Back to Journals » Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dentistry » Volume 2

Advances in bone surgery: the Er:YAG laser in oral surgery and implant dentistry

Authors Stübinger S

Published 30 June 2010 Volume 2010:2 Pages 47—62

DOI https://doi.org/10.2147/CCIDE.S8352

Review by Single anonymous peer review

Peer reviewer comments 4



Stefan Stübinger

Competence Center for Applied Biotechnology and Molecular Medicine, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland

Abstract: The erbium-doped yttrium aluminium garnet (Er:YAG) laser has emerged as a possible alternative to conventional methods of bone ablation because of its wavelength of 2.94 μm, which coincides with the absorption peak of water. Over the last decades in several experimental and clinical studies, the widespread initial assumption that light amplification for stimulated emission of radiation (laser) osteotomy inevitably provokes profound tissue damage and delayed wound healing has been refuted. In addition, the supposed disadvantage of prolonged osteotomy times could be overcome by modern short-pulsed Er:YAG laser systems. Currently, the limiting factors for a routine application of lasers for bone ablation are mainly technical drawbacks such as missing depth control and a difficult and safe guidance of the laser beam. This article gives a short overview of the development process and current possibilities of noncontact Er:YAG laser osteotomy in oral and implant surgery.

Keywords: carbonization, laser osteotomy, ablation, dental implants

Creative Commons License © 2010 The Author(s). This work is published and licensed by Dove Medical Press Limited. The full terms of this license are available at https://www.dovepress.com/terms.php and incorporate the Creative Commons Attribution - Non Commercial (unported, v3.0) License. By accessing the work you hereby accept the Terms. Non-commercial uses of the work are permitted without any further permission from Dove Medical Press Limited, provided the work is properly attributed. For permission for commercial use of this work, please see paragraphs 4.2 and 5 of our Terms.