To allay the fears and misconceptions surrounding laser dentistry, here are some facts on laser dentistry:
- The laser “drill” does not produce heat when it acts on tooth structure. Instead, the laser energy targets the water inside the tooth substance and makes the tooth molecules “explode”, thus eroding the tooth as its pulses hit its surface.
- The laser exerts its effect without even touching the tooth surface. A sapphire crystal tip at the end of the laser “handpiece” directs laser-pulse energy onto the tooth from 1-3 mm above the surface.
- Laser energy coming out of the tip loses its effectiveness within a few millimeters beyond the target; therefore, all tissues surrounding the tooth are completely safe.
- Since bacteria are made up of tiny bubbles of water, no germ is spared the laser pulses, as they explode as soon as the beam hits them.