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Lasers in oral and maxillofacial surgery
1Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Virginia Commonwealth University, Medical College of Virginia, Schools of Dentistry and Medicine, Richmond, USA.
Dental Clinics of North America
|October 26, 2000
Summary
Lasers are essential for oral soft tissue surgery, expanding treatment options for oral and maxillofacial surgeons (OMS). Future research may enable laser use in hard tissue surgery, broadening applications in OMS.
Area of Science:
- Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
- Surgical Technology
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Lasers are increasingly vital in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (OMS), particularly for soft tissue procedures.
- Approximately 10-20% of OMS professionals utilize lasers, with wider hospital accessibility.
- Laser technology enhances existing surgical capabilities and expands the scope of OMS practice.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the current applications of lasers in OMS.
- To explore the potential and challenges of laser use in hard tissue surgery.
- To identify future research directions for laser advancements in OMS.
Main Methods:
- Review of current laser applications in oral soft tissue surgery.
- Analysis of the limitations and potential of Er:YAG lasers for hard tissue procedures.
- Discussion of the future prospects for laser technology in OMS.
Main Results:
- Lasers are widely adopted and beneficial for soft tissue surgery in OMS.
- Current laser technology, including Er:YAG, is not yet practical for large-volume hard tissue surgery.
- Significant opportunities exist for innovation in laser applications for osseous and extraction surgeries.
Conclusions:
- Lasers have revolutionized soft tissue surgery in OMS, offering significant advantages.
- Further research and development are needed to overcome limitations for effective hard tissue laser surgery.
- The development of specific laser wavelengths holds promise for expanding laser use in complex OMS procedures.