Role of lasers in restorative dentistry: a review and update

This review aimed to summarize the most frequent clinical applications of lasers in restorative dentistry and provide the most recent updates.

A comprehensive search of PubMed, Scopus, and WoS was conducted regarding the use of lasers in restorative dentistry. Many studies examined lasers' effectiveness in achieving clinically acceptable cavity preparation, removing caries, caries diagnosis, enhancing the bonding strength of direct and indirect restorations, tooth whitening, and treating dentin hypersensitivity.

Lasers were found to effectively prepare cavities and remove caries. The capability of lasers to achieve selective tissue removal makes them a conservative approach when removing caries. Lasers also reduce pain and anxiety for patients by minimizing vibration, noise, and the need for anesthesia. However, lasers' drawbacks include imprecise cutting and slower speeds compared to conventional methods. In caries diagnosis, combining lasers with traditional methods has improved diagnostic accuracy. The effectiveness of lasers in enhancing the bonding strength of direct and indirect restorations remains a topic of debate. Additionally, while no significant advantages were found in using lasers for teeth whitening, lasers demonstrated greater efficacy than placebo or no treatment in the management of dentin hypersensitivity.

Future research should focus on optimizing laser parameters in relation to restorative procedures, which can optimize the clinical benefits of using lasers.