This course is expired and is no longer available.
Lasers have become a common device in the dental practice with multiple uses during treatment. These include periodontal soft tissue pocket treatments, gingivectomies and tissue recontouring, osseous crown lengthening, decay removal with restoration preparation, and endodontic canal disinfection. Additionally, lasers provide stimulation for enhanced healing as well as treatment of lesions such as oral herpes and aphthous ulcers. The various lasers available in dentistry have their specific uses, and understanding the types of lasers determines how they may be successfully used and for what applications they are suited. This course will review the different types of lasers being utilized in dentistry and how they may be used during treatment. It will also discuss the effects lasers have on the tissue at which the energy is directed.
Educational objectives
At the conclusion of this educational activity, participants will be able to:
1. Describe the different types of dental lasers available
2. Understand laser energy and its effects on hard and soft tissues
3. Identify what treatments lasers are suited to perform and which laser type to use
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