Description

Lasers are devices that amplify or increase the intensity of light to produce a highly directional, high-intensity beam that typically has a very pure frequency or wavelength. They were introduced into the field of clinical dentistry with the hope of overcoming some of the drawbacks posed by the conventional methods of dental procedures. Since its first experiment for dental application in the 1960s, the use of laser has increased rapidly in the last couple of decades. At present, wide varieties of procedures are carried out using lasers. A review of laser technology applied to different pediatric dental treatments is discussed in the present paper. Its usage in surgical cases, operative dentistry, oral pathology, pulpal treatments, and prevention is analyzed. This review also throws light on the fundamentals of laser science and the basic elements of a typical device. The principles of laser-tissue interaction, photo-thermal events, and different absorption characteristics of dental tissues by laser energy are also discussed along with different types of lasers and safety measures undertaken while operating the equipment.