35,36
Figs. 15 & 16_Two years follow-up
CT scan.

Fig. 15

Generally, lasers may be especially recommended in
the following situations: teeth with purulent pulpitis or

Fig. 16

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4_ 2013

Fig. 14

pulp necrosis, periapical lesions, abscesses, lateral
canals, reabsorption of the apex caused by inflammation or trauma and for teeth retreatments with low
prognosis of success.
The Er,Cr:YSGG laser shows high absorption coefficients in hydroxyapatite and water so that germ reduction would theoretically take place predominantly in the
main canal(s). However, apart from being useful to remove organic tissue and smear layer through cavitational effects, researchers reported that dentinal
tubules may act as light optical conductors and therefore erbium lasers could still be considered effective for
root canal disinfection up to a depth of 500 µm.35
Although in vitroinvestigations may support the use
of Er,Cr:YSGG laser in endodontics, few clinical trials
have been reported regarding the potential benefits and
long-term outcomes after such treatments.24

_Radial firing tips
Up to now, endodontic fibers have bare tips so the
energy is transmitted forward with a relatively small divergence. This limitation required the clinician to move
the fiber in a withdrawing and rotating action in order
to attempt a uniform coverage of the root canal walls.
Thus, with bare fibers, it was found almost impossible to
obtain uniform coverage of the canal surface along with
reproducible results.37
The direct emission of the laser from the tip of the optical fiber near the root end may also result in the transmission of the irradiation beyond the apical foramen
leading to undesirable effects on either teeth in close
proximity to the mental foramen or the mandibular
nerve.38 Most lasers have then commonly reported disadvantages: (1) most of the laser energy is directed only
in the axial direction, and little energy can be obtained
perpendicular to the fiber; and (2) many wavelengths
cannot eliminate the smear layer and the bacteria in the
root canal wall, making the use of lasers less applicable.
To overcome concerns related to the energy emission in axial direction and not towards the canal wall, the
unique emission profile obtained for the Er,Cr:YSGG

[13] =>

research

laser radial firing tips (RFT) played a significant role in increasing the efficiency of laser delivery for endodontic
application. Not only does the beam expansion by the
tip geometry reduce emissions in the forward direction,
but it favours homogeneous energy distribution along
the root canal wall.39, 30

dodontic therapy using RFTs without the aid of any
chemical substances.24 This clinical case study aims to
represent an interesting proof of concept for the benefits of using radial firing tips in highly compromised
teeth with apical pathology.

_Clinical case
The debriding action of a laser in endodontics has
shown to be better when delivered through conical
fibers than with bare fibers as the divergent laser energy
will interact with the canal walls, causing direct and indirect ablation through photomechanical effects. In
fact, erbium lasers have been demonstrating to induce
shock waves in aqueous solutions inside root canals
and radial firing tips positively influence their configuration. Hence, through the activation of aqueous solutions (e.g. water, EDTA) the Er,Cr:YSGG laser induces
primary and secondary cavitation effects, useful for
debris and smear layer removal.41-44
However, the best results in terms of thorough
root canal disinfection with the Er,Cr:YSGG laser are
achieved while operating in dry conditions, relying on
the fact that—without water inside the main root
canal—the ability of such wavelength to penetrate
into the dentinal tubules is increased.35, 40 Today, limited literature addresses the clinical outcome of en-

A female patient (S.F.), 33 years old, presented a
history of recurrent sinusitis and multiple antibiotic
administrations. A previous endodontic treatment
was performed within the past two years. At this time,
she was referred by her dentist to an oral surgeon for
cyst ablation and tooth extraction under general
anaesthesia. An active fistula on the apical-buccal
area of the tooth 1.6 was detected; vertical percussion
was also found positive (Fig. 1). A non-surgical laserassisted endodontic retreatment was proposed prior
to surgery for cyst ablation. A written informed consent was previously signed. The endodontic retreatment was performed in two appointments according
to the protocol described in Martins et al.24 During the
first appointment, initial carious excavation was performed and the resin filling was removed. Rubber dam
isolation was obtained and the access cavity prepared.
The working length (WL) was electronically established as 1 mm short of the biological apex of the root.
AD

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I research

Fig. 17

Fig. 18

Figs. 17 & 18_Two years follow-up
CT scan with three-dimensional
reconstruction.
Fig. 19_Two years follow-up clinical
aspect.

Desobturation and root canal preparation were performed with both ProTaper® retreatment and treatment files respectively (DENTSPLY Maillefer, Switzerland). Both Mesio-Buccal and Disto-Buccal canals were
prepared up to a #F3 file, while the palatal canal was prepared up to an #F4 file. Irrigation was performed with
2.0ml of saline solution between files. After root canal
enlargement, the main canals were filled with distilled
water and laser irradiation was performed with the
2,780 nm Er,Cr:YSGG laser (Waterlase MD; Biolase Technology, Inc, San Clement, CA) and a 270µm in diameter
radial firing tip (RFT2 Endolase, Biolase Technology, Inc;
calibration factor of 0.55) with panel settings of 0.75 W,
20 Hz (37,5 mJ), 140 µs pulse, 0% water and air. The tip
was placed at the working length and irradiation was
performed approximately at the speed of 2 mms-1 until
the most coronal part of each canal was reached.
The irradiation procedure was repeated four times
(two with the canal filled with distilled water and two in
dry conditions), resting approximately 15 seconds between each irradiation. This protocol was described by
Martins et al.2 Finishing the first appointment, a sterile
cotton pellet was placed in the pulp chamber, and the
access cavity was sealed with a reinforced zinc-oxide
eugenol intermediate restorative material (IRM—intermediate restorative material, DENTSPLY). On the second
appointment, which took place 15 days after the first
visit, the patient was inquired for symptoms history
such as pain, sensitivity to percussion, or swelling. As
none of these clinical conditions were registered, apical
patency was confirmed, the main canals were filled with
distilled water and laser irradiation was now performed
with a 320 µm radial firing tip (RFT3 Endolase, Biolase
Technology, Inc; calibration factor of 0.85) with panel
settings of 1.25 W, 20 Hz (62.5 mJ), 140 µs pulse, 0 % water and air. The irradiation protocol was identical to the
first appointment.
After irradiation, canals were irrigated with 5.0ml of
saline solution during approximately 1 minute of final
rinsing and dried with sterile paper points, checking for
the absence of any suppuration or exudate. Root canals
were filled with a single gutta-percha tapered cone
technique, a resin-based sealer (TopSeal, DENTSPLY)
and vertical compaction.

14 I laser
4_ 2013

Fig. 19

_Discussion and conclusion
To adopt a single wavelength treatment protocol
that more reliably renders root canals free of smear
layer and bacteria before filling seems interesting.
This could be an additional clinical evidence to suggest that the Er,Cr:YSGG laser with radial firing tips
could be a valuable strategy to (1) remove smear layer
in wet conditions and (2) achieve deep disinfection in
dry conditions, within the same protocol.
While clinical as well as radiographic data can be
used to access treatment outcomes, the relative absence of clinical symptoms in CAP makes the assessment primarily a radiographic one. As a consequence,
in endodontic controlled clinical studies, data generated by radiographic means are often used.45 Furthermore, this clinical report has shown that, presumably,
even apical cysts could be successfully treated by endodontic means, by using a 2,780 nm wavelength and
radial firing tips. The Er,Cr:YSGG laser should be considered a predictable tool to assist endodontic treatments overcoming possible limitations commonly
associated to conventional strategies. However, few
clinical trials and single-reports have been reported.
This clinical case should stimulate either researchers
to conduct additional blind randomised trials or clinicians to report their clinical findings in order to provide an evidence-based concept for the use of radial
firing tips in endodontics._
Editorial note: A list of references is available from the
publisher.

_contact

laser

Miguel Rodrigues Martins
DDS, MSc
Endodontic Department, Faculty of Dental
Medicine, Universidade do Porto – Portugal
Rua Dr. Manuel Pereira da Silva, 4200-393 Porto
PORTUGAL
Tel.: +351 914610046
miguel.ar.martins@gmail.com

[15] =>

ISTANBUL WELCOMES DENTAL PROFESSIONALS
22 International Speakers
Lectures on implantology, oral surgery, aesthetics, endodontics, laser dentistry
Workshop / Live demonstations
Hands-on courses
Visit free exhibition area on 2.500 sqm
Enjoy open buffet lunch from the chef masters
Online congress booking is available at
dentalistanbul.com
To book your booth please contact derya.arslan@vyg.com.tr

[16] =>

I research

Er:YAG laser in the
bonding and debonding steps
of orthodontic treatment
Author_Prof. Carlo Fornaini, Italy

Fig. 1_Non-treated enamel.
Fig. 2_Acid-treated enamel.
Fig. 3_Laser-treated enamel.
Fig. 4_Before the irradiation: the
center is marked on each tooth.
Fig. 5_The screen positioned on the
tooth.
Fig. 6_Irradiation of the tooth.

_Introduction

_Enamel preparation

The Er:YAG laser was first proposed in 1990 by
Hibst and Keller to ablate hard dental tissues. Today
it is employed in conservative dentistry as an alternative to rotating instruments.1, 2 A study based on
patient questionnaires demonstrated that, in term
of satisfaction, Er:YAG dental treatment represents
an effective technique that may improve patient
cooperation and diminish fears associated with the
dental office, particularly in pediatric patients.3 This
is also a reason to suggest its application in the field
of orthodontics, where cooperation and good relationships between the patient and operator are
strictly necessary for full success of a treatment. In
this paper we describe the utilisation of the Er:YAG
laser in the bonding and debonding steps of orthodontic treatments.

Proper conditioning of the enamel surface is
necessary for the bonding of orthodontic attachments to teeth. In orthodontics, as in other fields
of dentistry, the most common method of enamel
preparation is acid phosphoric etching. The acid
etching process prepares the surface by selective
removal of inter-prismatic mineral structure,
while organic materials are less affected.
The resultant rough and micro-fissured surface
is very useful for the retention of adhesive resins,
but these structures are also more vulnerable to
caries formation. Acid etching removes and demineralises the most superficial and protective
layer of enamel and makes the teeth more susceptible to long-term acid attack, especially when

Fig. 1

Fig. 2

Fig. 3

Fig. 4

Fig. 5

Fig. 6

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4_ 2013

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[18] =>

I research

Fig. 7

Fig. 8

Fig. 9

Fig. 10

Fig. 11

Fig. 12

Fig. 7_Bonding procedure
completed.
Fig. 8_The thermo-formed tray
inserted into the model.
Fig. 9_Thermo-formed tray with
holes for laser irradiation.
Fig. 10_Laser irradiation.
Fig. 11_Bonding procedure
completed.
Fig, 12_X-Runner, Fotona.

Table 1_Values (in MPa) of the force
necessary to detach the brackets.

resin monomers cannot sufficiently fill the demineralised area due to saliva contamination or air
bubbles.4 Since the prevalence of white spot lesions is very high among orthodontic patients, the
prevention of enamel demineralisation is of great
importance in orthodontics.5
There has been extensive research to find an alternative conditioning method to overcome the
main disadvantage of phosphoric acid etching, i.e.
the potential for producing decalcification. Some
researchers have worked on conditioning enamel
with poly-acrylic acid or pre-treatment of the
enamel surface with a sandblast of aluminium ox-

ide to reduce the rate of enamel loss during etching,6, 7 however, these methods failed to achieve
adequate bond strength to resist intraoral forces.8

_Laser in orthodontics
Er:YAG laser preparation has become one effective alternative to acid etching of enamel. Laser
etching is painless and does not involve either vibration or heat; also, the easy handling of the apparatus makes this treatment highly attractive for
routine clinical use.9
The employment of a laser with orthophosphoric acid etching to enhance the strength adhesion of composite resins has been proposed by several authors in conservative dentistry, as well as for
bracket bonding in orthodontics.10 An in vitro study
at our university11 on 36 human extracted molars,
divided into three groups on the basis of enamel
conditioning (acid only, laser only and laser plus
acid) and analysed by traction tests by measuring
the force necessary to detach the brackets, gave
the results reported below (Tab.1 and 2).
Recently, another interesting in vitro study,12
based on strength analysis by traction test and morphological analysis by SEM and Atomic Force Microscope, showed the same effects with Er:YAG irradiation alone as with acid etching. This was obtained by
using the so-called “QSP” mode (Fotona, Ljubljana,
Slovenia) in which each pulse is split into several
shorter pulses that follow each other at an optimally
fast rate. In this way, a specific surface roughness is
achieved, representing a real alternative to acid etching. Microscopic observation of the samples ob-

18 I laser
4_ 2013

[19] =>

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2013// BERLIN,
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[20] =>

I research
surface of enamel, exactly of the same dimension of
the bracket, in line with the concept of modern “minimally invasive dentistry”.
The first method20 consisted of the use of a
ceramic screen with a central window; the disadvantage consisted of the necessity to move the
screen from one tooth to another for irradiation, after first marking the centre of each with a pencil
(Figs. 4–7).
Parameters:

Laser source: Er:YAG, 2940 nm
(Fidelis Plus III, Fotona)
Pulse duration: MSP
Energy:
80 mJ defocused
Frequency:
18 Hz
Handpiece:
R02, 4/6 water/air spray

Table 2_Comparison of the three
samples groups.

tained by the first study (University of Parma)
(Figs. 1–3) demonstrated that the enamel laser irradiation creates micro-fissures that are ideal for resin
penetration.13
The surface produced by laser irradiation is also
acid resistant. Laser irradiation of the enamel modifies the calcium-phosphate ratio and leads to the
formation of more stable and less acid-soluble compounds, thus reducing the susceptibility to caries attack.14, 15
Because water spraying and air drying are not
needed with laser etching, time can be saved.16, 17
From a clinical standpoint, saving chair time also improves adhesion because it reduces the risk of salivary contamination.

Fig. 13_Irradiation of the central
incisor.
Fig. 14_Irradiation of the premolars.
Fig. 15_Bonding procedure
completed.

Fig. 13

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4_ 2013

Moreover, other authors have underscored the
result by using lasers to prepare the enamel surface
to make it more resistant to decay18 due to the modification of the hydroxyapatite crystals. Additionally,
it is very important in the prevention of decalcification zones around the brackets, particularly in patients with scanty oral hygiene.19
In recent years, several techniques have been proposed with the same goal: to prepare a very small

Fig. 14

An evolution of this technique was performed
with the introduction of thermo-formed individual
trays,21 which, after placement into the mouth, allowed for the irradiation of all the teeth of the arch
(Figs. 8–11).
Parameters:

Laser source: Er:YAG, 2940 nm
(Fidelis Plus III, Fotona)
Pulse duration: MSP
Energy:
80 mJ defocused
Frequency:
18 Hz
Handpiece:
R02-C, 4/6 water/air spray
With the introduction of digitally-controlled
technology in laser dentistry, which led to the realisation and commercialisation of the “X-Runner”
laser handpiece (Fotona, Ljubljana, Slovenia), the
method became significantly easier and faster, without the need to employ screens and/or trays.22 In fact,
using the laser system’s touch screen, it is very simple to program the size and dimensions required, and
then automatically irradiate an area equivalent to
the bracket surface (Figs. 12–14).

_Debonding
Enamel damage, whether in the form of enamel
fractures or cracks, detracts from the aesthetics of
the tooth and may require costly restorative treatment. It may even compromise the tooth’s integrity
by increasing the risk of eventual tooth fracture.

Fig. 15

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research

Fig. 16

When the required force for bracket removal
exceeds the cohesive strength of the enamel, fracture of the enamel surface is inevitable. With the
introduction of ceramic brackets in the mid-1980s,
the problem became more important: in fact, the
low fracture toughness of ceramics may cause
partial or complete bracket fracture during removal. This precludes reuse of the same bracket at
a corrected position and may result in eye damage,
ingestion or aspiration of bracket fragments. In
addition, removal of a bracket fragment on the
tooth may require the use of diamond burs, a
process that is time consuming and can damage
the pulp and enamel surface.23, 24
Since the early 1990s, lasers have been used experimentally for the debonding of ceramic brackets. The use of lasers eliminates problems such as
enamel tear outs, bracket failures, and pain that are
encountered during conventional ceramic bracket
removal techniques.25
Additionally, lasers have the advantage of decreasing the debonding force and operation time.
In most previous studies, carbon dioxide lasers,
whose wavelength is more easily absorbed by the
ceramic brackets, had been preferred for debonding.25 In others,26 Nd:YAG was proposed, although
with this wavelength, approximately 69–75 % of
the incident light reached the enamel surface,
which has the potential to cause pain or damage to
the tooth structure.

Fig. 17

Fig. 18

(LightWalker AT, Fotona, Ljubljana, Slovenia). It is
assumed that the vibrations produced by the
photo-mechanical effects of this wavelength play
the main role in the process of bracket detachment.
The fiber tip is placed tangentially to the crown
surface and inserted between bracket and enamel
as close to the metal bracket as possible at a 45 degree angle. This way, the laser energy is directed to
the adhesive. Ten laser pulses are delivered at each
side of the bracket. After that, the metal bracket is
removed, with a very low strength, with the help of
a spatula normally used to mix the cement. In this
way, there are no complications during the
debonding procedure and no damage to the
enamel surface. As the energy is set relatively low
in MSP mode, there is also no danger for intra-pulpal temperature rise. Patients report absolutely no
stress during the procedure (Figs. 16–18).
Parameters:

Laser source: Er:YAG, 2,940 nm
(LightWalker AT, Fotona)
Pulse duration: MSP
Energy:
80 mJ
Frequency:
10 Hz
Handpiece:
H14-C with chiseled fiber tip,
4/6 water/air spray
Editorial note: A list of references is available from the
publisher.

_contact

Oztoprak et al. preferred the Er:YAG laser since it
has a lower thermal effect than the Nd:YAG or CO2
lasers. They stated that the Er:YAG laser is effective
for reducing the shear bond strengths of orthodontic polycrystalline ceramic brackets from high values
to levels that are safe for removal from the teeth.27

Prof. Dr Carlo Fornaini
MD, DDS, MSc
Dental School, Faculty of Medicine,
University of Parma,
Via Gramsci 14
43126 Parma, Italy

All these methods described are based on thermal softening of the resin by the beam, but are active only in the case of ceramic brackets. The technique we propose may be used both on ceramic
and metallic brackets, and consists of the utilisation of a H14-C handpiece with chiselled fiber tip

Tel.: +39 0521 292759
Fax: +39 0523 986722

laser

info@fornainident.it
www.fornainident.it

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[22] =>

I case report

The efficacy of combined low
intensity laser therapy and
medication on xerostomia
Authors_Dr Sawanya Taboran & Assoc. Prof. Dr Sajee Sattayut, Thailand

_Abstract
Xerostomia causes patient suffering from the
limitation of daily life activities. Still, there has been
no definite treatment for this, particularly its variant induced by aging. This case report presents the
method of treating xerostomia using low intensity
laser therapy and medication.
Fig. 1_Dry buccal mucosa observed
in the first visit.
Fig. 2_Dried floor of the mouth
observed in the first visit.
Fig. 3_After the first episode of LILT,
still some erythematous areas in
vermillion border of the lower lip are
observed in the first visit.
Fig.4_LILT irradiating to the
vermillion border of lower lip.

lief.1 Not many patients were able to tolerate the
strange taste of artificial saliva or the side effect of
sweating from taking pilocarpine; a medication for
activating salivation. Symptomatic treatment by
using saliva substitute for moistening and lubrication of the oral mucosa was the only management
for this condition. But is there a different, the noninvasive method that could be used for treating xerostomia?

_Introduction
Xerostomia is an oral symptom of dry mouth,
which is a major complaint of many elderly individuals. It results in impaired food and beverage intake, altered taste, difficulties in eating, chewing
and swallowing, which can affect the quality of a
person’s life. Although suffering patients seek
medical help, it usually provides no adequate re-

In 2010, Kato et al. conducted a pilot study proving a significant and lasting reduction in burning
mouth symptoms from the group treated by low intensity laser therapy (LILT).2 In the same year, Vidovic
Juras et al. reported an application of LILT to xerostomia patients' major salivary glands to stimulate
salivation.3 This report presents a combined medication and LILT for treating xerostomia with satisfactory results.

_Case report
A 60-year-old woman had suffered from oral
dryness interfering with her life style daily for three
years. There had been no therapy including vitamin
supplement and more water intake to relief these
symptoms.
Fig. 2

Fig. 1

Fig. 4

Fig. 3

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4_ 2013

Past medical history
The patient suffered from anaemia due to nutritional deficiency. She was treated by taking ferrous
sulphate and folic acid. Her menopause had started
about ten years ago. She was allergic to penicillin,
pollen and adverse weather. The patient took an antihistamine agent, Zyrtec, one tablet per day.
Oral examination
Extraoral examination showed a dry and cracked
lower lip. Intraoral examination found dryness of

[23] =>

case report

Fig. 5

Fig. 6

Fig. 7

Fig. 8

the oral mucosa (Fig. 1), including the floor the of
mouth (Fig. 2), atrophic tongue and erythematous
at the vermillion border of the lower lip with biting
from the lower anterior teeth (Fig. 3).

Result: There was an increase in the whole stimulated salivary flow rate from 0.06 ml/min in the first
visit to 0.08 ml/min after the second treatment and
0.10 ml/min after the fourth treatment.

Treatments and their results
The first visit:

_Discussion

Treatment: Zyrtec was limited. The patient was
advised to sip water as necessary.
Result: Two weeks later, the patient could sense
moisture in the oral cavity and dysphagia less pronounced. Intraoral examination found a significant
amount of saliva in comparison to the last visit.
Impression: Drug-induced xerostomia.
The second to the tenth visits (one treatment session per week): Erythematous sections at the vermillion border of the lower lip were treated with low
intensity laser (Fig. 4), 820 nm, 100 mW, 2 J, 20 seconds, continuous wave for 18 points. Vitamin C and
B complexes were prescribed.
Result: The patient was more satisfied with the
result after the second treatment session with LILT.
The moist lip (Fig. 5), oral mucosa (Fig. 6) and floor of
mouth (Fig. 7) were observed. Less erythematous areas were noticed at the vermillion border of the
lower lip after the second time of treatment with
LILT. They disappeared after the tenth visit.
The sixth to eleventh visits: Low intensity laser
therapy 820 nm, 100 mW, 2 J, 20 seconds, continuous wave for 22 points in the left and right parotid
gland area (Fig. 8).

Fig. 5_After ten LILT sessions;
remarkably less erythematous areas
are observed in the vermillion border
of lower lip.
Fig. 6_Moist buccal mucosa
observed during the tenth visit.
Fig. 7_Moist floor of the mouth
observed in the tenth visit.
Fig. 8_LILT irradiation of the skin
above the parotid gland area.

The satisfying clinical outcome of treating xerostomia and atrophic mucosa caused by aging and side effects of drugs was found by using combined medications and LILT. LILT can be used to reduce burning
mouth symptoms and to stimulate major salivary
glands to produce more saliva. This can be explained
by the effect of LILT for biomodulation in terms of initiating healing mechanism and immune response.4

_Conclusion
This case report has shown that using vitamin C
and B complex supplements combined with low intensity laser therapy can improve the clinical impairment of xerostomia and can also increase saliva secretion in elderly patients._

_contact

laser

Assoc Prof. Dr Sajee Sattayut
Chairman of Lasers in Dentistry Research Group
Faculty of Dentistry
Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen City, 40002
Thailand
Tel.: +66 815442460
Fax: +66 43348153
sajee@kku.ac.th

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I industry report

A combined device for optimal soft tissue applications in
laser dentistry
Authors_Hans J. Koort, Dr Michael Hopp, Germany & Prof. Dr D. Gabrić Panduric, Croatia

_Introduction
The use of alternating electric current for bloodless interventions in the oral soft tissues has been
established for nearly a century, first in the form of
the electric knife (cauter), then later as radiofrequency devices. Laser devices were introduced in the
1980s as new, additional tools and they have
strongly gained in importance today. One particular
question often emerges: What are the similarities
between diode lasers and radiofrequency generators and what makes them different? What is their
value for dental applications?

_Similarities

Fig 1_Cutting of tissue with
radiofrequency: The tissue is
removed with only one precise,
uniform cut in the entire length of the
inserted electrode. The metal
electrode remains cold at its
frequency of 2.2 MHz.
Fig. 2_The cutting process with a
laser is a layer-by-layer removal of
superficial tissue.

Fig. 1

The laser light as well as the electric current of the
radiofrequency device make use of the spatially concentrated and very fast heating of cells in the tissue.
Thus they both are able to cut and coagulate in a precise way. Bleeding is stopped with high efficacy, allowing the surgeon a clear view of the surgical field.

_Differences
While the laser radiation is passed through an
optical fiber and emitts from the fiber tip to the tissue surface, the radiofrequency current is directed

Fig. 2

24 I laser
4_ 2013

through a metal electrode into the tissue. The main
difference: A priori, the laser fiber can not be inserted deeply into the tissue to produce a cut. The
laser radiation emitts from the front end of a fiber
and thus heats only the uppermost layer of the tissue and ablates it. Therefore, the tissue must be removed in a layer-by-layer procedure to get into the
depth.
In contrast, the metal electrode of a radiofrequency device can be inserted into the tissue in one
step in an intended depth. The radiofrequency current heats the targeted area simultaneously and
uniformly to the entire physical length of the electrode. It allows a one-step precise, stressless and almost athermic procedure with an excellent tactile
feel. The cutting speed especially in larger and
deeper areas is much faster than with a laser.
In intraoral use, the radiofrequency technology
is positively received because the local increase in
temperature is less than 60 to 80 °C. Using a laser or
an electric knife, respectively, a temperature increase of more than 400 °C must be considered.

_Useful applications
The strength of a laser lies in the treatment of superficial soft tissues, such as the removal or reshaping of thin skin layers: i.e. exposure of overgrown implants, gingiva streamlining, in periodontic treatments, in endodontics as well as in special
applications like bleaching, photodynamic therapy
(PDT) and low level laser therapy (LLLT).
A significant disadvantage, however, can be
seen in deeper surgical applications. The oral tissue
is very thin, it is delicate and has complicated structures and in addition it usually is in close proximity
to jaw bones and tooth structures. Laser radiation

[25] =>

industry report

I

Fig. 3

Fig. 4

Fig. 5

Fig. 6

Fig. 7

Fig. 8

Fig. 9

Fig. 10

Fig. 11

Fig. 12

Fig. 13

Fig. 14

Fig. 15

Fig. 16

Fig. 17

Fig. 3_Clinical appearance of the palatal fibroepithelial
polyp and inflammatory papillary hyperplasia of the
hard palate.
Fig. 4_Immediate postsurgical view.
Fig. 5_Follow up, third day after surgery.
Fig. 6_Clinical appearance of the mucocele at the lower
lip, before surgery.
Fig. 7_Surgical procedure performed using diode laser.
Fig. 8_Immediate postsurgical view.

Fig. 9_Closing of the incision lines with bipolar forceps
using radiofrequency technology.
Fig. 10_Clinical appearance of the maxillary giant cell
granuloma.
Fig. 11_Removal of giant cell granuloma with
radiofrequency.
Fig. 12_Bleeding control using bipolar forceps
immediately after excision.
Fig. 13_Follow-ups, two weeks after surgery.

Fig. 14_Follow up, five weeks after surgery.
Fig. 15_Clinical appearance of metastasis at the hard
palate.
Fig. 16_Immediate postsurgical view, bleeding control
using bipolar forceps.
Fig. 17_Wound covered with a dressing.

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Fig. 18

Fig. 19

Fig. 20

Fig. 21

Fig. 22

Fig. 23

Fig. 24

Fig. 25

Fig. 26

Fig. 27

Fig. 28

Fig. 29

Fig. 30

Fig. 31

Fig. 32

Fig. 18_Pre-surgical clinical view.
Fig. 19_Re-contouring of the soft tissue using
diode laser.
Fig. 20_Application of aPDT before abutment fixation.
Fig. 21_Immediate postsurgical view.
Fig. 22_Application of photosensitiser gel through
periodontal space and central ridge incision line.

Fig. 23_Distribution of photosensitiser gel around the
periimplantitis area.
Fig. 24_aPDT, using red 660 nm diode laser.
Fig. 25_Control radiograph, four weeks after finishing
the treatment.
Fig. 26_Presurgical clinical view.
Fig. 27_Radiofrequency electrode cuts the carcinoma.

26 I laser
4_ 2013

Fig. 28_Immediate postsurgical view.
Fig. 29_Follow-up after five days.
Fig. 30_Follow-up, five weeks after surgery.
Fig. 31_Pre-surgical view of hemangioma in the
lower lip.
Fig. 32_About ten single punctures with a thin needle
electrode (see magnification).

[27] =>

industry report

is not only absorbed in the tissue and converted into
heat, it also will be partially transmitted through the
tissue and may cause unpredictable and undesired
side effects in adjacent healthy areas. Furthermore,
the cutting speed of a laser beam is limited by the
fact that the tissue can only be removed in layers.
Neither increasing the laser power nor using pulsed
laser radiation can eliminate this problem.

_A promising approach
The combination of a diode laser and a modern
radiofrequency generator in one unit is a useful
and perfect tool for an extensive soft tissue management. The laser can treat the relatively thin and
complicated oral tissue very selectively and shows
promising and successful results in periodontics,
endodontics and implant surgery. The radiofrequency technology on the other hand, because of
its significantly higher cutting speed and perfect
coagulation, has benefits in oral surgery. Tissue will
be heated and cut simultaneously, homogeneously
and very fast in the entire length of the inserted
metal electrode. Damage to adjacent healthy areas
are unlikely. If they do occur, they are predictable
and can be planned. Photodynamic therapy (PDT),
low level laser therapy (LLLT) and tooth bleaching
make new, additional treatments possible. At the

Department of Oral Surgery at the University of
Zagreb, Croatia, a clinical study was performed to
demonstrate the use of the combined LaserHF®
unit, consisting of a 975 nm diode laser with 8 W
power (cw, pulsed), a 2.2 MHz radiofrequency generator with 50 W power (monopolar and bipolar)
and a 660 nm diode laser with 100 mW power (cw),
in various treatments of oral soft tissue lesions
(Figs. 1 & 2). To all patients, local anaesthesia was
administered before the procedures. Patients in
this study showed significantly less oedema and
hematoma as well as significantly less pain and
higher satisfaction compared to conventionally
treated patients (p < 0.05).

_Case presentation
Out of these patients we present the following
cases:
Case 1
A female patient aged 67 presented with palatal
fibroepithelial polyp and inflammatory papillary
hyperplasia of the hard palate (Fig. 3). The soft tissue
surgery was performed with a radiofrequency loop
electrode at 35 W and diode laser 975 nm with a
power of 5 W in continuous mode (cw). Low level
laser therapy (LLLT) at 660 nm followed for 90 s im-

[PICTURE: ©SUKIYAKI]

Please contact Claudia Jahn
c.jahn@oemus-media.de

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Fig. 33

Fig. 34

Fig. 36

Fig. 37

Fig. 40

Fig. 35

Fig. 38

Fig. 41

Fig. 33_Following up after five days.
Fig. 34_Leukoplakic, exophytic
growing alteration (12 x 25 mm) at
the left side of the tongue.
Fig. 35_The tissue was very deeply
removed from the tongue muscle to
prevent any recurrences.
Fig. 36_Due to the repeated growth
and the unclear etiology, the tissue
was deeply removed from the tongue
muscle to prevent any recurrences.
Fig. 37_This method allows an
almost pressure-free work, resulting
in straight-cut edges in the muscle.
Fig. 38_Increasing epithelialisation
two weeks postoperatively
Fig. 39_An impressing macroscopic
scar-free result eight months after
surgery.
Fig. 40_Alterations like thermal
induced vacuoles in the striated
muscle could not be seen after using
radiofrequency technology.
Fig. 41_Histological comparison of
the thermal reaction zone produced
with a 980 nm laser at 3 W cw. The
broad and partially melted reaction
zone is a result of a significant
temperature effect

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4_ 2013

mediately after the surgical (Fig. 4) procedure was
performed. Neither side effects nor complications
occurred after surgery (Fig. 5).
Case 2
A female patient aged 23 presented with a mucocele in the lower lip (Fig. 6). The surgery was performed with the laser 975 nm at a power of 5 W in
cw-mode (Figs. 7 & 8). The lesion was closed using a
bipolar radiofrequency forceps (Fig. 9). LLLT application 660 nm with a power setting of 90 mW followed
immediately for 90 s.
Case 3
A male patient presented with a giant cell granuloma of the upper jaw, central type in the frontal
region of the maxilla (Fig. 10). The surgery was performed with radiofrequency cutting-mode (35 W)
and laser 975 nm, 5 W cw. LLLT application followed
immediately after surgical procedure (660 nm,
90 mW for a period of 90 s, Figs. 11 & 12). Follow-ups
were taken two (Fig. 13) and five weeks after surgery
(Fig. 14).
Case 4
A male patient, aged 82, presented with a metastasis of adenocarcinoma of the kidney (Fig. 15). Surgery was performed using radiofrequency cutting
(35 W), coagulation grade 3 as well as laser 975 nm,
5 W cw, in combination (Figs. 16 & 17).

Fig. 39

Case 5
A female patient aged 53 presented with a periimplant mucositis (Fig. 18). Re-contouring of the
periimplant mucosal tissue took place one week after the second surgical phase (Fig. 19). Defixation of
the final abutment due to periimplant mucositis
was performed with laser 975 nm at 4 W cw. Antibacterial PDT was performed after surgery (Figs. 20
& 21). No side effects or complications regarding the
implant-bone interface after surgery were reported.
Systemic antibiotic therapy was also included.
Case 6
A female patient with periimplantitis: Treatment
of initial periimplantitis using closed technique was
performed with systemic antibiotic therapy (Figs. 22
& 23) and aPDT (660 nm, 100 mW, 3 x 10 s) for ten
consecutive days (Figs. 24 & 25).
Case 7
Male patient, aged 66, presented with verrucous
carcinoma (Fig. 26). The surgery was performed with
radiofrequency 35 W, coagulation grade 3—elliptic
loop electrode and laser 975 nm, 5 W cw, in combination (Figs. 27–30).
Case 8
An 11-year-old girl presented with a haemangioma in the lower lip (Fig. 31). Low power radiofrequency application was conducted with 15 W, coagulation grade 2. A fine needle electrode (diameter
0.2 mm, length 5 mm) has been inserted into the tissue at about 10 points around the lesion, resulting
in shrinkage of the tissue (Figs. 32 & 33). This treatment is not possible using the laser device.
Case 9
A 33-year-old patient presented with a leukoplakic, exophytic growing alteration (12 x 25 mm) at the
left side of the tongue (Fig. 34). Considering the par-

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industry report

ticular topography and anticipated depth of the lesion, the treatment was performed with radiofrequency at 2.2 MHz and a power of 50 W, using little
coagulation (grade 1–2) simultaneously (Figs. 35–
37). Monopolar operation was chosen with the neutral electrode on the shoulders of the patient. With
a laser such a deep surgical operation would not be
possible. After anaesthesia of the left N. lingual, the
surgical area was marked with a fine, very thin electrode and the cutting line was defined in the range
of the healthy mucosa. Follow-ups were taken two
weeks (Fig. 38) and eight months (Fig. 39) after surgery.

Fig. 42_The laser is not perfect in
oral surgery and the radiofrequency
is not suitable in many other dental
applications. However, in the
combined device, they both can
perform as perfect tools for the dental
soft tissue management.
Fig. 43_The LaserHF® device.

Fig. 42

The healing was without complications or serious swelling, but with moderate post-operative
pain. There were no functional limitations, form and
function of the tongue have been preserved or fully
restored. The histological evaluation of the excised
tissue showed no changes; only in the direct section
area, a low thermal reaction zone was found (Figs.
40 & 41).
Fig. 43

_Conclusion
For precise applications in dental soft tissues,
especially surgical incisions, scalpel, laser and radiofrequency are appropriate tools. The right
choice must be made by the dentist and is based on
various criteria: If the lesions are relatively small
and if they are more in the depth of the tissue, and
no previous histopathologic evaluation is possible
or useful, laser or radiofrequency are suitable devices. In contrast to the scalpel, a flushing out of abnormal cells and distant metastasis can be substantially averted. Besides, the scalpel always induces some mechanical stress to tissues which may
lead to unprecise healing and thus cannot always
claim a good cosmetic result. On the opposite, thermally produced incisions made by radiofrequency
are fast and stress-free, providing excellent cosmetic results. They also deliver convincing results in
more complicated procedures in the depth of the
tissue. With appropriate coagulation, just minor
tissue alterations are found, thus promising a good
healing. The laser is more to be seen as a tool with
strong importance in the treatment of superficial
lesions due to its mode of layer-by-layer operation.
Apart from treatments in periodontics, in endodontics, in PDT, Bleaching and LLLT, the laser is a perfect
instrument for reshaping and smoothing of
wound edges, for removal of overgrown implants,
trimming of gingiva, drying and shrinking of tissue
and of course even for small superficial surgery
(Fig. 42).

takes some more time to re-epithelialise than following conventional surgery with a scalpel. However, they offer a minimally invasive technique with
an intention to make surgical applications less extensive. They may reduce the need for general anesthetics or hospital care, and therefore can lower the
overall costs.

Laser and radiofrequency technology show
some delay in the epithelial regeneration. A wound

www.medlas.com

Considering the potential applications, the combination of a diode laser with a radiofrequency device meets the desire for a perfect system in the dental soft tissue management. The LaserHF® (by Hager
& Werken, Germany, Fig. 43) is the worldwide first
combination device. It consists of a 975 nm laser
with a power of up to 8 W, combined with a 2.2 MHz
radiofrequency generator—monoploar and bipolar
—with a power of 50 W. An additional 660 nm laser
with a power of 100 mW completes the device as
therapy supplement for photodynamic (PDT) and
low level laser therapy._

_contact

laser

Hans-H. Koort
MedLas Consult
Auf der Schleide 18
53225 Bonn, Germany

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[30] =>

I industry report

Lasers in aesthetic
dentistry
Authors_Drs Ilay Maden, Zafer Kazak & Özge Erbil Maden, Turkey

Figs. 1a & b_Crown lengthening
before treatment (a).
Crown lengthening 6 months
after treatment (b).
Figs. 2a & b_Gingival
depigmentation before treatment (a).
Gingival depigmentation 7days
after treatment (b).
Fig. 1a

Fig. 1b

Fig. 2a

Fig. 2b

_The exciting possibilities offered by the
world of aesthetic dentistry are being experienced
by an increasing number of dentists and patients
worldwide as new materials, techniques and tools
become widely available.

this procedure; however, there are two main advantages of using erbium lasers in crown lengthening. First of all, they can be used without anaesthesia, as they do not cause thermal damage to
the tissue. This results in a stable gingival height
after the procedure.

One such example is the laser, of which there
are many for use in dentistry. To appreciate laser
dentistry to its fullest, however, it is necessary
to gain accurate information from unbiased
sources, firstly about laser safety and the physics
of laser–tissue interaction, and secondly about
the specific uses of lasers in practice.
The most commonly used laser types in dentistry are erbium lasers (with two variants:
2,940 nm Er:YAG and 2,780 nm Er,Cr:YSGG),
neodymium lasers (1,064 nm Nd:YAG) and diode
lasers (810, 940 or 980 nm). Each type of laser has
a different wavelength, and each wavelength
has a different interaction with the specific body
tissue being treated.
Crown lengthening or gingival levelling (Figs.
1a & b) is a routine procedure for laser-assisted
aesthetic interventions. All lasers can be used for

30 I laser
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Since diode and Nd:YAG lasers work in a more
thermal manner, a longer healing time should
be expected for the tissue to settle. A prerequisite
for success in crown lengthening is, of course, to
respect biologic width. If there is less than 3 mm
between the desired gingival level and the bone,
the bone level must be decreased. While this is
possible to do with erbium lasers (even flapless),
neither diode nor Nd:YAG lasers are suitable for
this, since they are only capable of removing soft
tissue.
The same conditions are applicable for uncovering implants with erbium lasers, so it is possible
to take the impressions for prosthetic procedures
on the same day or within a short period. If it
is necessary to remove bone or soft tissue for
either indication, erbium lasers with adjustable
pulse duration (referred to as VSP technology in

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industry report

Fotona lasers, for example) are the only option
without raising a flap.
Tooth preparation for crowns and bridges with
lasers is not yet as efficient as one might like it to
be; however, new research and technological improvements are ongoing. A diode or Nd:YAG laser
can still be helpful during prosthetic work for
troughing before taking impressions or desensitising prepared teeth if required. It is also possible
to reduce or eliminate dentine hypersensitivity
due to periodontal treatment or gingival recession by either modulating the nerve endings or
blocking the dentinal tubules using a laser.
Another aesthetic treatment is gingival depigmentation (Figs. 2a & b), which can also be performed by using long pulses of erbium or diode
lasers. It is possible to de-epithelialise the surface,
as the pigmentation is usually in the basal layer.
Erbium lasers are safer, since they do not penetrate the tissue. The effect is only superficial, and
this is exactly where the pigmentation is.

Fig. 3_SEM image of hard
dental tissue after ablation
with an erbium laser.

Fig. 3

effects, especially if the pulse durations are short
enough—typically between 50 and 100 microseconds (Fig. 3). The shorter the pulse duration is,
the more effective the laser energy will be at removing hard tissue. The margins of the cavity can
even be bevelled for better aesthetic appearance
and long-term colour stability if the laser is efficient enough to remove small amounts of sound
enamel when needed.

Class V caries removal for composite fillings
can easily be performed with an erbium laser,
quickly, painlessly, and without any thermal side-

Lasers also work selectively to only remove
carious tissue, which has more water content
than sound hard dental tissue. Surface modification can also be done with the erbium laser after
cavity preparation for repairing composite fillings, or even for restoration cementation. One
big advantage is that anaesthesia is not generally
required when bloodless gingivectomy is used to
uncover the borders of the carious lesion with an
erbium laser using pulse durations of between
600 and 1,000 microseconds (Figs. 4a & b).

Fig. 4a

Fig. 4b

Diode lasers penetrate more deeply, especially
if one is not careful and tries to remove tissue
that is lighter in colour. As with other treatments,
erbium lasers allow the tissue to heal faster;
however, there can be mild bleeding during the
operation.

Fig. 5a

Fig. 5b

Figs. 4a & b_Clinical case
before treatment (a).
Immediately after gingivectomy
and carious lesion removal (b).
Figs. 5a & b_Before (a) and after
TouchWhite procedure (b).

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[32] =>

I industry report
the release of growth hormones, and improve
many more aspects of healing.

Fig. 6a

Fig. 6b

Fig. 7a

Fig. 7b

Figs. 6a & b_Before (a)
and four days after treatment
of herpetic lesions (b).
Figs. 7a & b_Before removal
of overgrown tissues (a)
and immediately after the
removal with an erbium laser (b).

For tooth whitening, lasers can also be used
for activation of the bleaching gel (Figs. 5a & b),
which decreases the treatment time as well as
post-operative sensitivity. As the laser is absorbed
by the appropriate gel, the heat is only superficial
and the contact time is decreased, leading to less
or no sensitivity.
The Er:YAG laser beam is uniquely absorbed in
the water molecules that are contained in all gels.
The more water content (the more the gel is “soft”
and a bit runny), the better the resulting bleaching interaction (known as the TouchWhite™ procedure, patented by Fotona). The colour is not
of importance for this interaction, unlike with
Nd:YAG and diode lasers, which are absorbed
more efficiently in pigments and therefore require specially coloured gels to be effective.
Nd:YAG and diode lasers have very specific
indications, such as the treatment of herpetic
lesions (Figs. 6a & b) and non-invasive haemangioma, which can present aesthetic problems too.
The advantages of treating a herpetic lesion by
laser are that the pain is relieved shortly after
lasing, the lesion heals faster and reoccurrence is
less frequent in the treated area.
For haemangioma treatment, the lesion is
coagulated by the strong absorption of the laser
energy in haemoglobin, after which it is either left
to be removed by mast cells or ablated.
The bio-modulation effect of these lasers is
also advantageous, helping to increase cell turnover and blood circulation (with an anti-inflammatory effect), eliminate pain, improve nerve
transmission, promote myo-relaxation, stimulate

32 I laser
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Other procedures like frenectomy or removal
of overgrown tissue (lasers can be used to safely
and easily remove tissues, like overgrowth, pigmentation, etc. but it is essential to be certain
about the nature of the tissue that is being removed) can be carried out for aesthetic reasons
in the anterior region (Figs. 7a & b).
Erbium lasers are preferred for soft-tissue
surgeries like these because they are fast, require
minimum anaesthesia and do not cause a delay
in healing. It is important, however, to be able to
modify the parameters: if the pulse duration can
be increased above 600 microseconds, preferably
up to 1,000 microseconds, the quantity of heat
delivered will rise—still without damaging the
tissue—and cause haemostasis. If this cannot be
achieved with the particular Er:YAG laser system,
then a second wavelength must also be employed,
such as diode or Nd:YAG in order to effect
haemostasis.
Diode and Nd:YAG lasers can be used from
start to finish for all soft-tissue interventions to
yield blood-free surgery; however, this requires
more anaesthesia and a longer healing time.
All of these benefits and many more increase
the comfort of the patient and give dentists more
reasons to enjoy their profession. For achieving
a full and successful integration of laser technology into a clinician’s treatment offering, and to
make effective use of the investment made, as
well as to ensure the health and safety of patients,
it is necessary to obtain an adequate education
in both the biophysical interactions underlying
these treatment protocols and the specific properties of each laser device._

All procedures presented in this article were performed
using a LightWalker AT dental laser system (Fotona).

_contact
Dr Ilay Maden PhD, MSc, BDS
Mühürdar Caddesi 69
34710 Istanbul
Turkey
ilaymaden@gmail.com

laser

[33] =>

October 9-14, 2014 | San Antonio, Texas, USA
Education: October 9-12 | Exhibition: October 9-11

Education

Exhibition

Connections

Participate in challenging
CE courses that fit into your
schedule and budget

Research and purchase
dental products and services
at a discount

Mingle with colleagues
from across the world

To learn more, visit ADA.org/meeting.

[34] =>

I economy

Gain power at
your laser clinics!
Author_Dr Anna Maria Yiannikos, Germany/Cyprus

_Introduction
During this issue we are going to explore the first element of marketing mix which is the package in our
case the service that we deliver in our offices. Dental
treatment is an intangible service therefore a very important role is played by the quality.

Fig. 1_Relation between
satisfaction and loyalty.
Source: Professor J. Heskett,
Harvard Business School.

Do you know how quality is perceived in the mind of
our patients? First by the past experiences our patients
have had from us or from other colleagues. Second
from the word of mouth, which is our most powerful
marketing tool, what others are saying about us and finally, from the personal needs that our patients have.
As an example we can start with their need of experiencing minimal pain during a treatment. Many get
afraid or annoyed by the sound of the drill; in this case
they will prefer to choose a laser dentist. The above are
factors that we have to meet during the services that
we offer. We should understand that we do not only deliver services but a culture; the culture and mentality of
our clinic through the experience that our patients re-

ceive. They do not only expect from us to be just good
doctors. If we think like this we are wrong! They expect
from us to be the best, period. Our patients will not just
compare us with other dentists but with all the service
experiences that they have like as in a hotel or in a
restaurant.
Our competitors are everyone when it comes to our
patients; the manager in a restaurant, the receptionist
in a hotel. Our patients hold in mind a mental picture of
how they think they should be treated and this picture
becomes their standard by which their experiences are
judged.

_Law of memorable event:
determines dissatisfaction and loyalty
When nothing makes either a good or a bad impression on you, your feelings are neutral. It takes something memorable to turn ordinary satisfactory experience into something special. Dissatisfaction comes
from something bad that you experienced and you remember. Furthermore, loyalty is generated by memorable things that happen, that we weren’t expecting.
And if our patients do not remember us, why should
they choose to continue to come to us?
As we can see from Figure 1, we have three zones
when we interrelate satisfaction and loyalty:
1. The zone of defection, which includes the terrorists—
all the dissatisfied patients that discourage others
from visiting us. This zone gets narrower as the relationship between dentist and patient matures and
goodwill is added in the emotional bank account.
2. The zone of indifference, where the patients are satisfied but they might visit other colleagues as well for
their treatment or they will not refer us to others.
3. Finally the zone of affection containing the apostles
—the very satisfied patients, the loyal patients that
talk favourably about our services and their experiences and they will spread through the word of
mouth how thrilled they are with us, encouraging
friends and relatives coming to us for their dental
treatments.

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[35] =>

economy

A question that might arise is: how can we minimize
the zone of defection?
Exit interviews or measuring regularly our patient’s
satisfaction with surveys can have an extreme impact
on our profits since through them we can learn in which
areas we lack in so to improve.
And here comes another question to consider: How
many of us administrate patient satisfaction surveys,
how often and when do we imply them? As mentioned
before, dental treatment is an intangible service (=we
cannot measure it like a product). Therefore, the quality
plays a very important role.
How do patients measure the quality of our practice?
Patients cannot judge how well we can fill a root
canal or how nicely we polish a composite filling—instead, quality is effectively perceived from our patients
by the below factors:
1. Appearance: the way our office and our staff look.
2. Security of our clinic: In which way do we increase our
patient’s confidence that they belong in a safe place
and can relax and trust us for the best? Some examples are the existence of safety signs and flash lamps
outside the doors, laser safety diploma, safety glasses
that we provided to them during laser treatments, accreditations we have gained like ISO 9001(for quality)
or OSHAS 18000(for health and safety). These are just
some of the options that we have that constantly remind our patients of our best interest in the quality.
3. Reliability: Our ability to keep a consistent level of a
laser treatment. Is our treatment plan performed as
told from the beginning? If we promise our patients
that they will have a painless treatment, will this we
be able to keep our word? Our patients must know the
truth from the beginning. No promises must be given
that cannot be kept in order for our patient to trust
and rely on us.
4. Responsiveness: Do we respond quickly to their problems? Or their phone calls? Are our staff members
willing to answer their questions with care and seriousness expressing simultaneously their knowledge
and skills?
5. Competence: Our patients ought to understand that
we are not only skillful and that we do not only have
the equipment but we also posses the knowledge to
provide laser treatments.
6. Courtesy: We have to be polite not only with our patients, but also show our friendliness towards our employees as well: “Treat your employees as your patients and your patients as employees”.
7. Credibility: We ought to be honest and have a good
reputation
8. Access: People value nice people since this make them
happy. We cannot describe to them how nice we or our
staff is, they have to see for themselves—we have to
walk the walk through internal and external acts of
niceness. We should be approachable and ease to

contact. If, for example, we have a secretary that is at
all time distracted and cannot be reached from our
patients, this will create a bad impression for our entire clinic.
9. Communication: We must know what, when and how
to say something. We must master verbal, non verbal
communication skills so as to show them that we understand them with sympathy and compassion; understand not only their needs, but also their fears.
Let’s look at the following example: If we are explaining the treatment to Mr Smith like this: “Mr Smith,
today we are going to make a cavity preparation using
VSP, 20 Hz with water and air using our Er:Yag laser. Are
you ok with that?” What do you believe that we are
going to achieve through this? Loose him instantly as a
listener!
Let’s close the referral to the first element of marketing mix by remembering the Gucci family motto: “Quality is remembered long after the price is forgotten”. In the
next issue, we are going to talk about the second element of marketing mix, which is the PRICE.
A fruit for thought: Let’s not forget who our patients
are. All of the people that we meet daily, the receptionist at a hotel, the bank cashier, our hairdresser, all the
people that we come into contact with can spread the
word of how wonderful or miserable we are… In which
of the two groups do you want to belong to? I leave this
decision up to you.
Last as a closure allow me to proudly announce the
launch of DBA mastership course in Europe under the
umbrella of AALZ—RWTH Aachen University Campus.
A mini MBA designed only for dentists scheduled to
begin on the 1st of May 2014. It is a course for the dentists that want to gain their power back! For those
that have the desire to master the skills of management and administration for their own clinics, where
many of the above and many more matters will be
taught in more detail. Looking forward to your questions and requests for further information at:
dba@yiannikosdental.com_

_contact

laser
Dr Anna Maria Yiannikos
Adjunct Faculty Member of
AALZ at RWTH Aachen University Campus, Germany
DDS, LSO, MSc, MBA
dba@yiannikosdental.com
www.yiannikosdental.com

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[36] =>

I health

The right to be pain free
Author_ Dr Michael Sultan, UK
_Pain is defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as “an unpleasant sensory or emotional
experience associated with actual or potential tissue
damage, or described in terms of such damage.”
While recognising its existence, what the WHO
doesn’t mention is that pain is, of course, entirely subjective, which is one of the reasons that it is such a challenge and a major global public health issue. We probably know far more about pain and its treatment than
ever before, yet there is a disconnect between having
that knowledge and using it to treat and manage pain.

36 I laser
4_ 2013

I believe passionately that dental professionals in
general, and endodontists in particular, should commit to the right of every patient to be free of pain and,
through our work as compassionate professionals, to
understanding acute pain management, if we are to
provide real health and emotional benefits for our
patients.
During the 2010–11 “Global Year Against Acute
Pain”, the International Association for the Study of
Pain published a paper that points to inadequate
education of health-care practitioners as one of the

[37] =>

health

different pain thresholds and, indeed, vastly different
capacity to deal with it. Interestingly, the Australian
and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists puts at the
very top of its list in a statement on Patients’ Rights
to Pain Management : “The right to be believed, recognising that pain is a personal experience and that there
is a great variability among people in their response
to different situations causing pain.”

Fig. 1

Fig. 1_By understanding the
use of anaesthetics and analgesics,
dental staff are better placed to offer
information and help to their patients.
Fig. 2_Every patient has the
right to be pain free.

Acute pain is the awareness of noxious signals
from damaged tissue and is complicated not only by
sensitisation in the periphery but also by changes in
the central nervous system. A person’s emotional
state can often have a significant influence on pain
and increase the level of distress and impact on quality of life. Pain is hugely debilitating and makes life
extremely miserable for millions of people every day,
and there are many underlying cultural, economic
and social reasons that should also be taken into
consideration.
I firmly believe that the dental profession must
work with the government, policymakers and campaigners to ensure that every patient has access to
pain-free dentistry. In some cases, this will mean that
NHS patients will receive treatment from private
dental specialists, an issue raised by the Steele report,
which suggests that poorer patients are forced to
settle for extractions and dentures rather than tooth
preservation, with root-canal treatments the preserve
of the rich.

Fig. 2

main reasons for underestimating the seriousness
of, and failing to recognise treatment options for,
acute pain.
It is clear therefore that, despite huge advances in
a vast array of sophisticated medical and non-clinical
treatment options, we are part of the problem so we
must become part of the solution.
By increasing our own awareness and understanding of the issues surrounding the assessment and
treatment of acute pain, we can, in turn, help educate
our colleagues in the use of anaesthetics and analgesics so they are better placed to offer information
and help to their patients, many of whom are reluctant
to use painkillers for fear of unpleasant side-effects or
even, addiction.
Pain is both physical and emotional, which is the
reason that it is fundamentally important to recognise
that it is subjective and that different people will have

While there is no legally enshrined right to be pain
free, there are those who believe that the internationally established and recognised rights to health
include that by implication and inference. We can at
least encourage greater awareness, better education
and knowledge sharing, as well as raising patient
expectations to be pain free._

laser

ΩΩΩΩΩΩΩ
ΩΩΩΩ
ΩΩΩΩΩΩ

Dr Michael Sultan (BDS, MSc, DFO, FICD) is a specialist in
endodontics and the Clinical Director of EndoCare, a group of
specialist practices. Michael qualified at University of Bristol in
1986. He worked as a general dental practitioner for five years
before commencing specialist studies at Guy’s Hospital, London.
He completed his MSc in Endodontics in 1993 and worked as
an in-house endodontist in various practices before setting up
in Harley St., London, in 2000. He was admitted to the specialist
register in endodontics in 1999 and has lectured extensively to postgraduate dental
groups, as well as presented endodontic courses at the Eastman Dental Institute’s CPD
department, University of London. He has been involved in numerous dental groups and
has been chairperson of the Alpha Omega International Dental Fraternity. In 2008,
he became clinical director of EndoCare.

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[38] =>

I manufacturer _ news

Manufacturer News
Syneron Dental Lasers

LiteTouch™ Users Meeting & Clinical Training in Germany
LiteTouch™ 2013 Users Meeting & Clinical Training
will take place during November 17 at Maritim hotel in
Berlin, right after the 22nd Annual Congress of DGL. Limited seats are still available at www.synerondental.de.
The event will include laser dentistry clinical training
and R.O.I. management by international renowned
KOL as well as a Laser dentistry brainstorming and experience sharing. The 2013 LiteTouch™ Users Meeting is a unique opportunity to experience and feel the
Syneron Dental Laser Family exclusive environment.
Syneron Dental Lasers is a leading international company providing dental laser technology for both hard &
soft tissue dental treatments. The company achieved
significant global market share and transformed the
way practitioners perform dental treatments today,
with its Laser-in-the-Handpiece™ innovation, the first
AD

all-tissue, non-fiber, non-articulated
arm Er:YAG dental laser equipment.
The LiteTouch system allows dentists to focus on their performance of
the clinical treatment and on their
patients, rather than being constantly concerned about causing
damage to the laser fiber. Thus, dentists can quickly and easily integrate
LiteTouch™ into their daily routines and enjoy the
complete expression of their dental mastery. LiteTouch™ is used in a variety of dental treatments such
as cavities & restorations, pocket debriment, calculus
removal, apicoectomy, implant site preparations, periimplantitis treatment, gingival reconturing & children’s

pits and fissures among other treatments. Syneron Dental Lasers was
recognized and distinguished with
four international awards, Red Dot Design Award (2013), A’ Design Award
(2013), Best in Bizz Awards 2013
EMEA, Deloitte’s 2011 EMEA Technology Fast 500.
Syneron Dental Lasers
Tavor Building, Industrial Zone
20692 Yokneam Illit, Israel
Deutschland@syneron.com
www.synerondental.de

BIOLASE

15th Anniversary of
Waterlase
As the world leader in dental lasers, BIOLASE has created a
strong technology lineup starting with the most advanced
all-tissue laser, WaterLase iPlus. Beginning October 2013,
BIOLASE is celebrating the 15th Anniversary of WaterLase.
This laser has helped practices achieve both clinical excellence and patient satisfaction. WaterLase iPlus eliminates
the need for anesthetic, allows for multi-quadrant dentistry
in a single visit, and can expand your ROI. The iPlus helps to
eliminate microfractures associated with the traditional drill,
as well as thermal damage and cross-contamination risks.
Also from BIOALSE is the EPIC diode which has three unique
modes—soft tissue surgery, whitening and pain therapy. It
has the power, portability, and high performance for greater
patient comfort. iLase is the first personal diode laser. With no
foot pedal, power cord or external controls, this laser was designed to be affordable.
Biolase Europe GmbH
Paintweg 10a
92685 Floss, Germany
Tel.: +49 9603 8080
Fax: +49 9603 2360
info@biolase-europe.com
www.biolase.com

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[39] =>

P R O F E S S I O N A L

M E D I C A L

C O U T U R E

EXPERIENCE OUR ENTIRE COLLECTION ONLINE
WWW.CROIXTURE.COM

[40] =>

I interview

Biolase could
become the next
Intuitive Surgical
Source_Biolase

In a recent statement, US-based provider of dental and medical lasers BIOLASE announced that health care fund Camber
Capital Management in Boston in the USA has purchased
US$5 million of the company’s common stock. Dental Tribune
ONLINE had the opportunity to speak with CEO Federico Pignatelli about what this means for the company, mistakes of the
past and the reasons that the company’s WaterLase technology has the potential to revolutionise dental surgery.

_DENTAL TRIBUNE: Mr Pignatelli, your company seems to have been struggling recently, according
to some analysts. What is your company’s position right
now, and what does the recent sale of shares to Camber
Capital mean for your business?
The confusion arises from the fact that we grew 40
to 50 per cent a year for two years and in 2013 our
growth has slowed down to “only” 15 to 20 per cent. We
believe that BIOLASE will grow strongly in the years to
come. We just needed to raise our capital with a few million dollars in order to improve our balance sheet. This
capital raise, combined with our US$8 million Comerica Bank credit line, will give us enough capital to continue our plan of business expansion.
Also, as we approach the fourth quarter we see net
income and positive cash flow returning and we are expecting this positive development to continue in 2014.
So we feel very positively about where BIOLASE is right
now.
_So have the recent restructuring measures paid
off?
Yes, they have paid off handsomely, but there is
more to do. I admit that in the past there have been
some unhappy customers, but in our defence the company back then was managed by entirely different
people and was locked into an exclusive global distribution agreement with Henry Schein. In the new
BIOLASE, customers are the number one priority and we
do what it takes to take care of them.

Federico Pignatelli, CEO BIOLASE

40 I laser
4_ 2013

What people need to realise is that BIOLASE is a
cutting-edge technology company with a new technology that is potentially going to radically transform
the way dental surgery is performed and practised.

[41] =>

interview

As a new step in informing the marketplace about
WaterLase, we have recently embarked on a social
media and press campaign to reach out to millions of
patients to educate them about the many advantages
of being treated with BIOLASE’s technology.

10,000 units worldwide, 6,000 of which were in the USA
alone. The main challenge however is education. Dentists need to be better educated about the return on investment and the system’s extensive clinical advantages in comparison with conventional dentistry.

We are particularly glad to have Dr Fred Moll, the cofounder of Intuitive Surgical, who values our technology such that he joined our board of directors recently.
He is a legend in the medical field because with his company he transformed the way surgery is approached
through the use of robotics. Thanks to a visionary like
him, today tens of thousands of patients with cancer
can be treated in a much more precise way than ever before.

In fact, only two and a half years ago, WaterLase
technology for the very first time broke the speed barrier, which means that it now cuts as fast as a conventional dental drill, sometimes even faster. Furthermore,
it allows impressive treatment and cutting of soft tissue, which is something a dental drill cannot do. These
additional options mean that dentists no longer need
to refer patients to a specialist for these tasks, thereby
boosting revenue in the practice.

We believe BIOLASE has a technology that is so advanced and revolutionary that the company could become the next Intuitive Surgical. That is because with
WaterLase technology we can transform surgical dentistry for hundreds of thousands of dental practices
around the world, while providing better and safer care
for patients.

_Where do you see the technology in the next five to
ten years?
In contrast with other market-leading systems or
technologies, such as Sirona’s CEREC, WaterLase is protected by over 100 patents, which will allows us to protect our competitive advantage. The adoption cycle of
new technologies is growing increasingly shorter and
more advanced technologies like WaterLase will rapidly
find their way into dental practices. Dentists that do not
upgrade their practices will likely begin to lose patients,
become uncompetitive and lag behind. You cannot
fight technology; you cannot fight innovation. If you
do, you are doomed to be left out of the market.

_Why do you think lasers and particularly WaterLase will be the technology of choice in dentistry for the
future?
If you think about it, dentistry has not really changed
very much since the dental drill was invented by the
Egyptians 7,000 years ago. The principle of removing
tissue by mechanical rotation has remained the same
since that time, with the only major change in the past
70 years being the attachment of a high-speed engine.
With WaterLase technology, we are able to make use of
the most basic element of human tissue, water. The human body in its entirety consists of 60 per cent water,
so water can be found in almost all tissue. Dentine, for
example, has 20 per cent water in it. By energising water molecules with a laser, tissue can be cut without
pain, heat, abrasion, vibration, or the risk of microfractures. At the same time, it is also much more precise.
Clinically, this is much better dentistry.
Furthermore, there is no need for any anaesthetic
for the patient; 99 per cent of patients can be treated
without using Novocaine. How wonderful is that? On
top of that, laser energy kills bacteria, viruses and fungus, and that provides another advantage for dentists,
since it is almost impossible and certainly very costly to
have surgical instrumentation like dental burs and endodontic files fully sterilised, and too costly to use new
instrumentation for every patient to be treated.
_With all these advantages, why does it seem that
the technology has not been adopted widely by dentists
yet?
That is not exactly true. Since the introduction of
WaterLase technology 15 years ago, we have sold over

We regularly ask patients whether they would like to
be treated by a conventional dentist or high-tech dentist, and almost 100 per cent of patients would like to be
treated by a high-tech dentist. Therefore, we believe
that WaterLase will be part of most dental practices in
the near future._
Thank you very much for the interview.
Editorial note: Dental Tribune is the international cooperation partner of laser international magazine of laser
dentistry .

_contact

laser

Biolase Europe GmbH
Paintweg 10
92685 Floss
Germany
Tel.: +49 9603 8080
Fax: +49 9603 2360
info@biolase-europe.com
www.biolase.de

laser
4
I 41
_ 2013

[42] =>

I interview

Dentures produced
using 3-D printing versus
casting and milling
Non-precious metal alloys (NEM) are enjoying increased demand in dental technology. Additive manufacturing with laser
melting ensures the uniformity and accuracy of ceramic-veneered, non-precious metal restorations created from dust
and light. Are the traditional manufacturing processes of dental technicians, such as casting and milling, making a comeback? We spoke with Master Dental Technician Dieter Spitzer
of Unicim, a manufacturer of dental restorations based in
Berschis in the Swiss canton of St. Gallen.

_Mr. Spitzer, you refer to Unicim as a digital production center. What do you mean by that?
Unicim combines traditional production methods with digital CAD/CAM manufacturing, such as
metal laser melting or powder-based plastic laser
sintering. With rapid manufacturing methods,
you can select the most functional and affordable
dental prosthetic solution based on your customer's needs, be it crowns and bridges, frameworks, primary and secondary structures or implant supra-constructions.
_Can you give us an idea of the process for creating dental restorations out of metal by using the
additive manufacturing technology?
Once the 3-D CAD data is complete, the support
structures are set up with the help of a data processing software. Various software solutions are
available for this purpose. One of the most common is CAMbridge, which requires license fees.
Alternatively, there is AutoFab Mlab, which is license-free and allows you to assign specific measurements. With Concept Laser systems, the customer is able to choose freely and is not bound by
any software. The processed data is then transmitted to the machine via the network or USB port
and the construction job is started. With this
process, you can finish a project fully automatically overnight. Once complete, the components
are removed from the building board and refinished. After manually removing the support structures, the surface is then microblasted with aluminum oxide and, in the case of bridges, the crown
edges are thinned down.

Fig. 1_Tailor-made dental technologies: Master Dental Technician Dieter Spitzer offers
traditional manufacturing along with CAD/CAM methods, such as laser melting of metals for
dental restorations.
All images courtesy of Concept Laser GmbH, Lichtenfels, Germany.

42 I laser
4_ 2013

_Will milling and casting soon be a thing of the
past in dental prosthetics?
Milling and casting will remain part of the standard repertoire of dental laboratories for training
and application. Additive manufacturing options

[43] =>

interview

will offer many advantages in the future and reduce production risk enormously. Unfortunately
they are still far too rarely seen in practice by dentists and dental technicians. Some of this has to do
with the old school mentality of doing everything
manually. The dental laboratory of the future will
be more of a hybrid: milling and casting where desirable but with additive manufacturing as a top
alternative. "Add on versus take away," I like to call
it. In summary, the casting process, from creating
the cast object to the finished product, is usually
very time consuming and can lead to distortion,
especially with large-span restorations. With additive technology, we achieve contour accuracy
more easily than with milling. Our workplaces in
dental technology are also cleaner thanks to
CAD/CAM: less dust, less bonding agent, glue and
outgassing. Ultimately, the deciding factor is
quality. Compared to casting and milling, additive
printing processes are creating entirely new ways
of thinking in terms of production, workflow and
the products themselves.
_How are these changes expressed?
We need to look at different levels here. First is
the transition from manual craftsmanship to
high-precision, high-accuracy industrial CAD/
CAM production. Milled non-precious metal
restorations have significant disadvantages due
to material consumption: high production costs
and system-related lower quality in terms of fit
and shape retention. During casting, we also encounter disadvantages in terms of low material
density, mold costs, production time and rework.
Nearly all of these disadvantages disappear with
laser melting. By using proven materials like remanium star CL and rematitan CL from Dentaurum with our Mlab cusing R, we have been very
satisfied with the quality of our system-manufactured products. In the case of large-volume
restorations, any excess tension that arises can be
alleviated through subsequent heat treatment,
thus avoiding any potential distortion. Of course,
the same applies to cobalt-chromium alloys or titanium.
_You mentioned changes in the products. What
changes were you referring to?
I'm quite optimistic. I'll describe a couple of
them. First, the geometric flexibility of prosthetics
is enabling a new way of looking at shapes or functions. In the future, imagine restorations with
channels into which medications can be fed. The
dentist or orthodontist can provide treatment,
and the patient won't have to deal with temporaries. The second major change is the selective
density of a component made possible by the
process. Thus, for example, bridges with more than

ten sections can not only be manufactured in a
one-step process tension-free, they can also be
increasingly applied in heavily utilized areas, such
as cantilevers, edges or brace elastics. In model
casting, that's not always an easy problem to
solve. Geometric freedom is a genuine plus for us,
as it opens up new possibilities for restoration design. For example, brace elements can be made
much finer while retaining sufficient mechanical
properties.
These new options also increase the longevity
of dental product. In casting or milling, we have to
deal with cost, material waste and lower material
density; in casting especially, we have oversized
dimensions and much lower material densities.
With cast restorations, breakage is always an issue. But it doesn't have to be that way. Another
benefit is the ability to create combinations
through module or multicomponent construction
methods. Base elements implanted into the jawbone are used as primary structures. An additively
manufactured foundation element is then put
into place as a secondary structure, onto which a
secure, durable veneer such as HeraCeram is applied. Another aspect relates to new materials,
such as non-precious metal titanium...
_Titanium would be hard and biocompatible...
Titanium is the ideal material for allergy sufferers, for example. In combination with laser melting and veneering, we can maximize its biological
benefits. From a visual standpoint, titanium
restorations offer a risk-free silver-gray luster.
Manufacturers of non-precious metal alloys have
spread pseudoscientific criticism regarding its
aesthetics.
Low-dose fluoride in toothpaste or mouthwash, for example, has no impact on appearance.
We can't deny the reality that titanium has not
only caught up to non-precious metal alloys in importance, it has surpassed them. This is precisely
why, in 2012, Unicim invested in a Mlab cusing R
system for titanium applications from Concept
Laser, which allows us to process reactive titanium
material in a closed system. The unit can be used
with dental materials certified under the German
Medical Devices Act, such as rematitan CL from
Dentaurum. Because of the high amount of material waste, milling-based processing of titanium is
too expensive and casting is highly impractical.
_What are some of the problems that arise in
the casting of titanium?
The reaction of titanium with oxygen causes a
so-called alpha-case layer to form on the outside.
This leads to embrittlement of the surface and

laser
4
I 43
_ 2013

[44] =>

I interview

Fig. 2

Fig. 3

Fig. 2_Crowns and bridges
manufactured using laser
melting technology.
Fig. 3_Cast parts manufactured
with LaserCUSING.

must be removed. If not removed, it can leads to
problem with the adhesion of veneering. With
LaserCUSING, no alpha-case layer forms. This
makes laser melting with titanium powder excellent for processing. The very fine-grained microstructure of the laser-fused parts of this titanium alloy allows greater firmness than with conventional castings. The dentist receives a highperformance, long-life alternative that's easy to
work on and more affordable than a precious
metal solution. Finally, dentists and patients can
benefit from a quality product that is both durable
and natural in appearance.
_How does titanium compare in terms of price?
The price of the Dentaurum titanium powder
we use is currently around 595 euros per kilogram;
a 4-unit bridge weighing 4 grams thus costs EUR
2.40 in materials alone.
_Why has laser melting been so slow to catch
on in the dental industry?
The reasons for this are many. The process is relatively new, so the learning curve is enormous. The
fact that the quality of laser-fused products is better than conventionally manufactured dental
restorations remains largely unknown. Its reputation continues to be tarnished by ignorance or
misconceptions. Keep in mind, too, that dental
technician training takes four years in Switzerland, and theoretical instruction is slow to incorporate new technologies. In addition, Swiss dental labs are very small.
The Association of Swiss Dental Technicians estimates some 1,200 centers, many of which operate with just 1 or 2 people. Therefore, investments
in laser melting are carefully considered. Unicim,
as a digital production center, acts as a service
provider, supplying other laboratories. Right now

44 I laser
4_ 2013

I see it as more of an outsourcing topic while we
wait for it to take hold in the market.
_What is the position of dentists regarding this
issue?
Interest is undoubtedly growing, not least because it's impossible to ignore the technical, timesaving and affordability benefits. But we also need
to look at the process chain. To prepare the data for
manufacturing, the STL format is required. STL
data from different scanners can be processed using the CAMbridge or AutoFab Mlab data processing software available from Concept Laser. Nowadays, conventional dental impressions form the
basis for CAD data. The accuracy of the data depends on the preciseness of the work performed
the dentist. Higher accuracy is essential. A highquality intraoral scanner costs dentists today
about 20,000 Swiss francs (CHF). If we had complete data migration from the dentist to the dental laboratory, we would be one step further. In the
long term, however, that is unavoidable. Quality
assurance and documentation needs will make
open, manufacturer-independent data transfer
an increasingly critical requirement. Especially in
terms of affordability, the topic of laser melting is
becoming more important._

_contact
Concept Laser GmbH
An der Zeil 8, 96215 Lichtenfels
Germany
Tel.: +49 9571 949238
Fax: +49 9571 949249
www.concept-laser.de

laser

[45] =>

The editors of laser would like to thank all
authors for dedicating their time and
efforts to this year’s issues.

laser
 

Issue 1/2013
| Dr Jonas de Almeida Rodrigues, Brazil
| Cristiane Meira Assunção, Brazil
| Dr Georg Bach, Germany
| Prof. Dr Reiner Biffar, Germany
| Prof. Dr Carlo Fornaini, Italy
| Dr Michael Hopp, Germany
| Dr Darius Moghtader, Germany
| Joanna Tatith Pereira, Brazil
| Dr Avi Reyhanian, Israel
| Renata Schlesner Oliveira, Brazil

       

1

    

Issue 2/2013

   

2013

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laser
 

Issue 3/2013
| Dr Glenn A. van As, Canada
| Dr Georg Bach, Germany
| José Luis Capote Femenias, Cuba
| Res. Asst. Dt. Necla Aslı Kocak, Turkey
| Prof. (Shandong University, China)
| Dr Frank Liebaug, Germany
| Dr Darius Moghtader, Germany
| Giovanni Olivi, Italy
| Matteo Olivi, Italy
| Emin Selim Pamuk, Turkey
| Dr Wariya Panprasit, Thailand
| Prof. Dr Georgios Romanos, USA
| Pedro J. Muñoz Sánchez, Cuba
| Sajee Sattayut, Thailand
| Prof. Dr Georgi Tomov, Bulgaria
| Jan Tunér, Sweden
| Dr Blagovesta Yaneva, Bulgaria
| Prof. Dr Aslan Yasar Gokbuget, Turkey
| Dr Anna Maria Yiannikos, Germany/Cyprus
| Dr Ning Wu, Germany

       

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| Dr Ralf Borchers, MSc, Germany
| Prof. Dr Carlo Fornaini, Italy
| George Freedman, Canada
| Dr Shachi Goenka, India
| Dr Fay Goldstep, Canada
| Prof. Dr Norbert Gutknecht, Germany
| Dr Vivek Hegde, India
| Dr Paresh Jain, India
| Hans J. Koort, Germany
| Samah S. Mehani, Egypt
| Dr Ana Minovska, Bulgaria
| Laura Navasaityte, Bulgaria
| Birute Rakauskaite, Bulgaria
| Ali M. Saafan, Egypt
| Dr Sucheta Sathe, India
| Prof. Dr Georgi Tomov, Bulgaria
| Dr Naresh Thukral, India
| Nermin M.Yussif, MSc, Egypt

       

2

Issue 4/2013
| Prof. Carlo Fornaini, Italy
| Prof. Dr Norbert Gutknecht, Germany
| Prof. Dr Michael Hopp, Germany
| Dr Kirpa Johar, India
| Zafer Kazak, Turkey
| Hans J. Koort, Germany
| Dr Ilay Maden, Turkey
| Özge Erbil Maden, Turkey
| Miguel Martins, Portugal
| Prof. Dr D. Gabrić Pandurić, Croatia
| Assoc. Prof. Dr Sajee Sattayut, Thailand
| Dr Michael Sultan, UK
| Dr Sawanya Taboran, Thailand
| Dr Anna Maria Yiannikos, Germany/Cyprus

    

   

2013

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   ! 

laser
!!  

    

   

2013

laser
 

       

4

   

2013

|   

 
!     "! 
%  ! " ! !

|

 

 %   # "!"%
! " %  "  $ !"

|   

! !  !"" "!" %

Please contact Claudia Jahn
c.jahn@oemus-media.de

[46] =>

I meetings

Jean-Paul Rocca
new President of
IPTA
Author_Prof. Carlo Fornaini, Italy

Prof. Rocca, new President of IPTA (right), with Prof. Vaitkuviene,
Past President (center) and Prof. Oshiro, Treasurer (left).

_On the 19 and 20 of September in Vilnius, the
capital of Lithuania, the “World Laserology Congress”
was celebrated with the participation of the most important scientific societies involved with the utilisation of the laser technology in medicine: ISLSM (International Society for Laser in Surgery and Medicine), IPTA (International Photo-Therapy Association), WFSLMS (World Federation Societies for Laser
in Medicine and Surgery), WFLD (World Federation
for Laser in Dentistry) and EMDOLA ACADEMY.
The President of the Congress, Prof. Aurelija
Vaitkuviene, also President of IPTA, decided to propose a program based on the interaction of physics
and medicine in all the specialities and, for these reason, she invited as speakers people who are among
the best experts of the field in the world.
So, Prof. Toshio Oshiro from Japan, General Secretary of WFSLMS and Editor of the journal “Laser
Therapy”, Prof. Jouzas Vaitkus, President of the
Lithuanian Physical Society, Prof. Leonardo Longo
from Florence, President of WFSLMS and IALMS, Prof.
Juanita Anders from Bethesda University, President
Elect of the American Society for Laser in Medicine
and Surgery, Prof. Chang Jen Cheng, President of
Laser and Photonics Medicine of the Republic of
China, Prof. Krishna Rau from India, Past President of

46 I laser
4_ 2013

WFLSMS, Prof. Carlo Fornaini from Italy, President
Elect of WFLD and Prof. Jean-Paul Rocca from France,
Past President of WFLD and Honorary President of
EMDOLA Academy, showed to the participants the
state-of-the-art of the application of the laser technology in each medical and surgical field by several
important lectures.
Among others, lectures were held on the therapy
of LLLT on the paresis of facial nerve (Anders), the
laser effect on the cerebral palsy (Asagai), the laser
treatment of scars (Oshiro), the laser action on the regeneration of the mandibular nerve lesions (Longo),
The IntraOral Laser Welding (Fornaini) and the Educational Program in Laserology (Rocca).
During the congress, the assembly of IPTA elected
the new president in the person of Prof. Jean Paul
Rocca, the director of the TELEO Laboratory of the
University of Nice, an expert on the interaction between Er:YAG and hard dental tissues.
Prof. Rocca, in acceptating of the new position,
announced that the next IPTA Congress will be held
in Nice in June 2015, joint to the Emdola Academy
Congress. All our good wishes for a good and successful work in the association go to Prof. Rocca and
the new Board of IPTA._

[47] =>

meetings

I

International events
2013

Academy of Osseointegration

Greater New York Dental Meeting

Annual Meeting 2014

New York, USA

Seattle, WA, USA

29 December 2013 to 4 January 2014

6–8 March 2014

www.gnydm.com

www.osseo.org

2013 Dental Istanbul

WFLD — 5th Congress

Istanbul, Turkey

Paris, France

7–8 December 2013

3–4 July 2013

www.dentalistanbul.com

www.wfld.info

2014
AEEDC Dubai 2014
18th UAE International Dental Conference
& Arab Dental Exhibition
Dubai, UAE
4–6 February 2014
www.aeedc.com

ALD 2014 Academy of Laser Dentistry
Scottsdale, AZ, USA
27 February to 1 March 2014
www.laserdentistry.org

Pacific Dental Conference 2014
Vancouver, Canada
6–8 March 2014
www.pdconf.com

laser
4
I 47
_ 2013

[48] =>

NEWS
Olympic athletes with

Predictors of satisfaction with

Poor oral health

Aesthetic dental
work

Researchers from the UK
have evaluated the oral
health status of athletes
who took part in the
2012 Olympic Games
held in London. Through
systematic oral check[PICTURE: ©BUTTET]
ups, the researchers
found that 55 per cent of the
302 athletes surveyed suffered from dental caries. In addition, more than 75 per cent had gingivitis, with 15 per cent showing signs of
periodontitis. They found signs of dental
erosion in about 45 per cent of athletes.
Although 42 per cent of the participants
said that their oral health status bothered
them, nearly half of them (47 per cent)
had not undergone a dental examination
or professional cleaning in the previous
year, the researchers reported. Almost 9 per
cent had never been to the dentist. While 28
per cent of athletes stated that they believed
that their oral health affected their quality of
life, about 18 per cent said that it was having

a negative impact on their training and performance.
According to the researchers, the findings corroborate those of previous studies, which suggested that poor oral health in sportsmen
might be a result of frequent carbohydrate
intake, a reduced immune function owing
to intensive training, and a lack of awareness about the link between oral health,
overall health and physical performance.

A new study conducted by researchers at the Department of Dental Public Health at King’s College
London has found that some dental patients may
need to consult a psychologist before undergoing
treatment. In a study with 60 participants, the researchers found that higher satisfaction with appearance before dental aesthetic treatment affected
patients’ satisfaction after treatment significantly.
[PICTURE: ©ARTFAMILY]

The study was conducted by researchers at University College London’s Eastman Dental Institute at the
dental clinic in the London 2012 athletes’ village. The study population comprised athletes from Africa, the Americas
and Europe competing in 25 different sports,
including track and field, boxing and hockey.
The study, titled “Oral health and impact on
performance of athletes participating in the
London 2012 Olympic Games”, was published online on 24 September in the British
Journal of Sport Medicine ahead of print.

Foreign dentists

Face language tests in UK
According to the department, the new proposals
are designed to complement and strengthen the
existing language controls imposed on medical
staff through the Responsible Officers Regulations,
Performers Lists Regulations and other checks undertaken at a local level, which were introduced in
April this year.

The UK Department of Health announced its plans
to introduce language tests for European medical
professionals wishing to work in the UK. The new
regulation will give the General Medical Council
(GMC) the power to impose checks where concerns arise about a doctor’s English language competence.

48 I laser
4_ 2013

Health Minister Dr Dan Poulter explained that the
GMC will be entitled to carry out assessments before allowing European doctors from outside the UK
to treat patients in a hospital or general practice. By
carrying out tests at a national level, the minister
hopes to prevent doctors who do not have the necessary knowledge of English from treating patients. To be accepted on a centrally held list, general practitioners will have to demonstrate their
ability to communicate in English. The new rules
are expected to come into effect in 2014.

For the study, all participants were asked to assess
satisfaction with their appearance before and after
dental work according to a predefined scale. Additionally, they completed a personality test prior to the
procedure. Among other findings, the researchers
found that participants who were most satisfied with
their appearance before receiving dental aesthetic
treatment were also the happiest patients after
treatment. On the other hand, neuroticism seemed to
persist after treatment in those patients who were
rather dissatisfied before.
“We found that it is in patients’ and dentists’ interest
to ensure that patients receiving aesthetic dental
work start from as high a point of satisfaction with
their current appearance as possible. This will enhance the chances that they will be satisfied with the
result of the treatment,” the researchers concluded.
The findings were presented on Wednesday at the
British Psychological Society’s Division of Health
Psychology Annual Conference, which was held
from 11 to 13 September in Brighton.

[49] =>

Dentophobia

Chewing popcorn may disturb

More common in women than men

Moviegoers’ perception of commercials

totypical facial disgust expression, producing nose
wrinkles and upper lip retraction, were recorded electronically. Overall, male and female participants did not
differ in their self-ratings. However, there were significant differences in facial expressions. According to the
researchers, only dentophobic women showed enhanced disgust-related facial activity, indicating that
targeting of disorder-specific disgust might be of great
importance in the therapy of dentophobic women.

Dentophobia is equally common in both men and
women. However, a new study has found that the level
of disgust they experience with regard to dental treatment may differ significantly. In the study, 36 individuals with dentophobia (18 men and 18 women) and 36
non-dentophobic controls were asked to rate their
arousal, disgust and fear while looking at images of
dental treatment scenes and images depicting neutral
scenes. Simultaneously, their heart rate and the activity of the musculus levator labii, a muscle used in pro-

May lead to Alzheimer’s

Although dentophobic men perceived dental treatment scenes as equally disgusting as did women, they
displayed significantly lower disgust-related facial activity. However, the researchers suggested that male
participants might have been more successful in inhibiting behavioural reactions. The study, titled “Can
you read my pokerface? A study on sex differences in
dentophobia”, was published online on 12 September
in the European Journal of Oral Sciences and will appear in the October issue. It was conducted at the University of Graz.

Poor dental health

People with poor oral hygiene or gum disease may
be at a greater risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, a study led by the University of Central Lancashire’s (UCLan) School of Medicine and Dentistry
has found. For their study, the researchers examined samples from the donated brains of ten peo-

Psychologists from Germany have suggested that eating popcorn disrupts the way people process and remember brand names. In a recently published study,
participants were invited to a movie theatre and were
shown a block of foreign commercials prior to the film.
Half of the participants were given popcorn to eat, while

ple without dementia and ten people with dementia. The research found the presence of products
from Porphyromonas gingivalis in the brains of dementia patients.
The research benefited from donated brain samples provided by Brains for Dementia Research, a
brain donation scheme supported by Alzheimer’s
Research UK and Alzheimer’s Society. Finding P.
gingivalis in the brains of dementia sufferers is significant, as its presence in the brains of Alzheimer’s
disease patients has not been documented previously and the finding adds to a growing body of evidence that suggests an association between poor
oral health and dementia.
These published research findings from human
brain specimens are further supported by recent
unpublished research on periodontal disease from
the same group using animal models, which was
carried out in collaboration with the University of
Florida. This animal work has confirmed that P. gingivalis in the mouth finds its way to the brain once
periodontal disease has become established.

the other participants chewed gum or ate a single sugar
cube. When the participants were presented with images of products one week after the cinema session,
those who had eaten the sugar cubes exhibited higher
preference and physiological responses for the brands
advertised. In contrast, the participants who had consumed popcorn or gum during the commercials
showed no evidence of advertising effects, the researchers said.According to researchers from the University of Cologne, the advertised products were less
familiar to the participants owing to the fact that their
mouth was obstructed when they were watching the
commercials. Prior studies have shown that subvocal
pronunciation, a covert mechanism of the mouth, is
very important to the perception of information about
new brands.The researchers said that each time a person encounters a new name the lips and the tongue automatically simulate the pronunciation of the name.
Because they were chewing, the participants could not
internally train the articulation of the brands’ names.
The researchers concluded that advertising might remain unsuccessful in situations involving oral interference, such as snacking or talking. The study, titled
“Popcorn in the cinema: Oral interference sabotages
advertising effects”, was published online on 29 September in the Journal of Consumer Psychology ahead
of print.

laser
4
I 49
_ 2013

[50] =>

I about the publisher _ imprint

laser

international magazine of

laser dentistry

Publisher
Torsten R. Oemus
oemus@oemus-media.de
CEO
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Kleinert

Toni Zeinoun
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Loh Hong Sai
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laser
international magazine of laser dentistry
is published in cooperation with the World
Federation for Laser Dentistry (WFLD).
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Clinic of Conservative Dentistry
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_laser international magazine of laser dentistry is published by OEMUS MEDIA AG and will appear in 2013 with one issue every quarter. The
magazine and all articles and illustrations therein are protected by copyright. Any utilization without the prior consent of editor and publisher is inadmissible and liable to prosecution. This applies in particular to duplicate copies, translations, microfilms, and storage and processing in electronic systems.
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50 I laser
4_ 2013

[51] =>

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[52] =>

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[cover] => laser international No. 4, 2013

[toc] => Array ( [0] => Array ( [title] => Cover [page] => 01 ) [1] => Array ( [title] => Editorial [page] => 03 ) [2] => Array ( [title] => Content [page] => 04 ) [3] => Array ( [title] => Laser therapy in dentistry [page] => 06 ) [4] => Array ( [title] => Er - Cr:YSGG laser and radial firing tips in highly compromised endodontic scenarios [page] => 10 ) [5] => Array ( [title] => Er:YAG laser in the bonding and debonding steps of orthodontic treatment [page] => 16 ) [6] => Array ( [title] => The efficacy of combined low intensity laser therapy and medication on xerostomia [page] => 22 ) [7] => Array ( [title] => Acombined device for optimal soft tissue applications in laser dentistry [page] => 24 ) [8] => Array ( [title] => Lasers in aesthetic dentistry [page] => 30 ) [9] => Array ( [title] => Gain power at your laser clinics! [page] => 34 ) [10] => Array ( [title] => The right to be pain free [page] => 36 ) [11] => Array ( [title] => Manufacturer News [page] => 38 ) [12] => Array ( [title] => Biolase could become the next Intuitive Surgical [page] => 40 ) [13] => Array ( [title] => Dentures produced using 3-D printing versus casting and milling [page] => 42 ) [14] => Array ( [title] => Meetings [page] => 46 ) [15] => Array ( [title] => News [page] => 48 ) [16] => Array ( [title] => Imprint [page] => 50 ) ) [toc_html] =>

Table of contents

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