CULTIVATING THE USE OF LASER TECHNOLOGY FOR PLACING ESTHETIC RESTORATIONS IN DENTAL SCHOOL

Purpose: To allow undergraduate dental students to gain experience in using soft-tissue lasers to optimize tissue characteristics for the placement of tooth colored restorations.
Tooth colored restorations are increasingly popular. At New York University College of Dentistry, more and more patients seeking treatment are expecting tooth colored restorations. These restorations not only meet the patient’s esthetic needs, they also eliminate patient concerns regarding the use of mercury in amalgam. Even with its esthetic drawbacks, amalgam restorations are often placed since they are less negatively affected by moisture during insertion. Composite or tooth colored restorations are more technique sensitive and insertion requires a dry field.
Problems often arise when removing a defective amalgam restoration. The interproximal margins are frequently sub-gingival, thus moisture control becomes difficult. Laser technology offers a convenient efficient way to achieve a dry field for proper placement of tooth colored restorations. Traditionally, this could only be achieved with periodontal crown lengthening or a gingivectomy, by using electrocautery units or scalpels, or by placing gingival retraction cord. Each of these traditional techniques requires profound anesthesia and may result in prolonged healing or changes in tissue height.
The diode soft tissue laser is one option for quick removal of redundant or inflamed tissue while creating hemostasis. It does not require the same profound anesthesia as traditional techniques. Additionally, healing is faster and relatively painless with virtually no change in tissue height.
Conclusion: As the technology advances and costs decrease, dental student doctors should have the opportunity to use laser technology. They not only become proficient in its use but also they achieve superior esthetic restorations.