Over the years in implant dentistry, developments have been concentrated on implant design and surface treatment of titanium, and successful sseointegration is now considered as the minimum standard for all implants. To avoid bone necrosis, preparation of the osteotomy site is commonly achieved with a series of drills and copious water irrigation. Studies show that erbium lasers with water spray can also be used to prepare the site.13-17 However, little attention has been paid to the possibilities of laser conditioning after drill preparation of the implant site.
The erbium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Er:YAG) laser has a wavelength of 2940 nm. It falls within the mid-infrared region (invisible to human eyes) and has a high absorption by water molecules and hydroxyapatite. Since water is one of the main constituents of all oral hard and soft tissues, it is therefore used in the ablation of tooth, bone, and dental soft tissue.
Autori
Kenneth Luk
Ryan S.K. Seto
